2025 NFL Combine and Misc Draft Material

MaroonBells wrote:

This is going to be one of those things we look back and laugh about in a year or two. I'm not going to predict what the NFL will do, because they do stupid shit all the time. But Milroe can't play and shouldn't be drafted.

Remember when I insisted Joe Milton would be a good NFL TE? If Milroe ends up on the Eagles I think we’ll see him get maxed out as a QB.

Shemar Turner auditions for the remake of The Longest Yard

Shemar Turner has a decent skillet, but multiple coaching staffs have had issues with him committing penalties. This was the most egregious in 2023 pic.twitter.com/z1XJDRLYhG

— Billy M (@BillyM_91) March 31, 2025

JustInTime wrote:
Shemar Turner auditions for the remake of The Longest Yard

Shemar Turner has a decent skillet, but multiple coaching staffs have had issues with him committing penalties. This was the most egregious in 2023 pic.twitter.com/z1XJDRLYhG

— Billy M (@BillyM_91) March 31, 2025

Ouch. I was just thinking that Shemar Turner is being overlooked by a lot of Viking fans. But apparently this kind of thing is common with him.

McShay came in hot with the pro comps this morning

Shemar Stewart- Travon Walker and Danielle Hunter
Matthew Golden-Tyreek Hill
Jaxson Dart- "some Josh Allen in his game"
TreVeyon Henderson- Jahmyr Gibbs

— Billy M (@BillyM_91) March 31, 2025

JustInTime wrote:
https://x.com/billym_91/status/1906733686092890363?s=46&t=TjjB9Q4BmOwmN74RrrMjoQ

I like the Shemar Stewart comps. Get him to 6-5, 290 (he was 6-5, 281 at the Senior Bowl) and he's a 3-4 DE prototype. Not many think of him that way though, and I don't know why.

MaroonBells wrote:

I like the Shemar Stewart comps. Get him to 6-5, 290 (he was 6-5, 281 at the Senior Bowl) and he's a 3-4 DE prototype. Not many think of him that way though, and I don't know why.

Seems to be a lot of flags with Stewert. I'd imagine the packages with Turner and Stewert would be interesting to say the least. Not sure how you would use them both to utilize it to the fullest.

Canthony wrote:

Seems to be a lot of flags with Stewert. I'd imagine the packages with Turner and Stewert would be interesting to say the least. Not sure how you would use them both to utilize it to the fullest.

Yes, there are production flags. But the production flags with Stewart are the same flags that were there with Hunter and Walker. There is also a very good article HERE about the Texas A&M defense and how teams prepared for them that does a good job explaining why he didn't have the numbers to match his physical tools. 

"Under first-year HC Mike Elko at Texas A&M, the Aggies ran the tite/mint front defenses that have taken over college football, and are similar to what Georgia has run in their latest stretch of dominance. In these defenses, the defensive line is taught much differently than other defensive line play. The structure of the defense calls for players like Stewart to be placed as the 4i technique on the line, rarely having many reps out wide where he can pin his ears back."

You know who else runs a lot of tite, mint and 4i?

MaroonBells wrote:

Yes, there are production flags. But the production flags with Stewart are the same flags that were there with Hunter and Walker. There is also a very good article HERE about the Texas A&M defense and how teams prepared for them that does a good job explaining why he didn't have the numbers to match his physical tools. 

"Under first-year HC Mike Elko at Texas A&M, the Aggies ran the tite/mint front defenses that have taken over college football, and are similar to what Georgia has run in their latest stretch of dominance. In these defenses, the defensive line is taught much differently than other defensive line play. The structure of the defense calls for players like Stewart to be placed as the 4i technique on the line, rarely having many reps out wide where he can pin his ears back."

You know who else runs a lot of tite, mint and 4i?

Flores. He does much for the defense than he is given credit. There are plays where he has 3 guys on him and he still makes the play. Impressive. He looks to be the type of player that will always find the ball and play. Nice write up on him. Thanks for the article. 

