So, "Vikings Territory", how are we feeling? I've had a few days to chew on the Vikings draft and I think it's ok to be resigned, but still confused.
A week ago, we were all excited for a new era. The very first draft for a new General Manager sets the tone, especially a first timer like Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. What is his philosophy? Will it be different than before? Will he trade up? Down?
Former General Manager Rick Spielman had a tendency to play fast and loose with his mid-round picks. Remember the time he traded a 4th rounder to the New York Jets for Tight End Chris Herndon? Good times.
As Vikings fans, we're looking for any sign that the second verse wouldn't be the same as the first. This time it was going to be different. So with the team having the 12th pick, there they were sitting in the catbird seat. Sure, the top two cornerbacks and edge rushers were off the board, but there was still plenty of meat on the bone. No quarterbacks were taken, so would a team move up and take one? Certainly there would be the option to trade back into the late teens or early 20's and pick up a mid-round pick as well. If that didn't materialize, the Vikings had options. You could pair safety Ryan Hamilton with another Irish alum Harrison Smith in the secondary. Freakish Georgia Defensive Tackle Jordan Davis would have looked good in purple.
There was always the option to take stud Wide Receiver Jameson Williams and go circa 1998 with three deep and look to outscore opponents. After all, Adam Thielen isn't getting any younger, and new Head Coach Kevin O'Connell loves three and four wide receiver sets. So it only makes sense.
What happens? None of the above.
He traded the number 12 and 46 picks to the Lions for picks 32, 34, and 66. Could the Vikings have gotten more, perhaps a future 1st rounder or another mid-round pick? Maybe, maybe not. Fans hated it and were instantly trying to figure out who won the trade, because that's what we do. But was it because it was a drastic move or because it was with a divisional opponent? Well, yes and yes.
The move instantly triggered some PTSD with fans because it brought back bad memories of "Trader Rick" hoarding late round picks. There's no way to know if the selection of Lewis Cine is going to pan out. On the surface it appears the Vikings may have gotten a day one starter, but we’re instantly trying to figure out who won the trade, because that's what we do.
Depending on which trade chart you look at is how you view it as a fan.
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It's fun to have young, stud players. But this team also needs to get deeper and younger, and the best way to do that is through the draft.
While the trade with Detroit seemed to be a no-no, he then followed it up with an UNFORGIVABLE sin, and that's trading with the enemy to the east, the Green Bay Packers. Then, as if it couldn't get any worse, they used one of the picks they got from us to pick the one position they needed: Wide Receiver.
We will do all kinds of mental gymnastics to make ourselves feel better about teams because if we don't, we're going to go crazy. Sure, they traded back up to nab Clemson CB Andrew Booth, who was a first round talent but fell because of injuries, but to quote Metallica "nothing else matters." This draft wasn't about anything that happened after the move with Green Bay.
We know the Vikings passed on several players that could wind up being stars. However, in the process, they picked up a couple of guys that could be key pieces in the secondary for years to come. We'll overlook that because we get fixated on what they gave up and who they gave it to.
Jameson Williams could be the best Wide Receiver the Lions have had since Calvin Johnson, and Christian Watson instantly becomes a day one starter for the Packers. These trades may be more palatable if they hadn't been made with division rivals. Every time the Vikings play the Lions or the Packers, how many times do you think it will be brought up? My guess is if you took a shot for every time it's mentioned you wouldn't make it to halftime.
I will say, to his credit, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah took some chances. As Vikings fans we wanted something different, and didn't play it safe. He traded down and tried to address needs, which tells me he knows this team isn't as close to a Super Bowl as the Wilf's tell us. That is a completely different conversation. I have a hard time believing that Adofo-Mensah didn't want to overhaul the roster more than he's been able to, and the "competitive rebuild" is a clear indication that ownership is more involved than fans would like.
We won't know how this will play out for the Vikings long term, so it's not fair to judge it on the here and now. After all, so many draft day grades change over time. But that won't stop us from doing it anyway.
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