Random Thoughts Less Than 2 Weeks Out

MaroonBells wrote:

I'd jump all over Downs. I'm a little hesitant on Bain. The super short arms, combined with the awkward fit, combined with the off field stuff and I'm not sure how fast I sprint to the podium if he falls to 18. Is he Kwity Paye or Dwight Freeney? If he does fall and we take him, that probably triggers the Greenard trade on Friday.

I have almost zero concerns about Bain. Too violent too fast too driven. Aaron Donald type disruptor.

Most sacks in a college season (age 22 season or less):
11 = Parker, Jacas
8.5 = Dennis-Sutton
7.5 = Lawrence
7 = Mesidor, Faulk
6.5 = Young
6 = Crawford

— Nick Whalen (@_NickWhalen) April 14, 2026

People are sound asleep on DDS. If we trade Greenie, this is who I target.

A few things we’re seeing from the respected media guys:

- Rodriguez is firmly over Allen
- Anthony Hill isn’t anywhere close to R1
- Omar Cooper is fringe 20
- Faulk is Top 20
- Iheanachor is going in the 1st
- Ponds is getting mad love
- Thienaman is beloved
- Howell has…

— Dominic White (@DomWWhite) April 14, 2026

MaroonBells wrote:
https://x.com/DomWWhite/status/2044070688412053719?s=20

The aroma of bullshit is thick and in abundance this time of year

“The Cowboys have a glaring need in the secondary in its safety position,” Jeremiah said. “I think Thieneman could be the 12th pick in the draft. Tosh Lupoi, whom we’ve just established, loves Thieneman. 

Makes me nervous. One, because how dare the Cowboys take our guy. And two, because the Cowboys had Lewis Cine #13 on their big board.

MaroonBells wrote:
“The Cowboys have a glaring need in the secondary in its safety position,” Jeremiah said. “I think Thieneman could be the 12th pick in the draft. Tosh Lupoi, whom we’ve just established, loves Thieneman. 

Makes me nervous. One, because how dare the Cowboys take our guy. And two, because the Cowboys had Lewis Cine #13 on their big board.

Lol..

Yah, I'm starting to believe Thieneman isnt going to be there at 18

An intriguing visit: https://t.co/P4EWISr4aW

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 15, 2026

Oh my.

JustInTime wrote:
https://x.com/adamschefter/status/2044460108231397820?s=46&t=TjjB9Q4BmOwmN74RrrMjoQ

Oh my.

they've got an early 2nd round pick.... I dont think this is a first round consideration unless they already have a really solid offer to drop back quite a bit.

JimmyinSD wrote:

they've got an early 2nd round pick.... I dont think this is a first round consideration unless they already have a really solid offer to drop back quite a bit.

True.

But someone in the top 10 is going to make a pick that no one expects.

The famous Mel Kiper, Todd McShay, and Dane Brugler all posted updated #mockdrafts today.

1) CB Jermod McCoy went 24, 20, and 18, respectively, raising concern that teams are wary about the knee.

2) The 3 experts mocked WR Jordyn Tyson Picks 9, 9, and 13 (respectively), continuing the recent rise for Tyson. Pending his 4/17 workout, it looks like most big-time national analysts are projecting him to be a Top 14 pick...
Nick Guarisco@FantasyLawGuy

3) S Dillon Thieneman was mocked 18, 22, and 19 in respective mocks. This is a little later than most experts are projecting, which is interesting after yesterday's positive buzz about DT...
Nick Guarisco@FantasyLawGuy

4) ED Keldric Faulk (mocked picks 26, 26, 11) is a polarizing prospect, which makes him tough to mock given the wide range of outcomes. Slotting here reflects that. Brugler's ranked Faulk 15th overall in "The Beast," so he's staying true here...
Nick Guarisco@FantasyLawGuy

5) DT Peter Woods was mocked 22nd by Kiper, 18th by McShay. This is aggressive because most - but not all - of the sharpest experts in the "mocking industry" do not even have Woods in Rd. 1 (including Brugler). McShay and Kiper must be getting similar info...

