2026 Draft's Biggest Surprise?
To me, it's gotta be Emmanuel McNiel-Warren falling to the end of the 2nd round. Daniel Jeremiah had him ranked 15th overall and higher than Thieneman. Many had him mocked to the Vikings at 18.
He went 58th and was available where we picked in the 2nd round. After going DL in the 1st round, I thought sure we'd take EMW there. What a gift. But given the Greenard trade, the Golday versatility and the outstanding Jakobe Thomas film, I'm actually happy now we didn't take him.
"All those who believe in psychokinesis, raise my hand." —Steven Wright
I wasn't a fan. His best plays in college were in run support and forcing fumbles. Didn't see him making many plays in coverage. He reminded me a lot of Lewis Cine coming out. I agree, I think Thomas was a better value and much better fit for a Flores defense.
Biggest surprise was that McVay didn’t actually strangle Snead live on tv after drafting Simpson.
“Hell is empty and all the devils are here”
Shakespeare
JustInTime wrote:
Biggest surprise was that McVay didn’t actually strangle Snead live on tv after drafting Simpson.
Are the leaves falling from the Shanahan tree? Both the Rams and 49ers drafted like they were drunk.
"All those who believe in psychokinesis, raise my hand." —Steven Wright
Ty Simpson and then everything else
I didnt see the RB's dropping that much after Price
The earlier run on C
How long the Vikings waited on S
Kaleb Banks at 18
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
purplefaithful wrote:
Ty Simpson and then everything else
I didnt see the RB's dropping that much after Price
The earlier run on C
How long the Vikings waited on S
Kaleb Banks at 18
No doubt. Banks was a big surprise considering how far he was falling in media rankings. But the ONLY reason for that was the foot. Yes, bad feet on big men is never a good thing. But I feel a lot better about the foot after listening to this foot and ankle surgeon.
"All those who believe in psychokinesis, raise my hand." —Steven Wright
MaroonBells wrote:
No doubt. Banks was a big surprise considering how far he was falling in media rankings. But the ONLY reason for that was the foot. Yes, bad feet on big men is never a good thing. But I feel a lot better about the foot after listening to this foot and ankle surgeon.
That pick will forever be linked to BFlo and the Medical Staff....
I agree with Brez they have the best orthopedics on the planet. Other NFL teams tap into their ortho resources.
TCO (Twin Cities Orthopedic) is amazing and I am lucky to know one of the Vikings Dr's on the sidelines personally and professionally. Best of the best!
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
Per AI Banks injury is fairly common in athletes. Also there is special inserts and shoes that he can wear for additional support. Flo will make Banks Viking folklore.
Rams taking Simpson instead of Lemon
Cowboys able to get Downs at 11
Taking Banks at 18
EMW in 2nd round at our pick and us not taking him
Jets having possibly the best draft
The return on Greenard, would have held firm on 2nd or kept him, we blinked
Most surprising to me was the disparity in how the draft community stacked their boards versus how the GMs stacked theirs. Whether it was Kiper on ESPN, the analysts on the NFL channel, or the dozens of boards found on the internet, their were numerous times when a player was selected & they were ranked way lower by the draft community.
Simpson for sure. And Arvell Reese falling into the Giant's laps. Us taking Banks was somewhat of a curveball too though I feel better after hearing from an actual doctor as opposed to an internet doctor 😉.
Anyone else believe this year's draft class was most closely tied to the top 30 visits vs previous years?
Banks
Big Citrus
Golday
Jacobe Thomas
Claiborne
Leigh
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
Kentis wrote:
Who actually makes up the “consensus board”? A consensus of idiots will yield the expected wisdom of their expertise…!😀
Eh, I don’t think it’s a consensus of idiots as much as it only takes one GM to value a player differently (or maybe two if they need a threat of someone else taking their guy), and in our case, I think the stuff we value is way different than what other teams value. Big boards don’t really take into account what a team needs out of a player, rather they’re kind of comparing players against generic needs, whereas a guy like Golday is a perfect Flores fit, but might be much less valuable to other teams.
That said, there is some amount of truth to the public being a consensus of idiots as there’s a lot of stuff we just don’t know unless someone actively leaks something, like the CB who’s got the knee injury that’s going to require another surgery and force him to miss a year. No one had that on their bingo card, but the teams all knew, and we never would have known if it wasn’t leaked a couple days before the draft.
purplefaithful wrote:
Anyone else believe this year's draft class was most closely tied to the top 30 visits vs previous years?
Banks
Big Citrus
Golday
Jacobe Thomas
Claiborne
Leigh
What's interesting to me is that they didn't make the Banks visit public as far as I know.
"All those who believe in psychokinesis, raise my hand." —Steven Wright
MaroonBells wrote:
What's interesting to me is that they didn't make the Banks visit public as far as I know.
I dont think so either...
I still dont think he would have made anyones bingo card though. Not that it matters much.
While I did have a feeling bears were going to take Theineman if he made it to them, this draft is a reminder to be prepared for the unexpected.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
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