By Sam Ekstrom and Luke Inman
Unless you’ve been living in a cave, you probably know by now that the Vikings selected Trae Waynes with pick no. 11 last night. Rick Spielman stayed put and didn’t trade up or down, making Thursday one of the more uneventful Vikings drafts of the Spielman era. If the team had five needs going into the three-day-long festivities, they can neatly put a green checkmark next to “CB.” Now on to the next bullet point.
Based on the way Spielman spoke on Tuesday at Winter Park, this seems like a need-filling draft for the Vikings rather than a best-player-available draft – the mark of a team that feels they are close to contending. “If you go this direction at this position at 11, okay, we still need to fill another hole at this position,” said Spielman, “Where’s the depth in the second round? … Or is it there in the third round?”
Today will likely be a day where the Vikings attempt to put two more checkmarks on their wishlist. They have two picks: one in the second round, one in the third round – for now.
Here’s what you can expect them to pursue. First, a basic overview from yours truly, Sam Ekstrom, followed by some in-depth scouting reports with edraft.com’s Luke Inman.
SAM’S SUGGESTIONS
Offensive Line
My theory going into the draft was that the Vikings would take the OL they coveted if he was available at 11. With Brandon Scherff (5) and Ereck Flowers (9) going off the board and La’el Collins under criminal investigation, Minnesota’s options were reduced if they desired a first-round lineman.
The Vikings are looking for a boost at left guard that can help pass block on Teddy Bridgewater’s blind side. Matt Kalil took a step back in his third season, yes, but his left-side partner Charlie Johnson didn’t do him any favors as the Vikings allowed 51 sacks (fifth most) as a team.
Suggestions: Arie Kouandjio (Alabama), Josue Matias (Florida State), A.J. Cann (South Carolina), Tre’ Jackson (Florida State)
Outside Linebacker
The Vikings needed a complete linebacker overhaul after their 5-10-1 2013 season. Erin Henderson was cut after a drunk driving incident. Chad Greenway showed some signs of aging. And Marvin Mitchell (who?) rarely impacted the game.
Last year, the Vikings brought in Anthony Barr as a super-athletic pass-rushing outside linebacker, but veterans Jasper Brinkley and Greenway didn’t fit the bill of a youth movement at the position. Brinkley was not re-signed in free agency, leaving a void at middle linebacker that may be filled from within, but getting support on the outside is even more of a priority in a pass-happy, blitz-happy NFL. The Vikings will be looking for Greenway’s successor at weakside linebacker as Greenway plays in likely his final season in purple.
Suggestions: Eli Harold (Virginia), Eric Kendricks (UCLA), Benardrick McKinney (Mississippi State)
Safety
Harrison Smith was his usual terrific self in 2014, but his partner at strong safety Robert Blanton suffered some growing pains in his first year as a full-time starter. Blanton managed just one interception and three pass deflections, and the Notre Dame kid got trucked by Green Bay’s Eddie Lacy at Lambeau Field in Week 5. Though he led the team in tackles, critics would tell you he should have been preventing more receptions instead of always chasing the play.
With Andrew Sendejo, Antone Exum, Taylor Mays and a newcomer competing with Blanton for the safety job, there should be a great competition that gets the most out of the strong safety spot.
Suggestions: Landon Collins (Alabama), Eric Rowe (Utah), Quinten Rollins (Miami-Ohio)
LUKE’S TOP FIVE TARGETS
Paul Dawson, Linebacker, TCU
A guy who has been linked with the Vikings throughout the pre-draft process, Dawson has incredible instincts for the inside linebacker position, filling a giant need while adding a quality talent. Don’t be surprised if the team makes a move up for Dawson early on Day 2.
Erik Kendricks, Linebacker, UCLA
Another inside linebacker that wins with his football IQ and instinctual habits, Kendricks was labeled as a first-round pick and top-20 talent to many heading into Thursday night. To still see him available and on the board is surprising to many and could be a great steal if he were to fall as Day 2 progresses.
La’el Collins, Offensive Tackle, LSU
A top-10 player on many scouts boards, Collins is a unique and unfortunate case as he was brought in for questioning in the murder of his pregnant ex-girlfriend. While it’s been said Collins is not a suspect, the timing of the case was too close for comfort for any team to touch him with their Day 1 selection. However, there will come a certain point where the reward outweighs the risk. Collins would slide into the vacant left guard position and immediately fill a need as a nasty mauling lineman, turning a weakness into a strength.
Preston Smith, Defensive Lineman, Mississippi State
While he may not fill a huge need at the moment given Zimmer’s heavy emphasis on rotating his linemen throughout the game, Smith’s talents would add a new dimension to the playbook with his versatility alone since an effective defensive tackle and outside edge rusher are valuable in their own right. If still on the board, Smith will be tough to pass on even with greater needs still a priority.
Landon Collins, Safety, Alabama
Ask me two months ago and I would have slapped you in the face for just the thought that Collins wouldn’t be a first-round pick, let alone the second safety taken. Still, here we are two months later and it’s Collins’ one-dimensional playing style as an in-the-box safety that has dropped him down many big boards. In a league that demands safeties to be able to fill the hole in run support and drop back in coverage, Collins has many questions to answer in the passing game. A tough decision will remain at pick 45, though, if he is still on the board. His ability to play next to Harrison Smith and add a physical dimension to an overall weak run-stopping unit last year would be more than justifiable to pull the trigger on this Alabama product.