Post by Funkytown on Feb 20, 2023 8:56:58 GMT -6
Vikings NFL Draft strategy: Dane Brugler analyzes Minnesota’s past, present and future by Alec Lewis
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Discussion about Cook, Cleveland, Irv Smith Jr, etc. at the link:
theathletic.com/4198092/2023/02/17/vikings-nfl-draft-strategy-dane-brugler/
In your latest mock draft on Jan. 17, you projected the Vikings would take Deonte Banks at No. 23. What was your thought behind that selection?
The quick answer is the Vikings need help at cornerback, and Banks is a realistic target in the back half of Round 1. The Maryland product is a cover-and-clobber corner with the athletic traits to stay attached to routes. When he trusts his technique, Banks looks like a high-end starter at the next level.
This is a really interesting cornerback class because each team will rank the top corners differently based on which traits they prioritize. With his length, speed and ball skills, Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez is my top-ranked cornerback, but he might be the fourth or fifth corner for another team.
It is a very deep cornerback class and I expect some fluctuation in the rankings after the combine.
The quick answer is the Vikings need help at cornerback, and Banks is a realistic target in the back half of Round 1. The Maryland product is a cover-and-clobber corner with the athletic traits to stay attached to routes. When he trusts his technique, Banks looks like a high-end starter at the next level.
This is a really interesting cornerback class because each team will rank the top corners differently based on which traits they prioritize. With his length, speed and ball skills, Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez is my top-ranked cornerback, but he might be the fourth or fifth corner for another team.
It is a very deep cornerback class and I expect some fluctuation in the rankings after the combine.
In the aftermath of everything you saw and heard at the Senior Bowl, would you alter that Vikings pick?
What happened at the Senior Bowl will have some effect on Rounds 2 through 7, but not so much in the first round. Only a few players at this year’s Senior Bowl are viewed as potential top-32 picks, so I wouldn’t change the projection based on what we saw in Mobile.
You’ve done this for such a long time that you can surely recall the Vikings’ draft tendencies of late. Over the years, what themes, if any, emerged as you considered former GM Rick Spielman’s strategy?
Something that always stood out in the Rick Spielman era was the team’s tendency to target defensive linemen in the middle rounds instead of earlier in the draft.
From 2014 to 2021, the Vikings didn’t draft a defensive lineman in the first two rounds (despite many, many opportunities to do so). Meanwhile, they drafted five cornerbacks in the first two days over that same span. It was also clear that Spielman looked to acquire Day 3 draft picks. The more swings you take, the better chance you have of hitting on quality depth pieces, even if the batting average is inconsistent.
You mention the highly drafted cornerbacks, and multiple readers have cited first-round Vikings busts Trae Waynes (2015) and Mike Hughes (2018) in recent weeks. How do you view early selections at that position?
Cornerback is one of the premier positions in the NFL, so using a premier pick at the position makes sense. I realize there is scar tissue among the fan base after several of Minnesota’s early investments at the position have backfired. But that doesn’t mean you stop drafting the position if the need is there.
Like every year, you self-evaluate and learn from your mistakes. You look for tangible reasons why players didn’t translate and apply that to future processes. But you don’t draft scared. And I don’t think the Vikings will, especially because Kwesi Adofo-Mensah had nothing to do with anything that happened in Minnesota prior to the 2022 offseason.
What happened at the Senior Bowl will have some effect on Rounds 2 through 7, but not so much in the first round. Only a few players at this year’s Senior Bowl are viewed as potential top-32 picks, so I wouldn’t change the projection based on what we saw in Mobile.
You’ve done this for such a long time that you can surely recall the Vikings’ draft tendencies of late. Over the years, what themes, if any, emerged as you considered former GM Rick Spielman’s strategy?
Something that always stood out in the Rick Spielman era was the team’s tendency to target defensive linemen in the middle rounds instead of earlier in the draft.
From 2014 to 2021, the Vikings didn’t draft a defensive lineman in the first two rounds (despite many, many opportunities to do so). Meanwhile, they drafted five cornerbacks in the first two days over that same span. It was also clear that Spielman looked to acquire Day 3 draft picks. The more swings you take, the better chance you have of hitting on quality depth pieces, even if the batting average is inconsistent.
You mention the highly drafted cornerbacks, and multiple readers have cited first-round Vikings busts Trae Waynes (2015) and Mike Hughes (2018) in recent weeks. How do you view early selections at that position?
Cornerback is one of the premier positions in the NFL, so using a premier pick at the position makes sense. I realize there is scar tissue among the fan base after several of Minnesota’s early investments at the position have backfired. But that doesn’t mean you stop drafting the position if the need is there.
Like every year, you self-evaluate and learn from your mistakes. You look for tangible reasons why players didn’t translate and apply that to future processes. But you don’t draft scared. And I don’t think the Vikings will, especially because Kwesi Adofo-Mensah had nothing to do with anything that happened in Minnesota prior to the 2022 offseason.
