For several years, Vikings fans have called on GM Rick Spielman to secure a true #3 wide receiver. You can never count out a blockbuster move by Spielman, but all indications say Chad Beebe has already taken that role.
Before looking at Beebe, itās important to understand how many capable pass catchers the Vikings have in starting and second-string roles. Adam Thielen, Justin Jefferson, Irv Smith Jr., Tyler Conklin, Dalvin Cook, Alexander Mattison, and Even C.J. Ham are sure-handed and skilled when the ball comes their way. With that in mind, the team doesnāt need an ELITE wide receiver three.
Beebe isnāt flashy, but he is a great third wide receiver for the Vikings. At WR3, you really just need someone competent enough to catch a couple passes every game and demand attention from the defense. Beebe fits this to a T.Ā
In college at Northern Illinois, Beebe didnāt blow scouts away with gaudy numbers. He saw his best year as a senior – 417 yards and one touchdown, and his four year collegiate total was less than 1000 receiving yards. In three years with the Vikings, heās only crept up to 310 yards. But many of those yards have come on crucial third downs, and his workload has grown each year.
The 5ā10ā, 183 lb receiver does what coaches request and makes the most of every opportunity he gets. Heās just shifty enough to be troublesome for defenders, and he runs good routes – a big factor in his success on third downs. Best of all for Beebe is the trust and rapport heās built with Kirk Cousins.
š LOOK š at this move #Vikings WR Chad Beebe put on All-Pro safety Harrison Smith during practice today š® pic.twitter.com/KVa8CVnJ3E
With Beebeās skillset, work ethic, and reliability already on the roster, thereās no reason for Spielman to seek out an expensive upgrade at wide receiver three.
The Minnesota Vikings had a great 2021 draft on paper. One playerās development will be critical to the success of the team and significantly impact next yearās draft needs.
Wyatt Davis was selected by the Vikings in the third round. Many analysts considered the Ohio State product a steal, as he was projected to be a first round pick prior to a knee injury.
The Vikings have been in need of capable guards for years. In recent memory, they have started Dakota Dozier, Tom Compton, Nick Easton, Mike Remmers, and Alex Boone at right or left guard. None of these have been long term solutions.
Davis has good size and strength, but his technique against NFL players will be what counts. Even with his good potential, he faces an uphill battle of beating two veterans for the starting job.
If he canāt develop quickly, it will likely be another year of duress for Cousins. Whether itās Dakota Dozier who would start opposite of Ezra Cleveland, or Mason Cole, neither are effective pass protectors.
Looking to the future, slow development by Davis could also necessitate another first-round offensive lineman. The Vikings will likely have a number of needs come the 2022 draft, so it would be nice not to have to spend a high pick on the line yet again.
The left guard competition will be one of the most exciting to watch during OTAs and training camp. If Wyatt Davis can catch on quickly, the Vikings should finally have a solid line, and theyāll be able to save a draft pick next year.
As is always the case, the Minnesota Vikings signed about a dozen undrafted free agents immediately after the 2021 draft. That said, one of these players is an unlikely recruit based on his age and position played.
The Vikings recently announced that they signed 30 year old punter Zach Von Rosenberg out of LSU. You read that right, a 30 year old rookie. As it stands, heās tied for the fifth-oldest player on the Minnesota roster.
As you can imagine, Zach has a unique story. He came out of Zachary High School (Louisiana) in 2009 ranked as the 41st-best pitching prospect in the country. He signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates and played on minor league teams for several years. Eventually, Zach left baseball and made his way to college at LSU. To further complicate his story, he started as a tight end and later converted to punter.
Not only does Zach have an interesting background for an NFL hopeful, but the Vikings are already sitting pretty with Britton Colquitt as their punter. Colquitt is a veteran player and excellent locker room presence with plenty of gas left in the tank, so itās perplexing that the team would even bring someone in to compete with him.
Keep an eye on the LSU product this offseason and in training camp. It will be exciting to see if he comes hunting for Colquittās job, or if the Vikings have other plans for the savvy 30-year-old.