In Stewart’s case, to discuss his ceiling as a player I think we have to first discuss his movement skills and athletic tools. He moves like a guy thats 20-30 pounds lighter than his listed 281-pound frame, but what really stands out is the flexibility and the hip movement for a guy his size. It’s pretty rare to find athletes as big as Stewart who can leverage his length and flexibility in the run game on the edge. Combine that with lateral quickness of a guy that should be much smaller and it’s easy to see why many people (including myself) are high on his game. Take this play as an example against South Carolina. This is one of the examples where Stewart is lined up outside the tackle, and the Gamecocks run a split zone look with the tight end coming in motion. Watch how Stewart gets lateral, but is still able to generate enough force and knockback to keep his inside arm clean to make the tackle. That’s some grown ass man run defense.

MaroonBells wrote:

Yes, there are production flags. But the production flags with Stewart are the same flags that were there with Hunter and Walker. There is also a very good article HERE about the Texas A&M defense and how teams prepared for them that does a good job explaining why he didn't have the numbers to match his physical tools. 

"Under first-year HC Mike Elko at Texas A&M, the Aggies ran the tite/mint front defenses that have taken over college football, and are similar to what Georgia has run in their latest stretch of dominance. In these defenses, the defensive line is taught much differently than other defensive line play. The structure of the defense calls for players like Stewart to be placed as the 4i technique on the line, rarely having many reps out wide where he can pin his ears back."

You know who else runs a lot of tite, mint and 4i?

Great article. 

Here’s what rang true with me:

If there’s one thing I think Stewart needs to improve on, it’s simply finishing plays. I think he’s such a forceful and explosive athlete that he flies in out of control and ends up flying past the QB or not being able to throttle down to get the sack.

The entire time I’m watching his highlights is “damn he’s so quick and he almost had the QB dead to rights…damn he almost had the RB for a big loss…damn he chased that fly sweep from behind and almost got him”. 

One season Kenchi Udeze had zero sacks but lead the league in pressures. Now Stewart is twice the athlete Udeze could dream of being but my fear is he doesn’t ever become a closer. If we’re talking about him as a third rounder like Hunter or my boy Janarius Robinson, oh giddy up and let’s dance. Day 1? On our roster maybe he fills the Jihad Ward role. 

I think you’d have to play him at 265 on the edge so that the almost plays become stats on the stat sheet. Low floor but high high ceiling.

JustInTime wrote:

Great article. 

Here’s what rang true with me:

If there’s one thing I think Stewart needs to improve on, it’s simply finishing plays. I think he’s such a forceful and explosive athlete that he flies in out of control and ends up flying past the QB or not being able to throttle down to get the sack.

The entire time I’m watching his highlights is “damn he’s so quick and he almost had the QB dead to rights…damn he almost had the RB for a big loss…damn he chased that fly sweep from behind and almost got him”. 

One season Kenchi Udeze had zero sacks but lead the league in pressures. Now Stewart is twice the athlete Udeze could dream of being but my fear is he doesn’t ever become a closer. If we’re talking about him as a third rounder like Hunter or my boy Janarius Robinson, oh giddy up and let’s dance. Day 1? On our roster maybe he fills the Jihad Ward role. 

I think you’d have to play him at 265 on the edge so that the almost plays become stats on the stat sheet. Low floor but high high ceiling.

My biggest concern with him (for us) is fit. He's ideal to be a base end in a 4-3. But does Flores see him with another 10 lbs being a fit at 5T? I don't know. He needs better vision and control, but my God, compare his movement skills with any of the other players we're talking about for that role...the Harmons and the Nolens and there's no comparison. Watch this and keep in mind that only one of these resulted in a sack. 

Shemar Stewart is not just a guy who is big. This guy has LEGIT explosiveness to his game and is twitchy for having played at 285 pounds. #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/X2F2j1Ycaa

— Sanjit T. (@Sanjit__T) February 28, 2025

MaroonBells wrote:

My biggest concern with him (for us) is fit. He's ideal to be a base end in a 4-3. But does Flores see him with another 10 lbs being a fit at 5T? I don't know. He needs better vision and control, but my God, compare his movement skills with any of the other players we're talking about for that role...the Harmons and the Nolens and there's no comparison. Watch this and keep in mind that only one of these resulted in a sack. 

