Tai Felton

Zanary wrote:

...if only there were still months of potential cuts/additions before the NFL season started...! Golly!

Of course there is, and that's my point: we're not done at RB.

MaroonBells wrote:

This team will not go into its Super Bowl hopeful season with Jones, Mason and Chandler as its only backs. I just don't know what the plan is after missing on them in the draft. Can we draft a back next year? Of course. I'm sure we will. But the numbers don't even add up THIS year. 

I mean, look at the two teams in the Super Bowl last year. Eagles have Saquon Barkley, 2nd rounder AJ Dillon, last year's 4th rounder Will Shipley and FIVE other backs, including my sleeper Montrell Johnson Jr they just added. The Chiefs have Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, really good FA Elijah Mitchell, two other free agent backs, and they just drafted Brashard Smith, who we brought in for a top 30.

For a team that wants to run the ball, something's missing.

Well, you can say pretty much the same thing about drafting a shut down cornerback, a replacement safety for Harrison Smith or 325 lb. nose tackle to shut down the run.  But, here we are and this is what we got.
All we can do from here on out is hope for the best and hope all these new players work out in the long run.  What else can we do as fans?

MaroonBells wrote:

This team will not go into its Super Bowl hopeful season with Jones, Mason and Chandler as its only backs. I just don't know what the plan is after missing on them in the draft. Can we draft a back next year? Of course. I'm sure we will. But the numbers don't even add up THIS year. 

I mean, look at the two teams in the Super Bowl last year. Eagles have Saquon Barkley, 2nd rounder AJ Dillon, last year's 4th rounder Will Shipley and FIVE other backs, including my sleeper Montrell Johnson Jr they just added. The Chiefs have Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, really good FA Elijah Mitchell, two other free agent backs, and they just drafted Brashard Smith, who we brought in for a top 30.

For a team that wants to run the ball, something's missing.

^^^ thats for sure. 3 vets and 1 UDFA isnt adding up. 

But KOC running the ball may look more like a McVay team running the ball than say Siriani. 

One reason is the obvious - we dont have a Saquon. 
Two, I think KOC wanted to address getting stuffed in short yard and goal line situations
Three, he wanted to get the best pass pro he could for JJM 

I think all of this are reasons for improvement b4 vs he intendeds to run the ball substantially more often. Just my take on the guy.

ArizonaViking wrote:

Well, you can say pretty much the same thing about drafting a shut down cornerback, a replacement safety for Harrison Smith or 325 lb. nose tackle to shut down the run.  But, here we are and this is what we got.
All we can do from here on out is hope for the best and hope all these new players work out in the long run.  What else can we do as fans?

Talk about roster deficiencies? We can do that. 

Personally, I don't think we want a big, run stuffing nose. Harrison Phillips signed for two more seasons and I think he's the kind of player BFlo likes in the middle. At corner there's been plenty of talk about adding a veteran, but even if we don't, the numbers look OK to me. I think we were either going to add a starter with our 1st pick or nothing at all. We have plenty of depth there. 

But I agree about safety. Safety and RB seem to be two positions where we look a little short.

MaroonBells wrote:

Talk about roster deficiencies? We can do that. 

Personally, I don't think we want a big, run stuffing nose. Harrison Phillips signed for two more seasons and I think he's the kind of player BFlo likes in the middle. At corner there's been plenty of talk about adding a veteran, but even if we don't, the numbers look OK to me. I think we were either going to add a starter with our 1st pick or nothing at all. We have plenty of depth there. 

But I agree about safety. Safety and RB seem to be two positions where we look a little short.

I really am surprised we didn't add a RB. Jordan James going to SF is the perfect spot for him. A runner I really wanted for the Vikings. That system should do James well. Not bad for a 5th round selection.

[quote="JimmyinSD" pid="251075" dateline="1745799185"]
Weve already lost 1 year of jjms cheap contract,  next year is most likely a throw away as he will be learing the pro game,  so that wondow is down to 3 years,   we arent going to want to trust the draft so we will need to be adding quality free agents along the way to keep the talent level high... is having cap space a guarantee with KAMs drafting track record?  There will be a lot of unforseen needs over the next few years... but fuck it,  lets throw away a chance at a higher quality player next year because we need a 3rd string RB in a season that isnt likely to produce a real high chance at a lombardi run.

I prefer 1st and 2nd rounders next year over lower tier guys,  we dont know,  we may need to package those picks next year to fill a real hole in the roster.  I just didnt like not having the ammo to move around this year and didnt want to fuck up next years draft.
[/quote]

Agreed. This fascination to some over the RB spot and needing to take one this year is head scratching to me. Why? And the team didn't address it via the Draft, so again its obviously not important to them. It was addressed by resigning Jones and trading for Mason. Easiest thing in the world is to find another RB in final cutdowns in late August to fill out the RB room. RB of the future? Take one high next year, excellent ones come every single Draft year.