The 2021 NFL Draft is only a few days away, and the Minnesota Vikings have several positions theyāre hoping to address with their 10 picks. Channelling my inner Rick Spielman, I tried my hand at a mock draft using the Pro Football Focus Draft Simulatorā¦
Most of the mock drafts Iāve seen in articles and on social media include so many trades that they become quite unrealistic. To keep it simple, I stuck with the picks that the Vikings currently own.
After years of offensive line turmoil, I attempted to fix the Minnesota offensive line with two early picks. Christian Darrisaw is a highly ranked prospect that can play tackle or guard thanks to his good technique and athleticism. I would play him at guard, and move second year player Ezra Cleveland to left tackle where he belongs.
Green isnāt as big a name as Darrisaw, but he can shore up whatever guard position remains open. The Illinois product is on the smaller side at 6ā2ā, but the Vikings prefer linemen who have good technique and are mobile rather than oversized maulers.
Kendrick Green = twitched up w/excellent center of gravity & core strength at 6'2" 305. Dude is a ball of lighting with an iron head to jolt/stun defenders at the point & strong hands to latch/control. Former super HS athlete & high level wrestling background shows up on tape. pic.twitter.com/sFlRMa8DSP
With Jeff Gladneyās future uncertain due to a recent arrest, I needed to address corner right away. The Vikings already have three bonafide starters in Cam Dantzler, Patrick Peterson, and Mackenzie Alexander, but the team was only one injury away from being in big trouble. Iāve watched plenty of film on Gowan, and I love the way he defends receivers on deep routes and rips at the ball after catches. He also plays with good instincts in zone and is sure-handed on interceptions.
Great job by Tay Gowan undercutting the route and then getting not 1 but 2 feet down. NFL ready. Lol Great play. pic.twitter.com/6lqKnVWpw0
Some mock drafts have the Vikings taking a wide receiver in round one. Minnesota already has plenty of great pass catchers, so I waited until round four to nab an exciting small school player in Cade Johnson. At 5ā10ā and 175 lbs, Johnson is a great modern-day shifty wide receiver. He didnāt play in 2020 due to covid concerns, but in 2019 and 2018, he tallied eight and 17 touchdowns, respectively. He should be very healthy after a year off from football.
Being that I am University of Minnesota alumni, I couldnāt pass on corner Benjamin St. Juste when he fell in my lap midway through the fourth. He was a lone bright spot on the Gophers defense this past year with his good physicality, and he rounds out a revamped Vikings cornerback group.
With Kyle Rudolph in New England, the Vikings are once again in the market for a mid-round tight end. They already have Tyler Conklin and Irv Smith Jr., but Minnesota loves three tight end sets. Tommy Tremble is from a winning culture at Notre Dame (coincidentally the same school Kyle Rudolph went to), and his addition will create good friendly competition amongst the young Minnesota tight ends.
Without messing with trades, I didnāt see a good opportunity to nab a pass rusher until this point. I use my last fourth round pick on Jonathon Cooper and trust that defensive line coach Andre Patterson can coach him up. He had 3.5 sacks in a covid-hampered 2020, and Iām hoping he can boost those figures in the north. Like Tremble, Cooper is comes from a winning culture in Ohio State.
Jonathon Cooper loves these speed-to-power rushes
Cooper is a no-nonsense rusher. Straight line attacks. Power rushes. Inside moves. Cooper isnāt looking to run around OTs – he wants to go through them!
The Vikings added Xavier Woods in free agency, but their safety cupboards are still pretty bare. Damar Hamlin has some good reviews (and six picks) out of Pitt, and he can be mentored by All-Pro safety Harrison Smith.
Damar Hamlin 2,500+ snaps in career… Tough in run support but a savvy coverage safety on backend. Was initially a CB prospect out of Central Catholic https://t.co/n1lkFe11kGpic.twitter.com/iIxppoXF1K
Minnesotaās linebacking corps is in pretty good shape with Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks, but at this point in the draft, it makes sense to add some depth in Derrick Barnes. Clearly I value Big Ten players.
