Minnesota Vikings News and Links, 20 April 2024

The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection. – Thomas Paine

As we get down to the last 5 days plus until the draft, it is looking more and more like the Commandos, Patriots, Cardinals, and Chargers are all looking for a massive haul to move out of their spot and out of the top 10. Who can blame them either? If the Vikings were in their position, us fans would want huge package to move down too.

Seven clichés that show flaws in NFL draft trade-up process

The value of trading down — and not trading up — has been an enduring refrain of analytics disciples ever since economists Cade Massey and Richard Thaler wrote their original paper on overconfidence and market efficiency (or lack thereof) in the NFL draft more than 15 years ago. In that analysis the economists found, for example, that the probability a first-round player starts more games than the next-selected player at his position is just 58% — and only 53% across the entire draft. Still, even as other quantitative analysis conclusions have achieved major NFL buy-in — from fourth-down attempts to pass-first philosophies to the value of running backs — GMs continue to pay expensive prices to land specific prospects they covet in the draft.

‘It was even on the Jimmy Johnson chart’

‘Trading up was worth it to get our guy’

‘He’s the missing piece’

‘If he hits, it will all be worth it’

‘We had extra picks’

‘We only gave up future picks’

‘If it doesn’t work, the GM won’t be here for the missing picks’

…

I think all of the stuff we are hearing now really is just gamesmanship between the teams. Kwesi saying he has a walkaway price, other GMs saying they want the BAG to trade down, the stuff about prospects having issues, etc.

I will say this about trading up. I love trades so if they do it then so be it. But I do not think they can get one of the top 5 to trade down to 11. Those teams might if they think they can trade back up but that is risky. I really think the Vikings need to trade up to 5 through 8 first. Then, maybe trade up again.

Since the Cardinals desperately need a receiver and already have picks 27 and 35, there really is no reason for them to NOT come away with Marvin Harrison Jr, Rome Odunze, or Malik Nabers. If I am them, I am staying put.

So that leaves the Patriots or Chargers. The Chargers really need a receiver. They have Quentin Johnson, Joshua Palmer, and Derius Davis but that is not enough. Even though Hairball wants to run the ball, he still has to have the threat of the pass in the NFL (IMHO).

I do not see the Chargers trading down too far and many of the mocks out there think the Vikings will give 11, 23, and future picks to go from 11 to 5. Crack heads.

News and Links

Kevin O’Connell is getting draft questions at church now

Is Jayden Daniels in the Mix for the Vikings?

Vikings Report 2024 NFL Draft Preview: Cornerbacks

Minnesota Vikings 2024 NFL Draft

NFL Draft Rumors: Jayden Daniels Eyes Raiders, Vikings amid Commanders, Patriots Buzz

Drake Maye drops out of the top 10 in Vikings 7-round NFL mock draft

Chargers GM: Need an ‘attractive’ offer to trade No. 5 pick

“They have to make it attractive for us to move away from those players,” Hortiz said. “The whole, ‘It’s a fair trade, it’s a wash’ — I don’t think that’s a trade that we’re interested in.”

Yore Mock

Minnesota Receives: 2024: Round 1, Pick 5; 2024: Round 2, Pick 37

Los Angeles Receives: 2024: Round 1, Pick 11; 2024: Round 1, Pick 23; 2024: Round 5, Pick 167; 2025 Round 3

…

Minnesota Receives: 2024: Round 1, Pick 3; 2024: Round 3, Pick 68

New England Receives: 2024: Round 1, Pick 5; 2025 Round 1

…

Minnesota Receives: 2024: Round 2, Pick 43; 2024: Round 4, Pick 109

Atlanta Receives: 2024: Round 2, Pick 37

…

Minnesota Receives: 2024: Round 2, Pick 55

Miami Receives: 2024: Round 3, Pick 68; 2024: Round 4, Pick 108

…

Minnesota Receives: 2024: Round 3, Pick 97; 2024: Round 6, Pick 214

Cincinnati Receives: 2024: Round 4, Pick 109; 2025 Round 4

…

3. Jayden Daniels QB LSU 6’4” 210

43. Mike Sainristil CB Michigan 5’9.3” 182

55. T’Vondre Sweat DL Texas 6’4.4” 366

97. Sedrick Van Pran IOL Georgia 6’4.1” 301

129. Brandon Coleman IOL TCU 6’4.4” 313

157. Justin Eboigbe DL Alabama 6’4.3” 293

177. Jalyx Hunt EDGE Houston Christian 6’3.6” 252

214. Kimani Vidal RB Troy 5’7.7” 213

230. Ryan Watts III S Texas 6’3” 206

232. Lideatrick “Tulu” Griffin WR Mississippi State 5’10” 181

…

I think the trade with the Chargers is attractive. The Patriots trade is fair. Is it enough for either though? It is in this mock.

Sainistril is rising up boards and could be a perfect slot corner.

Is Sweat worth a trade up? Obviously, the DWI is not good. His weight is an issue too. But it did not hurt him in college. I think he simply needs to grow up and mature while shaving 10 to 15 lbs of weight. You cannot block him though. Not with one guy.

Van Pran just gets it done and has done so for four years in the SEC!

YEAR (GP/GS) POSITION NOTES

2020: (4/0) Redshirted; Enrolled in June 2020; Pandemic-shortened season

2021: (15/15) OC Led team in snaps played

2022: (15/15) OC Second Team All-SEC; Team captain

2023: (14/14) OC Second Team All-American; First Team All-SEC; SEC Jacobs Blocking Trophy; Team captain

Total: (48/44) OC

https://www.the33rdteam.com/sedrick-van-pran-2024-nfl-draft-combine-results-scouting-report-for-georgia-c/

You can knock him if you want but a dude with this resume is going to be solid.

The draft continues to build the lines with some gambles at the end.

Of course I am going to like it.

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