JustInTime wrote:

True.

But someone in the top 10 is going to make a pick that no one expects.

Oh, absolutely,  I just dont see it being for Ty Simpson.  I usually figure at least 2 in top 12 that have people saying WTF... then 1 in each of the next 4-5 picks so by the time you get to 21 you can likely see at least 3 guys available that you wouldnt have expected to be sitting there,  and this is where the fun begins and you see the trades that nobody expected and everyone's mock drafts go to total shit... its why we tune in!

JimmyinSD wrote:

Oh, absolutely,  I just dont see it being for Ty Simpson.  I usually figure at least 2 in top 12 that have people saying WTF... then 1 in each of the next 4-5 picks so by the time you get to 21 you can likely see at least 3 guys available that you wouldnt have expected to be sitting there,  and this is where the fun begins and you see the trades that nobody expected and everyone's mock drafts go to total shit... its why we tune in!

It might not be as far fetched as you think. Prior to his oblique injury, there was talk of Simpson going high. Add to that the Cards propensity for doing the unexpected…

But yes, by 18 there could be several prospects no one expected to be available.

From Todd McShay's just released mock draft;

18. Denzel Boston, WR Washington

The Vikings had real issues catching the football last season, and the situation hasn’t exactly improved. With Jalen Nailor now in Las Vegas, they’re currently planning to give Tai Felton and his three rookie receptions a starting role. That’s a problem.

This pick might feel a bit rich for Boston, but based on conversations I had with a couple of teams over the weekend, the gap between him, KC Concepcion, and Omar Cooper Jr. isn’t nearly as wide for some teams as the draft community may think.

It really comes down to stylistic preference, and for Minnesota, the need is clear: a big, physical outside receiver to complement Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.

Boston fits that mold perfectly. His ball skills—including a 77 percent contested catch rate—stand out, and he brings the size and physicality this offense is missing. He also pairs well with a mobile quarterback thanks to his natural feel for uncovering downfield in scramble situations. As the new era begins with Kyler Murray under center, this would be a strong, clean fit.

supafreak84 wrote:
From Todd McShay's just released mock draft;

18. Denzel Boston, WR Washington

The Vikings had real issues catching the football last season, and the situation hasn’t exactly improved. With Jalen Nailor now in Las Vegas, they’re currently planning to give Tai Felton and his three rookie receptions a starting role. That’s a problem.

This pick might feel a bit rich for Boston, but based on conversations I had with a couple of teams over the weekend, the gap between him, KC Concepcion, and Omar Cooper Jr. isn’t nearly as wide for some teams as the draft community may think.

It really comes down to stylistic preference, and for Minnesota, the need is clear: a big, physical outside receiver to complement Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.

Boston fits that mold perfectly. His ball skills—including a 77 percent contested catch rate—stand out, and he brings the size and physicality this offense is missing. He also pairs well with a mobile quarterback thanks to his natural feel for uncovering downfield in scramble situations. As the new era begins with Kyler Murray under center, this would be a strong, clean fit.

There's so much wrong with this I don't even know where to begin. Of all the draft analysts McShay has to be the worst. I'm not opposed to taking a WR at 18, but there's a lot of Laquon Treadwell in Boston's tape.

supafreak84 wrote:
From Todd McShay's just released mock draft;

18. Denzel Boston, WR Washington

The Vikings had real issues catching the football last season, and the situation hasn’t exactly improved. With Jalen Nailor now in Las Vegas, they’re currently planning to give Tai Felton and his three rookie receptions a starting role. That’s a problem.

This pick might feel a bit rich for Boston, but based on conversations I had with a couple of teams over the weekend, the gap between him, KC Concepcion, and Omar Cooper Jr. isn’t nearly as wide for some teams as the draft community may think.