You mentioned him already, but the man who will be making the team’s draft decisions is Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. The sample of his decision-making is not large, but as you think about his background in Cleveland and San Francisco, what qualities would you think he looks for in a player?
To your point, it is a small sample size. We’re still learning about Adofo-Mensah and what he picked up from his previous stops.
One of the tent poles in the Browns’ scouting philosophy under Andrew Berry is that it’s “better to fish in the bigger-school ponds.” And we saw that in the Vikings’ 2022 draft class. Of the 10 picks, all 10 were from Power-5 programs (four SEC, three Big Ten, two ACC and one Big 12). It was also interesting to see all the trade action to acquire more picks. First, the big trade back with a division rival (Lions), turning picks No. 12 and 46 into picks No. 32, 34 and 66. And then they moved the No. 34 pick for two picks later in the second round, again trading with a division rival (Packers).
Multiple trades back for more bites at the apple. Is that the mark of a first-year general manager looking for ways to build the roster in the image he wants? Or is trading back for more picks going to be a common theme over the years and part of his personal philosophy?
The injuries suffered by Lewis Cine and Andrew Booth Jr. certainly affected their early evaluations. I did, though, want to ask about a player who played the whole year: Ed Ingram. What do you recall about your evaluation of him, and how do you feel like some of his characteristics showed up (or didn’t) during the 2022 season?
As a prospect, there were elements of Ingram’s game that I liked and thought showed promise. He has an explosive upper body to stun defenders at contact and he has the competitive demeanor to match up well with defensive linemen. However, there were also things on tape that gave me concern.
While he is powerful with his punch, the timing and placement were very inconsistent, which is something you can get away with in the SEC but not in the NFL. The greater issue was his inconsistent balance and excessive leaning. He often sacrifices his posture due to his aggressive blocking mentality.
I graded him as a potential down-the-road NFL starter, but he didn’t make my final top-100 list, and it was a little surprising to see him drafted in the second round. I’m eager to track his development next season.
Continuing to think ahead, what are you most interested to see in how the Vikings approach the 2023 draft?
What I’m most interested to see is what happens in the two months before the draft and how that affects their draft strategy.
Who are the cap casualties? Adam Thielen? Za’Darius Smith? Others? Money is tight. How will they add depth pieces while staying within their means? Will they tip their hand on any long-term strategies at quarterback?
Adofo-Mensah is obviously trying to tiptoe the “we’re reloading, not rebuilding” line, which can be tricky.
To your point, it is a small sample size. We’re still learning about Adofo-Mensah and what he picked up from his previous stops.
One of the tent poles in the Browns’ scouting philosophy under Andrew Berry is that it’s “better to fish in the bigger-school ponds.” And we saw that in the Vikings’ 2022 draft class. Of the 10 picks, all 10 were from Power-5 programs (four SEC, three Big Ten, two ACC and one Big 12). It was also interesting to see all the trade action to acquire more picks. First, the big trade back with a division rival (Lions), turning picks No. 12 and 46 into picks No. 32, 34 and 66. And then they moved the No. 34 pick for two picks later in the second round, again trading with a division rival (Packers).
Multiple trades back for more bites at the apple. Is that the mark of a first-year general manager looking for ways to build the roster in the image he wants? Or is trading back for more picks going to be a common theme over the years and part of his personal philosophy?
The injuries suffered by Lewis Cine and Andrew Booth Jr. certainly affected their early evaluations. I did, though, want to ask about a player who played the whole year: Ed Ingram. What do you recall about your evaluation of him, and how do you feel like some of his characteristics showed up (or didn’t) during the 2022 season?
As a prospect, there were elements of Ingram’s game that I liked and thought showed promise. He has an explosive upper body to stun defenders at contact and he has the competitive demeanor to match up well with defensive linemen. However, there were also things on tape that gave me concern.
While he is powerful with his punch, the timing and placement were very inconsistent, which is something you can get away with in the SEC but not in the NFL. The greater issue was his inconsistent balance and excessive leaning. He often sacrifices his posture due to his aggressive blocking mentality.
I graded him as a potential down-the-road NFL starter, but he didn’t make my final top-100 list, and it was a little surprising to see him drafted in the second round. I’m eager to track his development next season.
Continuing to think ahead, what are you most interested to see in how the Vikings approach the 2023 draft?
What I’m most interested to see is what happens in the two months before the draft and how that affects their draft strategy.
Who are the cap casualties? Adam Thielen? Za’Darius Smith? Others? Money is tight. How will they add depth pieces while staying within their means? Will they tip their hand on any long-term strategies at quarterback?
Adofo-Mensah is obviously trying to tiptoe the “we’re reloading, not rebuilding” line, which can be tricky.
Discussion about Cook, Cleveland, Irv Smith Jr, etc. at the link:
theathletic.com/4198092/2023/02/17/vikings-nfl-draft-strategy-dane-brugler/
... and neither is this Chris guy.