Shemar Stewart is not just a guy who is big. This guy has LEGIT explosiveness to his game and is twitchy for having played at 285 pounds. #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/X2F2j1Ycaa

— Sanjit T. (@Sanjit__T) February 28, 2025

That clip is a part of a larger clip I watched. He can move no question. Can you teach someone to finish? I don't know. Fantastic year for Edges. Wonder if we grab one closer to the guy from Boston College size wise. Landon Jackson is another favorite who doesn't fit the scheme.

With this touchback spot change, the NFL has been projecting an increase in the return rate from ~33% in 2024 to between 60%-70% in 2025. There are some downstream aspects that could come into play in terms of field position, scoring, game management when you add that many plays. https://t.co/Y9Ph9ZARKk

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) April 1, 2025

Getting a returner would be nice. Moore wasn’t particularly strong pre injury. There’s a WR from VaTech if I remember correctly.

How much does a player's age factor into Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's decision making on draft night? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/DDDkMfEO1M

— SKOR North - Minnesota Sports (@SKORNorth) April 1, 2025

With all the free agency additions, the Vikings have put themselves in position to go nearly anywhere they want with the 24th overall pick. There are good arguments for taking a guard, safety, defensive tackle, cornerback and, yes, even wide receiver. Though O’Connell didn’t seem as sold on the idea of drafting any position where the player wouldn’t have an opportunity to quickly find his way to the field.

“Best player available is good but at some positions the best player available has such a tremendous road block to getting on the field in front of them,” O’Connell said. “When you look at development of positions, some really need to be out there whether it’s physicality or speed of the game, just the reps that come with getting a real opportunity. I think we can be in a best-available mentality but we want to draft players who are going to be high-impact players especially with our first-round picks.”

Purple Insider will remain committed to the wide receiver opinion, regardless.

Anyway, O’Connell was also asked about Jalen Nailor’s position and the confidence in him if Jordan Addison faces a suspension this year relating to a DUI charge last summer.

“For two-and-a-half games we didn’t have and we were able to beat the 49ers and the Texans with Jalen Nailor playing huge roles in those games. Speedy, what we were always hoping for was to see what it looked like when he stayed healthy. He learned over the season the different unique ways that Justin gets defended has a direct impact on how he needs to prepare to play. I think Speedy is going to have a great year and I think this is a massive, massive year for his career.”

“We want to make it competitive, whether it’s Rondale or Tim Jones coming in or potentially drafting one, we want to have impactful players in that room because no matter what throwing the football is something that defines the Minnesota Vikings and we’ve done it at a high clip because of our players.”

Updated Top 50https://t.co/G7euurniXC

— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) April 2, 2025

JustInTime wrote:
With all the free agency additions, the Vikings have put themselves in position to go nearly anywhere they want with the 24th overall pick. There are good arguments for taking a guard, safety, defensive tackle, cornerback and, yes, even wide receiver. Though O’Connell didn’t seem as sold on the idea of drafting any position where the player wouldn’t have an opportunity to quickly find his way to the field.

“Best player available is good but at some positions the best player available has such a tremendous road block to getting on the field in front of them,” O’Connell said. “When you look at development of positions, some really need to be out there whether it’s physicality or speed of the game, just the reps that come with getting a real opportunity. I think we can be in a best-available mentality but we want to draft players who are going to be high-impact players especially with our first-round picks.”

