MT: Monday Madness

With 72 hours til the draft rolls, I decided to go a little mock draft crazy on one of my new favorite websites - The Draft Network. I've gone through the draft five times and done a running log of my thoughts as the board unfolded.

In the first go-round, both Justin Herbert and Jordan Love were available when they pick 22 rolled up. But I decided to forego that luxury at first for the need of another offensive line infusion, this time in the form of Josh Jones. When 25 came up both guys were still there, because trades up aren't a feature. If it happened that both guys lasted that long on Thursday I would expect some moves back in the first round by teams who want to bolster the Quarterback position but in this case, I decided to pin down the future of the position in Minnesota with the guy that Skoldiers may end up loving in a few years - Jordan Love. I know, bad pun. In the second and third the board fell such that addressing the defensive backfield was a no-brainer with Safety Ashtyn Davis (Cal) in the second round and CB Troy Pride out of Notre Dame with pick 89. Their next scheduled selection started a semi-theme for the rest of the draft with talent from in-state. From Collegeville to Eagan, Ben Bartch went at 105 then at 132 it was too good of an option to pass on Tyler Johnson. The board continued to reflect the depth of this year's wide receiver group and I made it two in a row with Devin Duvernay out of Texas. I went to my FCS roots with two of the next three, CB Madre Harper at 201 & LB Dante Olson at 219 and CB Lamar Jackson at 205. At 249 I went with a third Minnesota player, Carter Coughlin and wrapped the first go up with IDL Darrion Daniels. I would be almost as surprised if it takes the team that long to address the defensive line as I would be to see both of the quarterbacks on the board that long in the first round, but the craziness of it is a major part of why it gets such a following. Onto the second go!

This time, Safety and Offensive Tackle took seven of the first 21 picks which created a dream scenario for the Purple at 22. The options came down to Jerry Jeudy and K'Lavon Chaisson and I flipped the coin on the Crimson Tide prospect but it ended up being two-headed and Chaisson remained on the board at 25, like I said - dream scenario. The Purple dream kept on going when they were back on the board with four impact offensive players still on the board. It was tempting to mock any of Michael Pittman Jr., Laviska Shenault or Tee Higgins to Minnesota in what would be called the 'Diggs who?' draft and there were also a pair of Interior Defensive Linemen from the SEC that would bring that part of the team along very quickly but at the top of the board, and with a deal not yet in place for the highly-talented but oft-injured Dalvin Cook, I went with Clyde Edwards-Helaire from the national champs. But that luxury pick leaves the two most prominent needs yet unaddressed, until now. At pick 89, OT Lucas Niang, a potential second-round pick in reality, was too good of a value to not add even if the need weren't what it is. Troy Pride was nearly available again but the Purple got sniped from selecting him so the choice came down to another O-Tackle or a Linebacker. Either Matthew Peart or Troy Dye would make the roster better so tie goes to the bigger need, Peart is the pick. Then, at 132, offense is once again available en masse at the top of the board. Very well could have gone receiver again but instead opted for another heir-apparent to Kyle Rudolph in Hunter Bryant. When 155 rolled around, a name that I had tabbed to Minnesota previously was at the top of the board and would help bridge the gap from Everson Griffen to the future - Nick Coe, DE Auburn. As with the first run-through, if it took this long for Minnesota to address a major need, heads may roll but it's just been a function of the way the draft has fallen and taking advantage of guys sliding. For the second time in as many picks, a Tiger is at the top of the board and fits the top need for the team - Javaris Davis. 201 is too late but then at 205 they take another shot at improving the backend with another Clemson Safety, Tanner Muse. Because of the delay at CB I would look for a possible Richard Sherman situation to convert a Receiver to Corner and at the top of the board there just so happens to be a litany of receivers to choose from. In this case, I'm going John Hightower, Boise State. In a bit of an echo-chamber, I'm taking the same approach with their second-to-last pick with Austin Mack, Ohio State. And to complete the volume approach, DeMarkus Acy, CB Missouri. Wasn't my intent, but this one made 12 picks seem like too few, which goes back to my hope that they end up with more picks before Saturday evening.