One of fastest rising LB in 2021 draft is @BoilerFootball Derrick Barnes. Showed edge rush ability as junior with 7.5 sacks and SL-to-SL speed playing off the ball this year. @derrickbarnes21 also had some good coverage reps for 245-lber at Senior Bowl with his reactive trigger. pic.twitter.com/ZRouUoxD7D
Surprise surprise, another Big Ten athlete to cap off my draft. Chauncey Golston of Iowa is very raw, but he has a long 6ā5ā frame and managed 5 and a half sacks in his covid-shortened senior year. Again, the Vikings are good at developing defensive ends, and heāll at least make for a good training camp body.
#Iowa DE Chauncey Golston #57 is going to play in the NFL beyond his rookie contract.
Upright and a little stiff, but long and physical. Nonstop hustle. DE/DT versatility. One of my favorite day 3 values this year. pic.twitter.com/tPBfKGHCfr
Overall, I was very pleased with this mock draft. I avoided temptations and stuck to addressing actual needs. The offensive line should be the best itās been in recent years after my two high selections, while I wish I had nabbed a defensive end earlier in the draft. It also might have been nice to pick up a running back, or maybe a kicker late in the draft, but those can wait until undrafted free agency.
Stay tuned to see if any of my picks come to fruition! Last year, I was right that the Vikings would draft Harrison Hand, so you never know…
After the release of Dan Bailey, the Minnesota Vikings may be in the market for a new kicker. They already have third-year pro Greg Joseph on the roster, but Joseph is relatively inexperienced and the team may want to draft and develop a kicker. Here are the top three kickers available in this yearās draft.
McPherson played three years at Florida, and he only missed ONE extra point in that span. As for field goals, McPherson converted just shy of 90% of his kicks during his first two years, and then pulled back to only a 77% success rate in his final season with the Gators.
The Florida product made longs of 48, 50, and 55 yards in each season, so he should have leg strength worthy of the NFL.
Jose Borregales – Miami
FIUās standout kicker Jose Borregales was crushing FGās today like he has been all season. We also adjusted his kickoff steps today. Heās now ready to add that responsibility & excel for the 2019 season. #Fab50 š£ pic.twitter.com/KOuYo2BFpl
Borregales played four years of football with the Hurricanes and showed steady improvement along the way. Early in his college career, Borregales was making field goals at 70% and 80% rates, but he stepped up his game to roughly 90% this past season.
The Miami product is also more than comfortable making long kicks. Joseās career long came on a 57-yarder during his senior year, and he made 53-yard kicks in both his junior and sophomore seasons.
As for extra points, Borregales missed three in his college years, so he technically wasnāt as automatic as McPherson. That said, three misses over four years is hardly a red flag.
Like Borregales, Patterson stuck around to play four full years at Memphis. Perhaps he should have declared for the draft after his junior year though, as his field goal percentage dropped from 92% as a junior to 68% as a senior. He also missed six extra points in four years.
The drop in performance could have been a fluke, or a result of less practice due to covid limitations. Itās a major concern either way.
Patterson has a big leg that made multiple 52 yard kicks and a 56-yarder in college, but his senior season struggles may prevent him from being drafted.
None of these kickers would be definitive upgrades, so the Vikings may stand pat and roll with Greg Joseph to start the season. Stay tuned though, drafting a kicker would make for an exciting competition during training camp.
The Minnesota Vikings scouting staff found an absolute gem when they drafted Brian OāNeill back in 2018. The supposedly undersized right tackle has performed extremely well on Minnesotaās otherwise shaky offensive line, and this is no time to move him to the left side.
Draft picks outside of the first round are a crapshoot. Actually, all draft picks are ultimately a crapshoot. No matter the amount of research done by scouts, or a playerās college resume, NFL teams should be (and are) very happy when they find a bonafide starter straight out of college.
Whether it was a lucky break for the Vikings, or the culmination of a superb scouting effort, the Vikings stole Pitt product Brian OāNeill in the second round of the 2018 draft. He is without a doubt the most valuable piece of the Vikings offensive line, as he anchors the right side of the line with grace.
— Luke Braun (temporary college basketball fan) (@LukeBraunNFL) August 12, 2020
In three years, OāNeill has allowed only four sacks. This past year, he played nearly 100% of the offensive snaps. And of course, he is rarely called for penalties thanks to his good technique.
