It's mid-week, that means it's time to mock draft!
Here is last week's edition.
Now onto the new one
This week I decided to ignore the board generated by the system and draft based on need.
If you watched the games or have spent any time talking about and/or following the team recently then you know what the rosters top need is.
The top guard is Southern Cal's Alijah Vera-Tucker, the 22nd ranked player by TDN. Maybe Rick would trade down a spot or three if their information gives them the same impression but considering the LOOONG-time need at the position, I don't think any fans would bemoan them just taking the best guard and not playing around with it.
The needs start to get murky after #1. Defensive tackle & safety are nearly neck & neck as the next highest needs. Micheal Pierce is set to debut for Minnesota and they just re-signed Stephen Weatherly for some depth on the edge. Those facts made me lean toward safety. But then I thought about the quality of season that Harrison Smith just had and how Anthony Harris may come back on a prove-it deal. That doesn't mean they shouldn't make a strong push to improve the depth at S but playing the numbers game, more DL are needed than safeties. So I rolled with DT Marlon Tuipulotu from Southern Cal.
Somewhere during the five picks in the third and fourth I think Minnesota needs to add a quarterback. When pick 90 came up there were two on the board that could become players in the League. Instead of rolling the dice that one of them will last the 29 pick gap until Minnesota is back on the clock I went for the one who I think could become a Dak Prescott-esque player: Kellen Mond, TAMU.
Making the move now gives them a full year to figure out if that's true. If he doesn't impress then they can take another bite of the apple next April while not losing out a great player in this draft if they were to instead draft one in the first or second rounds. I know they don't have a 2 right now but Rick loves trading like he loves to breathe - maybe more - so dream just a little bit!
I get the appeal of a Trey Lance, maybe he'll even slide to 14. His pro day on Friday will go a long way to determining in his position in this class. And if you can find the right rookie, then it's worth a two year wait. But I'm in the camp of trying to address the position for the long term while not missing out on impact players who can help the rebound right away. I think going with Kellen Mond or Kyle Trask could be the best of both worlds.
At 119 safety was firmly fixed atop the list and there were two to choose from. San Diego's Tariq Thompson & Southern Cal's Talanoa Hufanga could both become starters but in my estimation Hufanga seems like a higher probability to play well with and eventually supplant Harrison Smith.
So, I've gone guard, defensive tackle, quarterback & safety so far.
With 125 & 134 on the horizon the opportunity to run the show is appealing. To appease the coach and hopefully make life more difficult for Rodgers defensive line returned to the top of the list. Adding another edge rusher may be a higher need along the front but as with guard, getting havoc from the middle hasn't happened nearly enough since Kevin Williams hung up his cleats.
Florida State's Marvin Williams could join Tuipulotu in resolving that issue.
The DL rotation-reload continued at 134 when Tulane's Cameron Sample was still on the board. The DE doesn't have the statuesque build of Danielle Hunter but could become another quality player in the rotation under the tutelage of Andre Patterson.
Then the choice became whether to re-invest into offensive line or to add someone to go along with Dantzler & Gladney for the next several season. Since there wasn't a wrong answer I let the board distinguish between the positions.
Oklahoma State's Rodarius Williams was at the top, by a wide margin. Which is to say it became an easy choice.
For the fifth time wide in this marathon, receiver continued to be available en-masse in the later rounds. That my friends is what you call a trend. Maybe the real thing will even play out that way. On the other end of the spectrum was offensive line. Had to scroll down quite a ways to find the next one but he just so happened to compare to a former success story for the Purple. From the same university as Phil Loadholt comes big Adrian Ealy. He is firmly a tackle prospect, which does go against the grain of the teams approach - trying to force so many of the guys to learn multiple positions. With time he could develop into a solid backup for either O'Neill or the left tackle.
That brings the haul so far to guard, defensive tackle, quarterback, safety, defensive tackle, defensive end, cornerback & offensive tackle with four picks to go. That's plenty of defensive line and a decent number of additions for the offensive one. Quarterback is also not in consideration the rest of the way, which still leaves plenty of positions.
With only a third round investment so far, safety moves back to the top.
Coincidentally there is one at the top of the draft board. Get your burnt orange on for Caden Sterns. He's far more proven as a deep safety than "in the box" but as a possible long-term running mate for Hufanga that could work well.
The aforementioned depth at receiver holds true into the 200s. Trying to identify the best of the group is appealing but instead I opted to go after Zimmer's pet position at 201. Central Florida's Tay Gowan reminds me of Dantzler. Doesn't mean the same kind of lightning will strike with whichever team he starts with but it means that his physical composition can be overcome. He's one of three CBs graded about the same. The others are Marco Wilson from Florida & Manny Rugamba from Miami of Ohio. I dubbed the Knight the best option but all of them could be in-play next month.
Finding a way to another quality, depth linebacker has finally moved near the top of the needs but finding a dynamic option for WR3 that could be the second option when Thielen finishes is still above LB. So it's good that there are so many options. Far & away the best receiver prospect at this point is Illinois Josh Imatorbhebhe. Big, fast & with proven hands he would be a contender for steal-of-the-draft.
With the final pick of this simulation I went back to the well to try and find someone who could not only aid the offense but also take over the returner duties. From one state over, Cade Johnson could be just the guy for the job. This would all but guarantee linebackers being included among the free agent signees but with the young guys already on the payroll that may be all the investment that's actually needed, even if Barr joins Rudolph in a different jersey next season. Speaking of him, tight end is a similar need level but could wait until that part of draft weekend as well.
So the class finishes: guard, defensive tackle, quarterback, safety, defensive tackle, defensive end, cornerback, offensive tackle, safety, cornerback, receiver & receiver.
It wouldn't solve all the problems but would increase the depth of several of positions. And there will always be surprises from the players that are taken to make it better.
Thoughts?
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