Purple Insider will remain committed to the wide receiver opinion, regardless.

https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/bills-reporter-floats-idea-of-trading-for-vikings-jordan-addison

Interesting article and gets into the justification for potentially trading Addison at some point. Do we really want to become the Bengals having your top 2 receivers taking up a large portion of cap? In the meantime, we draft somebody like Emeka Egbuka and this WR group gets very dangerous, very fast on your way to giving our young QB a plethora of weapons. A 3 WR set of Jefferson, Addison and Egbuka would be "3-deep part deaux." I think Nailor is ok as a 3rd, but always have to worry about injury and this is the final year of his contract. Moore is probably more of a 4th or 5th type receiver.

supafreak84 wrote:

https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/bills-reporter-floats-idea-of-trading-for-vikings-jordan-addison

Interesting article and gets into the justification for potentially trading Addison at some point. Do we really want to become the Bengals having your top 2 receivers taking up a large portion of cap? In the meantime, we draft somebody like Emeka Egbuka and this WR group gets very dangerous, very fast on your way to giving our young QB a plethora of weapons. A 3 WR set of Jefferson, Addison and Egbuka would be "3-deep part deaux." I think Nailor is ok as a 3rd, but always have to worry about injury and this is the final year of his contract. Moore is probably more of a 4th or 5th type receiver.

I can see us maybe trading Addison down the road before we have to give him a new deal. But that's 3 years from now. What's the point of doing it now? You want everyone on board when JJ takes the reigns. Just wishful thinking on the part of a Bills fan. "I think he’d be a fun addition to the Bills offense." Ya think? Want him all you want. People in hell want ice water.

MaroonBells wrote:

I can see us maybe trading Addison down the road before we have to give him a new deal. But that's 3 years from now. What's the point of doing it now? You want everyone on board when JJ takes the reigns. Just wishful thinking on the part of a Bills fan. "I think he’d be a fun addition to the Bills offense." Ya think? Want him all you want. People in hell want ice water.

I love Addison and certainly am not for it, but a decision down the road will need to be made and if a guy like McMillan or Egbuka is on the board for us at #24, drafting them gives us immediate help now...and an option/alternative down the road should we decide we don't want to pay Addison. Investing in a receiver at #24 wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.

I think McCarthy can do just fine with the wr's on the roster now - and Hock too.

I would prioritize D or a new RB1 (in training this year) b4 a WR early.

supafreak84 wrote:

https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/bills-reporter-floats-idea-of-trading-for-vikings-jordan-addison

Interesting article and gets into the justification for potentially trading Addison at some point. Do we really want to become the Bengals having your top 2 receivers taking up a large portion of cap? In the meantime, we draft somebody like Emeka Egbuka and this WR group gets very dangerous, very fast on your way to giving our young QB a plethora of weapons. A 3 WR set of Jefferson, Addison and Egbuka would be "3-deep part deaux." I think Nailor is ok as a 3rd, but always have to worry about injury and this is the final year of his contract. Moore is probably more of a 4th or 5th type receiver.

So, let’s just say in a weak year for WRs your WR1 guy slides. Honestly I have barely looked at WRs so let’s say it’s T-Mac. Assuming he pans out and if there’s a position that just screams high bust rate it’s QB then WR imo. You’ve got 3 years of top 3 WRs under contract with Addison’s 5th year option. Again you force Ds to play two deep. You control the game with the chess pieces on the board. The only downside is WR3 last year played 51% of the snaps. It’s an interesting possibility.

JustInTime wrote:

So, let’s just say in a weak year for WRs your WR1 guy slides. Honestly I have barely looked at WRs so let’s say it’s T-Mac. Assuming he pans out and if there’s a position that just screams high bust rate it’s QB then WR imo. You’ve got 3 years of top 3 WRs under contract with Addison’s 5th year option. Again you force Ds to play two deep. You control the game with the chess pieces on the board. The only downside is WR3 last year played 51% of the snaps. It’s an interesting possibility.

It would be an interesting option and give KOC all kinds of chess pieces to play with and create mismatches. Also depth and insurance at a premium position. Maybe we utilize more 3 wide receiver sets this year since we have zero at TE behind Hockenson who is an actual receiving threat. More Egbuka/McMillan on the field and less Josh Oliver is a win in my book. Drafting a receiver early won't happen for us, but it's an interesting option to think about