It really comes down to stylistic preference, and for Minnesota, the need is clear: a big, physical outside receiver to complement Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.

Boston fits that mold perfectly. His ball skills—including a 77 percent contested catch rate—stand out, and he brings the size and physicality this offense is missing. He also pairs well with a mobile quarterback thanks to his natural feel for uncovering downfield in scramble situations. As the new era begins with Kyler Murray under center, this would be a strong, clean fit.

I am not advocating for WR in the 1st,  but if  you look at a smart use of resources.... using higher round picks ( where the odds of hitting are greater and getting more immediate participation) on players in positions that eat larger portions of the cap ( like WR, and obviously QB,  DE, OT)  then this allows you to not have to be filling those higher priced positions with veterans which will make cap management easier over all.  from this standpoint I would not hate a WR.

I dont hate a WR in the first either....Lord knows we didnt "need one" in 98 starting Carter/Reed.

But there aint any Randy Moss' in this draft (I dont think) and this would be a WR3 most likely on this team.

Where as a DL or S would most likely be starting and there is a more dire need for bodies.

“The NFL draft is in a week…” pic.twitter.com/2ZGKQ62avt

— Sleeper (@SleeperHQ) April 16, 2026

MaroonBells wrote:

There's so much wrong with this I don't even know where to begin. Of all the draft analysts McShay has to be the worst. I'm not opposed to taking a WR at 18, but there's a lot of Laquon Treadwell in Boston's tape.

"starting role"?

Yes, the #3 may start at times, but that is a bit of a stretch.

purplefaithful wrote:
I dont hate a WR in the first either....Lord knows we didnt "need one" in 98 starting Carter/Reed.

But there aint any Randy Moss' in this draft (I dont think) and this would be a WR3 most likely on this team.

Where as a DL or S would most likely be starting  and there is a more dire need for bodies.

Agree with everything you say here. I don't think there's much question that IDL and S are our two biggest needs. But if you consider where the value is in this draft, you can make an argument that there are no IDLs in this draft worth the 18th pick, and the safeties on day two of this draft aren't too far off the 1st rounders.

Most years it's been pretty easy to predict where the Vikings will go in the 1st round. This year seems more open (despite the fact that everyone and his mother has been mocking Thieneman to us). I do still think he's the most likely pick. But unless we trade down, it's not hard at all to see a BPA strategy on Thursday night while we wait until Friday night to fill bigger needs.

greediron wrote:

"starting role"?

Yes, the #3 may start at times, but that is a bit of a stretch.

We’re in 11 personnel about 65% of the time under KO.

supafreak84 wrote:
From Todd McShay's just released mock draft;

18. Denzel Boston, WR Washington

The Vikings had real issues catching the football last season, and the situation hasn’t exactly improved. With Jalen Nailor now in Las Vegas, they’re currently planning to give Tai Felton and his three rookie receptions a starting role. That’s a problem.

This pick might feel a bit rich for Boston, but based on conversations I had with a couple of teams over the weekend, the gap between him, KC Concepcion, and Omar Cooper Jr. isn’t nearly as wide for some teams as the draft community may think.

It really comes down to stylistic preference, and for Minnesota, the need is clear: a big, physical outside receiver to complement Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.

Boston fits that mold perfectly. His ball skills—including a 77 percent contested catch rate—stand out, and he brings the size and physicality this offense is missing. He also pairs well with a mobile quarterback thanks to his natural feel for uncovering downfield in scramble situations. As the new era begins with Kyler Murray under center, this would be a strong, clean fit.

I think the natural fit would be Cooper Jr if we were to go this route, unless Lemon fell to us at 18. Cooper Jr will be that weapon and Deebo type for this offense. He is a playmaker and a natural fit with Jefferson and Addison. Lemon will be your Cupp type slot WR that would be more traditional to this offense. Either one would be a perfect fit. Cooper Jr is just that X factor type for KOC to play with. Think of what we could do with Cooper with JJ and Addison on the field.