#3 starts how basically every Vikings fan would want it to, with a top Offensive Tackle and a top Cornerback still on the board at 22. Since I consider CB to be a higher need between the two, Kristian Fulton gets the nod and I 🤞 that Josh Jones doesn't get snatched before 25. PAYDIRT! It gets even better when 58 comes up - Antoine Winfield Jr.! Nearly had all three of the wide receivers on the board again but Shenault & Pittman Jr. were both just taken so I had to settle for Tee Higgins. Gladly! If Anthony Harris were traded I would select Terrell Burgess here but as things stand, it's another offensive player. Jake Fromm and Eno Benjamin (RB) were both considered but the chance to grab another in-state, small-school prospect was too good to pass - Ben Bartch. But the head coach is still a defensive mind and Minnesota still has one of the best DL coaches so the chance to unearth another gem was too good to pass with 132 - Kenny Willekes, Michigan St. DE. Make that double when 155 comes, McTelvin Agim IDL, Arkansas. So in round 6 the team can start going for depth, which is how it should be. As with number 2, Tanner Muse at 201 and then John Hightower at 205, but not to switch positions. A new name at 219 but for the same reason as Willekes & Agim, DJ Wonnum DE, South Carolina, because I want him 😏. At 249, DeMarkus Acy and then maybe, finally, a hit on a late-round offensive lineman for the first time since John Sullivan - Yasir Durant, Missouri.

This time, it starts with a debate at 22 whether Jeudy should be the pick or Justin Jefferson's upside. While I remain skeptical of Alabama players, route running excellence is a terrific way to avoid a bust so JJ gets the nod. And once again, Jordan Love is there for the taking which would create a wonderful "trade-down or draft & stash" scenario. Since there's no trades and I have an eye on a later QB, Josh Jones is the guy again. At 58, add another Interior Defensive Lineman to fill the big shoes of Linval, Ross Blacklock TCU. Maybe the most irritating of the situations every time is that Jalen Hurts keeps going at a point well behind 58 but still well ahead of 89. Minnesota can capitalize on a different offensive guy with two who have slid. The first, like his predecessor in college - Cam Akers, Florida State and the second, a potential Percy Harvin type player - Antonio Gibson. I'm not sure that Kirk Cousins is the type to maximize Harvin talents but on the chance I'd be proven wrong, Gibson. At 105, another weapon for the offense with a familiar last name, Thaddeus Moss. With another miss at the quarterback position, this time in the form of James Morgan, I went with the top cornerback on the board - Reggie Robinson, Tulsa. And then, in a bit of computer-generated mystery, Tyler Johnson is still on the board at 155. EASY PICK! Back to the defense and to help fill the void at Cornerback, Javaris Davis Auburn and then Safety, Antoine Brooks Jr. Maryland. Make it a trend with 219, Dane Jackson Pittsburgh CB. With the second-to-last pick this time, it's another Interior Offensive Lineman, Jake Hanson Oregon before going into the scrum with a local prospect, Carter Coughlin.

Version five introduces a change, while the "Predictive Board" has been utilized for the first four, I'm switching to the "Player Rankings" list for this one. We'll see if that makes a difference. It didn't take long for a new name to appear - Patrick Queen, LB LSU. Instead of him, I'm sticking with Justin Jefferson at 22 but there's another new name near the top at 25, Grant Delpit, Safety LSU, he would be the pick though Cesar Ruiz & Yetur Gross-Matos are enticing options. This time, Josh Jones has slid all the way to 58 and it's a no-brainer! A bit of symmetry at 89, Antonio Gibson is high on the list and doesn't get passed on this time. Cole Kmet was on the board from 89 to 105 and the Notre Dame TE will get tutelage from Kyle Rudolph. James Morgan nearly survived until 132 but NOLA got a small measure of revenge for their playoff ousters so a quick pivot to the defense and DE Alton Robinson joins the Purple from Cuse. Follow that up with a player to practice against, Hakeem Adeniji out of Kansas 😲 . Cornerback remains thin but now's the time to add an inside player in the form of Essang Bassey, Wake Forest. Then comes the chance at a passer, the heir to the Jacksonville Jorter in college, Jake Luton Oregon State. Back to the cornerback position, Thakarius Keyes Tulane at 219, 249 Jace Whittaker Arizona & 253 Grayland Arnold Baylor.

And just for a bit of bonus reading, as if this wasn't long enough already, I ran the simulator one more time, on automatic. It started with Justin Jefferson and followed with Kristian Fulton. DE Joshua Uche from Michigan was next followed by a guy to play beside him, Larrell Murchison from NC State. At 105 it was the Offensive Line getting a boost in the form of Saahdiq Charles, LSU and then a guy who would lineup next to him, John Simpson Clemson. At 155, the steal of the draft - James Morgan, QB Florida International. Okay, so maybe no SOD but that alone makes the freeroll worth taking! After him came Safety Myles Dorn from North Carolina & WR Antonio Gandy-Golden from Liberty. Linebacker Michael Divinity Jr. LSU was added at 219 while two more receivers rounded it out, Jeff Thomas Miami & Kendrick Rogers TAMU.

The only thing that was consistent was the unpredictability. You didn't need to read this far to know that but it's the overarching lesson from this exercise in madness to start the week. Plenty of names to be aware of, plenty of excitement bound to pass during the 48 hours from Thursday evening through Saturday!

Thanks for reading & be safe!