How badly do we want to keep Eric Wilson in 26?

purplefaithful wrote:
Arguably he, Turner, Redmond and Gink are having best seasons on D.

He should come cheaply and we should want him back. But I also think his position is one we should target in the draft as early as the first round. I'm not a big fan of taking off-ball LBs in the 1st round, but if there's a Fred Warner type, we should consider it.

MaroonBells wrote:

He should come cheaply and we should want him back. But I also think his position is one we should target in the draft as early as the first round. I'm not a big fan of taking off-ball LBs in the 1st round, but if there's a Fred Warner type, we should consider it.

I agree about the LB in the draft...

Harry will be gone and that will bump S up on the list and a strong case can get made for a corner too.

Be hard pressed to pass on any of those. I am glad we got what? 11 picks this year???

Insert KAM comment "here"

I'd be down for keeping him a year or maybe two on a reasonable deal (because of his age), then drafting a guy day 2 or maybe round 4.

I'm curious how Flores values the different positions, but I think we'll be relatively desperate in the secondary, although it's been kind of crazy how the defense has performed given the lack of CBs on the roster.

medaille wrote:
I'd be down for keeping him a year or maybe two on a reasonable deal (because of his age), then drafting a guy day 2 or maybe round 4. I'm curious how Flores values the different positions, but I think we'll be relatively desperate in the secondary, although it's been kind of crazy how the defense has performed given the lack of CBs on the roster.

Its a festivus miracle imo...I think the Vikings are in top 10 defense this season. 

CRAZY good job by BFlo and crew..

Too early 26 Mock:

11. Minnesota Vikings (5-8)
Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

A notable need for the Vikings is cornerback, where the team is lacking depth behind Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers. Enter Delane, who took his game to another level after transferring from Virginia Tech before this season. He has excellent size for the position (6-foot, 190 pounds) and thrives using force at the catch point to disrupt the ball. Delane is at his best playing off coverage and reading the quarterback, though he is also a willing run defender who could thrive in Brian Flores' aggressive system. When targeted as the primary coverage player this season, he surrendered the third-lowest completion percentage in the FBS (27.8%).

https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2026/story/_/id/47243299/2026-nfl-mock-draft-first-round-predictions-32-picks-field-yates

Personally, I would have a hard time passing on Love at 11 :)

purplefaithful wrote:

Its a festivus miracle imo...I think the Vikings are in top 10 defense this season. 

CRAZY good job by BFlo and crew..

Too early 26 Mock:

11. Minnesota Vikings (5-8)
Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

A notable need for the Vikings is cornerback, where the team is lacking depth behind Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers. Enter Delane, who took his game to another level after transferring from Virginia Tech before this season. He has excellent size for the position (6-foot, 190 pounds) and thrives using force at the catch point to disrupt the ball. Delane is at his best playing off coverage and reading the quarterback, though he is also a willing run defender who could thrive in Brian Flores' aggressive system. When targeted as the primary coverage player this season, he surrendered the third-lowest completion percentage in the FBS (27.8%).

https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2026/story/_/id/47243299/2026-nfl-mock-draft-first-round-predictions-32-picks-field-yates

Personally, I would have a hard time passing on Love at 11 :)

I’m not easily sold on RB in round one anymore. I do need to look at Love though as a lot of people value him.  

My philosophy is you draft an impact player if available idc what position they play. By impact, they need to be an above average starter.  We got that with Jackson. Book is still out on JJ and Turner due to age. 

To combine need with value, I like corner or DT  in the upper half of rd 1 and S, LB in lower half this year.

Quick edit- One of the big reasons BFlo’s pass defense has been so good is because teams have chewed us up on the ground. I say this really liking Bflo overall.

Bullazin wrote:

I’m not easily sold on RB in round one anymore. I do need to look at Love though as a lot of people value him.  
My philosophy is you draft an impact player if available idc what position they play. By impact, they need to be an above average starter.  We got that with Jackson. Book is still out on JJ and Turner due to age. 
To combine need with value, I like corner or DT  in the upper half of rd 1 and S, LB in lower half this year.
Quick edit- One of the big reasons BFlo’s pass defense has been so good is because teams have chewed us up on the ground. I say this really liking Bflo overall.

