Phil Riewer -> RE: 2022 NFL draft (4/26/2022 7:15:21 AM)
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: bohumm quote:
ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen quote:
ORIGINAL: bohumm This is mostly the "rebuild" portion of the competitive rebuild, so filling holes would not seem primary. There are no true holes, seemingly, in the eyes of the regime, even though many of us see center as a hole after watching Bradbury get tossed into Kirk's lap over and over. But there are depth needs almost everywhere and improvement needs, esp at CB. It's actually a pretty decent starting point in trying to peak in 1-3 years, since developmental prospects can provide depth without being counted on. If this was the only year to think about, I think two CBs in the first three rounds might be warranted, but it could be the third round before we take one depending on how things play out. One guy I'm very intrigued by with the second pick is Pitre, the safety from Baylor. Everyone seems to think he's a safety who can play nickel, so that combo could be helpful for depth and development. It also seems very possible that we take an edge early if the regime likes one, even though there is no starting role available. Rotational availability and depth as well as situating for the future. That's absurd. Teams don't rebuild on a shoestring budget and without the full (minimum) compliment of draft picks. We didn't necessarily go backwards, but it's not like we assembled a fleet of gamebreakers: Barr - Zac Pierce - Phillips Woods - ? Conklin - Mundt Alexander - Sullivan Hicks + OL slugs - OL slugs and hope As for "peaking" in 1-3 years (say 2 years) players like Cousins, Harrison Smith, Kendricks, Hicks, Thielen, and maybe Cook and Hunter either won't be around, well on the downside of their career, or cap casualties due to their contracts. Others are on 1-2 year contracts or don't have 2+ years left on existing contracts. And we'll likely be stuck with 20+ million in dead cap. Where is the blueprint or strategy for, well, anything down the road let alone peaking? The draft is for rebuilding. FA so far has been filling holes and then bigger investments in Smith, Phillips, and the extensions/void years, and that was the competitive part. That keeps the floor, hopefully, at contending to get in the playoffs. It is still early in the offseason. They have 4.6 million above the Top 51 after the draft. So still some room for another starter. One interesting thing the Vikings could still do is trade for and use that cap space for someone falling out of favor. Maybe James Bradberry of the Giants? The Giants need cap space and Bradberry makes 13.5 million this year. Rework his contract and rumors are a 4th or 5th is all it would take. Rated a top 100 player of 2021.
|
|
|
|