Here's our RB for next year, CJ Baxter....or Jeremiyah Love....Justice Haynes....Makhi Hughes....Amarion Peterson

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/nfl-mock-draft-2026-arch-mannings-pro-career-begins-in-familiar-place-and-other-way-too-early-picks/

You can find a running back at the 7-11! I think that's where Cam Akers is right now!

MaroonBells wrote:

This team will not go into its Super Bowl hopeful season with Jones, Mason and Chandler as its only backs. I just don't know what the plan is after missing on them in the draft. Can we draft a back next year? Of course. I'm sure we will. But the numbers don't even add up THIS year. 

I mean, look at the two teams in the Super Bowl last year. Eagles have Saquon Barkley, 2nd rounder AJ Dillon, last year's 4th rounder Will Shipley and FIVE other backs, including my sleeper Montrell Johnson Jr they just added. The Chiefs have Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, really good FA Elijah Mitchell, two other free agent backs, and they just drafted Brashard Smith, who we brought in for a top 30.

For a team that wants to run the ball, something's missing.

You just named 2 teams that have more talent than they have available spots.  You don't think Vikings could trade a late round draft pick or just pick off of waivers if they want one?   We are really solid for our #1 and #2 backs,  we are quibbling about our #3 back and our long term solutions.

hogjowlsjohnny wrote:
You can find a running back at the 7-11! I think that's where Cam Akers is right now!

thats where I am at,  all this angst over the easiest position to find adequate players to fill holes.  We are talking about RB3 for next year, whats that look like on average 4-5 touches per game on O, and a contributor on special teams?

Bunsen82 wrote:

You just named 2 teams that have more talent than they have available spots.  You don't think Vikings could trade a late round draft pick or just pick off of waivers if they want one?   We are really solid for our #1 and #2 backs,  we are quibbling about our #3 back and our long term solutions.

Trade draft capital!? Are you fucking kidding? Blasphemy!

JustInTime wrote:

Trade draft capital!? Are you fucking kidding? Blasphemy!

late round pick,  no day 1 or 2 as you had suggested.   lets try and keep it real a bit here with your overblown reactions. :dodgy:

MaroonBells wrote:

This team will not go into its Super Bowl hopeful season with Jones, Mason and Chandler as its only backs. I just don't know what the plan is after missing on them in the draft. Can we draft a back next year? Of course. I'm sure we will. But the numbers don't even add up THIS year. 

I mean, look at the two teams in the Super Bowl last year. Eagles have Saquon Barkley, 2nd rounder AJ Dillon, last year's 4th rounder Will Shipley and FIVE other backs, including my sleeper Montrell Johnson Jr they just added. The Chiefs have Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, really good FA Elijah Mitchell, two other free agent backs, and they just drafted Brashard Smith, who we brought in for a top 30.

For a team that wants to run the ball, something's missing.

It bears repeating. Eagles ran 600 times last year. Only team to run more than 50% of the time. 4 teams ran over 500 times last year, all made the playoffs. No one ran 500 times in 2023. 19 teams ran more than they did in 2023. 

Is that trend clear enough for everybody? Questions? Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?

Watershed year for RBs.

O moving towards more runs (or maybe KOC saying we now have the personnel to open the entire playbook means more 4 and 5 WR sets. Somehow I don’t think that’s the case  :rolleyes: )

First year QB coming from a pro style run heavy offense in college.

And we’re a hamstring and turf toe away from heavy doses of Ty Chandler and a street FA. 

Oh, something is definitely missing.

JimmyinSD wrote:

late round pick,  no day 1 or 2 as you had suggested.   lets try and keep it real a bit here with your overblown reactions. :dodgy:

Never suggested day 1. Late day 2 early day 3. Comp pick range. Maybe you keep it real and don’t misquote me? :dodgy: I guess obvious sarcasm exceeds your grasp?

JustInTime wrote:

It bears repeating. Eagles ran 600 times last year. Only team to run more than 50% of the time. 4 teams ran over 500 times last year, all made the playoffs. No one ran 500 times in 2023. 19 teams ran more than they did in 2023. 

Is that trend clear enough for everybody? Questions? Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?

Watershed year for RBs.

O moving towards more runs (or maybe KOC saying we now have the personnel to open the entire playbook means more 4 and 5 WR sets. Somehow I don’t think that’s the case  :rolleyes: )

First year QB coming from a pro style run heavy offense in college.

And we’re a hamstring and turf toe away from heavy doses of Ty Chandler and a street FA. 

Oh, something is definitely missing.

and any RB that you drafted by moving up with next years 1st or 2nd rounders could blow out a knee in camp,  or get run off the road by a crazy drunk bitch in a fit of rage... the hypotheticals can go both ways.  we didnt have the draft capital this year to make the moves they wanted if they really wanted a RB,  so why the rush to hamstring the draft next year to take a player in the later rounds this year that they may not have liked as much?

