Official NFL Draft Day 1 Thread

That's fine and maybe true, but then that only makes me wonder why they traded for him to begin with, AND then why did they stick with him for so long? There were guys available who better fit the system that KOC was incapable of modifying on the fly. In that sense the Jaren Hall pick doesn't even make sense. He's not quite in the Dobbs category but still a guy who looked uncomfortable hanging around in the pocket too long and preferred moving around. What did KOC see?

Well I don't know if it's something I don't want to see as opposed to something I'm not actually seeing lol. I watched the 48 minute video and I asked myself on every play, would that work at the NFL level against faster, smarter, better schemed defenses? I'm not seeing it. I don't think it's factual either because despite being the apparent best fit for KOC's system, it seemed like he wasn't their first choice. For all we know McCarthy was their 4th choice, we'll never know. They definitely wanted Maye though, and I'm sure they would've preferred Daniels. Penix we don't know because nobody saw the Falcons taking him at 8. And now there are reports we contacted the Chargers about trading for Herbert. You can't say they were that high on McCarthy. To me this almost seems like 2011 all over again. An early run on QB's, with the Vikings in desperate need of a QB, and them quickly grabbing what was leftover. McCarthy or Nix. It's not entirely their fault though, nobody was willing to trade, or the asking price was way too high. I don't know if Spielman tried to move up in 2011, or who he preferred over Ponder. McCarthy might be better than Ponder, but the situation gives me deja vu.

All these facts are based on smaller sample sizes and context.

That's encouraging, but you can't deny that defenses weren't stacking the box against Michigan opening things up a bit more for McCarthy in that range and on PA. Aaron Jones is an improvement, but not enough to force NFL defenses to stack the box, especially if pass happy KOC abandons the run by the 2nd quarter and is throwing 40 times a game. Pro style offense or not, the Vikings offense is the opposite of Michigan. KOC is going to ask and need McCarthy to do a lot more, and we don't know if he's capable.

A huge plus in my book when it comes to "mobile" QB's. Keep your damn eyes downfield. Less likely to get hurt when you're getting rid of the ball.

I agree, and that's what's helping me swallow this pick a little better. Some of the reason why I was so against McCarthy leading up to the draft was how I didn't want to see us waste 3 firsts to get him. We didn't and as a consolation prize we ended up with Dallas Turner AND we get to keep our 2025 1st. I definitely consider that a win. I don't give 2 flips about mid round or later picks. You rarely find difference makers that late and you need difference makers to win Super Bowls. Depth is important too, but depth can only hold down the fort until the difference makers are back on the field.

Well there we agree, but you said I didn't want to see it lol. This is what I saw. I don't know if upper tier 2 is worth a top 10 or even day 1 pick, but I get it, he wasn't getting past Denver, but that supports the desperation theory. We lost Kirko and only have Darnold/Mullins, so the Vikings kind of backed themselves into a corner. They probably knew weeks ago the Patriots weren't going to deal the #3 and that got them nervous. Then Penix went #8 and probably made them panic a bit. What if Denver jumped them at that point?

I think it's fine to have a top 15 QB, if like you said, you can surround him with talent. Where that becomes a problem is if you have to pay your top 15 QB like he's a top 5 QB and you can't surround him with talent. And unlike Kirk, and as you've pointed out, McCarthy has more of that "it" factor when the pressure is on, which is more important than volume stats IMO. I'm starting to believe the Vikings best path to a Super Bowl is via Flores and the defense however. We just need KOC and his offense to be mediocre enough to not constantly put the defense in bad situations, but I'm more excited about the Dallas Turner pick than McCarthy. And I'm probably more exited about the defense overall with the additions of Greenard, Van Ginkel, and Cashman. If we could only add a corner to the mix now and a stud in the interior.

If McCarthy pans out, 2025-2028 could be an open window for this team to become an actual Super Bowl contender.

There's different tiers to "panning out", but the top of tier 2 is absolutely a hit spending a first pick on one - the level of Prescott, a touch below Herbert, better than Lawrence, better than Kirk/Carr/Hurts. If that isn't "panning out", then 90-95% of all 1st round QBs are busts to you.

I was listening to reactions to last nights' draft today and a number of people believe J.J. McCarthy paired with the Vikings player and coaching talent, is going to be better than Caleb Williams going to a pretty decent (post-FA and post-draft) Bears team. 

They had McCarthy > Caleb when the overall team situation is considered.  LOL, now I hope they are wrong   

But McCarthy's ceiling looks like it could be very very high.  McCarthy is so young.  I absolutely LOVED watching him work as a technician as Michigan's QB1.  Smart, highly coach-able kid.  He has the mental gears to process the game well.  He is a mentally tough kid, a great leader.  He is a guy who could be good now, and be developed into being a great franchise QB - in a good situation like the Vikings.  I'll be honest, as a Bears fan I am thinking you guys are going to be a rock solid team in a rock solid NFCN division.  This division is going to be one heck of a powerhouse that has four good teams for the foreseeable future.  JMO.  

Do me a favor and watch one of the ex-journeymen QBs breaking down McCarthy's full game against Alabama.

It's all going to hinge on McCarthy. If he's upper Tier 2 and KAM nails Free Agency the window may actually finally open.