I get it and I was pounding the table for a trade-back and getting Henderson. Smith, Allen and Hargrave could all be gone next season and we need to get better, younger, faster just about anywhere. 

I like the G we got at 24 last year - a lot. 

Others will argue a RB is a wasted pick with KOC passing fetish - and there is some legitimacy to that argument. 

BUT - if there was a back Ive seen lately that can tilt the field like Gibbs? It would be Love.

And that would be a huge lift off JJM and help the passing game by drawing S's closer to the LOS too. Nobody on D is that concerned with an old Aaron Jones or change of pace guy like Mason...

Jahmyr Gibbs has been named Offensive POTM. He recorded 493 rushing yards, 203 receiving yards and six touchdowns across the Detroit Lions' five games in November, helping the team win against the Washington Commanders and New York Giants.

He fits in with the over the hill gang so why not?

purplefaithful wrote:

Its a festivus miracle imo...I think the Vikings are in top 10 defense this season. 

CRAZY good job by BFlo and crew..

Too early 26 Mock:

11. Minnesota Vikings (5-8)
Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

A notable need for the Vikings is cornerback, where the team is lacking depth behind Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers. Enter Delane, who took his game to another level after transferring from Virginia Tech before this season. He has excellent size for the position (6-foot, 190 pounds) and thrives using force at the catch point to disrupt the ball. Delane is at his best playing off coverage and reading the quarterback, though he is also a willing run defender who could thrive in Brian Flores' aggressive system. When targeted as the primary coverage player this season, he surrendered the third-lowest completion percentage in the FBS (27.8%).

https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2026/story/_/id/47243299/2026-nfl-mock-draft-first-round-predictions-32-picks-field-yates

Personally, I would have a hard time passing on Love at 11 :)

You keep saying RB in the first and I'm gonna drive over and stomp on your piss bag.   :P

The position is to easy to fill to take a premium pick and use it there,  we have way to many areas of need to use it on RB IMO still.

JimmyinSD wrote:

You keep saying RB in the first and I'm gonna drive over and stomp on your piss bag.   :P

The position is to easy to fill to take a premium pick and use it there,  we have way to many areas of need to use it on RB IMO still.

Nope, pounding the drum for Love LOL! All RB's are not created equal ;)

Supa, you need to chime in here. You're a Golden Domer.

As an aside, is there a better name for a corner from LSU than Mansoor Delane???

Crank-up the tunes Jimmy!

purplefaithful wrote:

Nope, pounding the drum for Love LOL! All RB's are not created equal ;)

Supa, you need to chime in here. You're a Golden Domer.

As an aside, is there a better name for a corner from LSU than Mansoor Delane???

Crank-up the tunes Jimmy!

Love is an absolute stud and makes the difficult look routine. My worry is that OConnell wouldn't even know how to use him, or just flat out refuses to use him because he wants to throw the ball all over the field. As much as it pains me to say, we'd probably get more bang for our buck out of a boundary corner. If you had a coach who wasn't allergic to the run or really utilized the running game...different story

supafreak84 wrote:

Love is an absolute stud and makes the difficult look routine. My worry is that OConnell wouldn't even know how to use him, or just flat out refuses to use him because he wants to throw the ball all over the field. As much as it pains me to say, we'd probably get more bang for our buck out of a boundary corner. If you had a coach who wasn't allergic to the run or really utilized the running game...different story

Alternately, maybe if we had a flashy runner, he'd learn to love the run

supafreak84 wrote:

Love is an absolute stud and makes the difficult look routine. My worry is that OConnell wouldn't even know how to use him, or just flat out refuses to use him because he wants to throw the ball all over the field. As much as it pains me to say, we'd probably get more bang for our buck out of a boundary corner. If you had a coach who wasn't allergic to the run or really utilized the running game...different story

To make JJM work, we’re going to have to adapt. So you either draft RBs who can function with him or ditch JJM.