JimmyinSD wrote:

thats where I am at,  all this angst over the easiest position to find adequate players to fill holes.  We are talking about RB3 for next year, whats that look like on average 4-5 touches per game on O, and a contributor on special teams?

I think they are looking for RB1 next year...

Jones will be really old by then and for all intensive purposes he signed a 1 year deal. 

Mason is a change of pace/fill in for a game guy

RB looney tunes is apparently here, queue the music!

RB's are a dime a dozen is all I've heard for years. The Vikings run game is a non-entity since Adrian Petersen left. (edit: Ok, Dalvin Cook in his prime). KOC doesn't run, he just talks about running. Etc. We finally built a real oline which is how you run unless you have a HOF RB, so what's the big worry?

But now, if we don't take a RB in the 6th round of the draft where let's face it, pretty much every guy at every position is just a step above a UDFA, then we're essentially fucked.

I mean, we did actually sign at least one UDFA RB that I know of. We already have like 4 of them on the roster right now, right? Is there some guy we could have drafted at that late stage of the draft who would make some impact, like say, DeWayne McBride? You know, a guy the draftniks pound the table for because oh baby, put the champagne on ice to celebrate the steal!

I say this with no disrespect to anyone, but I've been watching the NFL for over 50 years and listening to hot and heavy draft talk for the last 3 decades since it became a big thing and message boards came into being. And the hand-wringing over guys from the 4th-7th rounds just never ceases to amuse and amaze me. This is where a small % of drafted guys ever amount to anything. Roster depth? Fine. But whether or not we took a RB in the 6th the other day is not going to make or break the team.

Carry on.

purplefaithful wrote:

I think they are looking for RB1 next year...

Jones will be really old by then and for all intensive purposes he signed a 1 year deal. 

Mason is a change of pace/fill in for a game guy

Yup. Definitely looking next year for a safety and RB. And every team that drafts behind us will know that.

Maybe addressing at least 1 of those ahead of the actual need might have been a good idea?

:rolleyes:

comet52 wrote:
RB looney tunes is apparently here, queue the music!

RB's are a dime a dozen is all I've heard for years.  The Vikings run game is a non-entity since Adrian Petersen left. (edit: Ok, Dalvin Cook in his prime).  KOC doesn't run, he just talks about running.  Etc.  We finally built a real oline which is how you run unless you have a HOF RB, so what's the big worry?

But now, if we don't take a RB in the 6th round of the draft where let's face it, pretty much every guy at every position is just a step above a UDFA, then we're essentially fucked. 

I mean, we did actually sign at least one UDFA RB that I know of.  We already have like 4 of them on the roster right now, right?  Is there some guy we could have drafted at that late stage of the draft who would make some impact, like say, DeWayne McBride?  You know, a guy the draftniks pound the table for because oh baby, put the champagne on ice to celebrate the steal!

I say this with no disrespect to anyone, but I've been watching the NFL for over 50 years and listening to hot and heavy draft talk for the last 3 decades since it became a big thing and message boards came into being.  And the hand-wringing over guys from the 4th-7th rounds just never ceases to amuse and amaze me.  This is where a small % of drafted guys ever amount to anything.  Roster depth?  Fine.  But whether or not we took a RB in the 6th the other day is not going to make or break the team.

Carry on.

the hand wringing stems from one or two posters wanting to take our 3rd round pick,  add  in 1 or 2 early round picks next year to move up in this years draft to take one of the falling RBs,  and then apparently some idiot had the audacity to say fuck no to the notion and thought it better to save the early round 26 picks for 26 draft so we dont once again find ourselves without a decent amount of quality picks in 2 consecutive drafts.

Tai Felton!

Oh, wrong thread apparently.

JimmyinSD wrote:

the hand wringing stems from one or two posters wanting to take our 3rd round pick,  add  in 1 or 2 early round picks next year to move up in this years draft to take one of the falling RBs,  and then apparently some idiot had the audacity to say fuck no to the notion and thought it better to save the early round 26 picks for 26 draft so we dont once again find ourselves without a decent amount of quality picks in 2 consecutive drafts.

KAM's drafts haven't exactly been HOF level and a move like that would probably shitcan his upcoming extension and put him on track to the unemployment line. He already needs Dallas Turner to morph from backup to all-pro to justify the crazy overspend from last year. Going into every draft with minimal picks and hoping you can find a bottomless pit of f.a. cash to spend and hit the right guys with too is probably not optimal, even for our whiz kid g.m. who seems to be acting a bit like he's on a hot seat at times lately.

JustInTime wrote:

Yup. Definitely looking next year for a safety and RB. And every team that drafts behind us will know that.

Maybe addressing at least 1 of those ahead of the actual need might have been a good idea?

:rolleyes:

Man, you can sure see into the future well. lol  I mean there's no way we can swing a trade, make a free agency signing, or draft a good RB in rd 2.   Geesus, are you serious?   But every team will know that, so I'm sure they'll screw us from doing all those multiple avenues as well.