#7

It's mid-week, that means it's time to mock draft!

Here is last week's edition.

Now onto the new one

With the confirmed additions of Patrick Peterson & Dalvin Tomlinson and the subtraction of a seventh round pick, the picture is gettting more and more clear with a few weeks left! Rashod Hill is a serviceable reserve but I know I'm not alone in wishing that the Purple had made a move for at least the same sort of depth player for the interior of the OL. The same can be said for safety. Even if the new scheme is to play Harrison Smith as a solo safety (probably not the case) more than one backup should in the mix. Just onto the podium of needs is linebacker with Anthony Barr's status firmed up.

With Micah Parsons & Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah available the future starter alongside Eric Kendricks could have been added at 14. But with a year to learn in a lesser role, that spot can be addressed in a later round.

So the choice came down to G Alijah Vera-Tucker (So. Cal) & S Trevon Moehrig (TCU).

In reality that would create a strong trade-down scenario for Minnesota while still being able to add an immediate-impact player. Without that option available to me I used the supposed depth of safeties in this draft as a tie-breaker and thus added AV-T.

With six of these simulations already done several of the same players continue to present themselves. With pick 78 there was a less frequent player available at the top of the ranking - DT Jay Tufele (So. Cal). As a possible 3-technique of the future next to Michael Pierce, the option needed to be considered, even with the more pressing needs. The next player that was considered was former quarterback Chazz Surratt. Minnesota already has it's QB of the D in Kendricks but Surratt may add another dimension because of his time on the other side of the ball. The third option was a regular during this simulation process - guard/center Josh Myers (OSU).

This time the value that Tufele presented was too great to bypass while the other positions will get another look at 90.

Myers was picked just before Minnesota was back on the "clock" while Surratt was gone earlier but in their place are two more familiar names, S Hamsah Nasirildeen (FSU) & guard Ben Cleveland (UGA). In the event that they see Ezra Cleveland as a long-term guard then a couple tackle prospects may be considered at this point as well. This go-around had Jackson Carman (Clemson) & Brady Christensen as the best OTs available.

I opted to add some Nas to DB group.

In the absence of linebacker at 119, attention turned to the defensive line. Four of the top eight players on the board were profiled as DEs. Janarius Robinson & Dayo Odeyingbo are two more familiar players but this time the choice was made to go for Victor Dimukeje with his inside/outside flexibility.

At 125 the chance to add another protege for Patrick Peterson took center stage. I would have preferred to go linebacker but the disparity between pick and talent was too great, so I fell into Trill Williams (Syracuse).

LB continued to not be a viable option at 134 with the best one ranked as more of a fifth-round talent & a 3-4 OLB. But the run on backers that the digital GMs made left a host of DE & cornerbacks to choose from. The aforementioned Odeyingbo topped the list and the possibility of getting another Danielle Hunter type was too good to pass up!

Another repeat member of the simulations is Auburn's Seth Williams and as a developmental third receiver in the mid-late part of the draft he's a player to keep in mind!

DBs & pass-rushers continue to be available in bulk. S Richard LeCounte is another familiar name that I think could be counted on as a pro but he's just one of several potential value-adds. As another safety option, Caden Sterns could be more than just a special teamer but available beyond pick 150. I went with LeCounte just because of the word-play possibility.

It's at this point that I was wishing I could go back and pick up a linebacker earlier. Sure, I could have restarted, no muss, no fuss but even in a fantasy draft simulation just hitting restart felt like a cheat.

So I prioritized adding more quality at the positions that were still available en-masse.

The first target over the final three picks was cornerback Shakur Brown. He'll come from East Lansing with a dreadfully low number of starts but that could work in Minnesota's favor.

South Dakota State's Cade Johnson could fill a need as both a reserve receiver and as the primary return man for the team. You can't ask much more than that of a player taken at the end of the draft.

With the last pick, just because of the value he presented I went with Illinois Josh Imatorbhebhe as another developmental option at receiver. That is a mouthful of a last name but maybe, just maybe he can become that much of a handful to opposing defenses!

Not a perfect draft, whatever that even means, but finished with some more names to be aware of and ultimately that's the goal!