Also, if we have to look at "should we invest in our offense getting better or our defense getting better", it kind of feels like our offense is still holding our defense back. What position on offense could we draft and be a viable upgrade? WR ... set. OL ... maybe center, but pretty set. We're kind of just looking at TE and RB, both less premium positions in the draft.

I'm more amenable to a game changing back than perhaps at any time in recent history. Probably smarter to upgrade the DBs, but I generally trust Flores to do more with less.

medaille wrote:

Alternately, maybe if we had a flashy runner, he'd learn to love the run

We've had some good runners since he's been the coach. Dalvin Cook, Aaron Jones, Cam Akers all three times (kidding). I think Jordan Mason has been criminally underused this year. Doesn't matter who he's had in the backfield, he just refuses to commit to the run or running a balanced play sheet. Again, since he's been the head coach the Vikings rank 31st in rushing attempts and that really says it all. He'd run Love 8-10 times a game and that to me isn't worth a top pick.

purplefaithful wrote:

Nope, pounding the drum for Love LOL! All RB's are not created equal ;)

Supa, you need to chime in here. You're a Golden Domer.

As an aside, is there a better name for a corner from LSU than Mansoor Delane???

Crank-up the tunes Jimmy!

I too love drafting Irish,  but I dont care who the RB played for,  I dont want him in the first round.

medaille wrote:

Alternately, maybe if we had a flashy runner, he'd learn to love the run

With a healthy o-line and the best Love in the division, it could work.

It’s been a decade plus since Rhodes were Closed around here. If there’s a Stingley or Gardner type on the board (is there?) the Vikings should and imo will run to the podium.

Edit- Keep Wilson

Thor did a pretty decent breakdown yesterday on some draft prospects that could be in play for the Vikings. Sounds like there's a probability by seasons end we'll be drafting in that 9 to 12 range according to their statistical probabilities. Just my thoughts on a couple guys he talks about;

Downs- I like him although he does play safety and taking one in the top 15 would be difficult for me to do personally. Also, he's short, and the measurables on him will be something to monitor.

Love- As I mentioned in the other thread, electric player, I just don't trust KOC to ever really commit to the run or use him properly so might be a wasted pick

Delane- I still see this as the most likely pick. Top corner on a lot of draft boards and a boundary corner is a big need for the Vikings

Sadiq- on the freak list for this draft, he's probably the top guy. A lot will depend on what happens with Hockenson, but with as much as McCarthy likes to utilize TE's dating all the way back to college, I could see Sadiq being a worthwhile pick even if Hockenson is retained

supafreak84 wrote:
https://youtu.be/-2ShRgkwvDg?si=p1-72BZzdSnIo2X4

Thor did a pretty decent breakdown yesterday on some draft prospects that could be in play for the Vikings. Sounds like there's a probability by seasons end we'll be drafting in that 9 to 12 range according to their statistical probabilities. Just my thoughts on a couple guys he talks about;

Downs- I like him although he does play safety and taking one in the top 15 would be difficult for me to do personally. Also, he's short, and the measurables on him will be something to monitor.

Love- As I mentioned in the other thread, electric player, I just don't trust KOC to ever really commit to the run or use him properly so might be a wasted pick

Delane- I still see this as the most likely pick. Top corner on a lot of draft boards and a boundary corner is a big need for the Vikings

Sadiq- on the freak list for this draft, he's probably the top guy. A lot will depend on what happens with Hockenson, but with as much as McCarthy likes to utilize TE's dating all the way back to college, I could see Sadiq being a worthwhile pick even if Hockenson is retained

Luv the Sadiq pick for JJM - not sure I love it at 11 though? Which is where I think we'll be.

Lots of needs across the board on D, I could very well see that being the pick and would support it - much as I would love to be rooting for Love the next 6 seasons or so.

JimmyinSD wrote:

I too love drafting Irish,  but I dont care who the RB played for,  I dont want him in the first round.

Haven't you heard? It's cool again to draft RBs in the first round.