As the Vikings ponder what this next yearās line should look like, many fans and analysts have suggested moving OāNeill to left tackle, which is said to be the more challenging and important tackle position. With Riley Reiff no longer in Minnesota, that position needs to be addressed.
These days, the notion of left tackle being more important is outdated and false. Premiere pass rushers attack from both sides of the line, and teams need to be able to protect their quarterback from both angles. Notice, the Vikings defense plays their best pass rusher, Danielle Hunter, against the right tackle.
It would be a high-risk low-reward gamble to move OāNeill. This is the epitome of a ādonāt mess with perfectionā situation. Moving OāNeill could mess with his mojo, as he has never played left tackle in the pros, and a move like this would also disrupt Minnesotaās right tackle position.
Whether itās via the draft, free agency, or the current roster, the Vikings should find another left tackle and keep Brian OāNeill where he is.
The Minnesota Vikings have had plenty of success developing small school players in the past decade. The Vikings are currently in need of more defensive ends, and Chris Garrett could be the teamās next small-school sleeper.
Itās easy to forget that Pro Bowl talents like Adam Thielen and C.J. Ham came from division two schools. These kinds of colleges arenāt talked about as much in the media, but they produce high-caliber players that NFL scouts should take seriously.
Defensive end Chris Garrett is one of these players.
After much success at Wisconsin Lutheran High School, Garrett was recruited to play defensive end at Concordia University, Saint Paul (CSP). CSP is the only D-2 program in the Twin Cities, and their highly regarded coaching staff has produced Super Bowl winning athletes in the past decade (Zach Moore, 2014 6th-round DE selection by the Patriots).
Whether heās targeted in the late rounds of the draft, or in undrafted free agency, Garrett belongs on an NFL roster. Garrett boasts 36 career sacks to go along with 15 forced fumbles in only three years played at CSP. Those stats earned him an invite to the East-West Shrine Bowl, and Vikings fans should hope he stays in Minnesota.
It doesnāt take long to see that Garrett is a pass rush specialist. He has great speed off the edge and uses his good balance to turn the corner on tackles. Garrett can even engage interior offensive linemen – he uses his strong hands and excellent lateral agility to defeat their blocks with ease.Ā
Chris Garrett (#35), former Concordia-St. Paul EDGE, showing his quickness off the edge, helps cause the interception touchdown. Incredibly productive career, recorded 36.5 sacks in 28 games.
Interviewed him in November. Name to watch for 2021 draft.
As for his frame, Garrett is a long 6ā4ā athlete that Vikings scouts should love. Minnesota defensive line coach Andre Patterson would be the perfect mentor for the CSP product. Patterson is known for developing raw draftees like Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen, and thereās no reason Garrett canāt be Minnesotaās next success story.
Chris Garrett is a prime draft-and-develop prospect for the purple. He wonāt be talked about much on draft day, but keep your eyes on the former Golden Bear during the sixth and seventh rounds…
With free agency in full swing, the Vikings have signed one new offensive lineman (Mason Cole) and retained two others (Rashod Hill and Dakota Dozier). These players should make for good backups, but they do not belong in the starting five.
Rashod Hill is a known product. Weāve seen him many times as both an injury substitution, and a starting tackle. Itās hard to say what causes it, but Hill plays great as a backup only to struggle mightily as a starter. Fans can be glad to have him around again on a cheap one year deal, but he should not be considered a bookend for the O-line.
Jefferson makes the safety stumble on the post route for what might have been a touchdown on 3rd & 20, but Rashod Hill (and Ezra Cleveland) fall apart against a simple stunt and instead the Vikings take a second consecutive sack pic.twitter.com/9tdL6f5ERY
Mason Cole was acquired a couple weeks ago from the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for a sixth round pick. Social media can be deceiving when it comes to āanalyzingā new players. Many fan accounts eagerly jumped to saying he would be the Vikings new starter at left guard, no questions asked. However, itās important to quiet the hype and look at players objectively.Ā
Here are both sacks Mason Cole allowed last year.
Seems to have an issue getting into his stance out of the snap, which, along with some bad snaps, helps explain why the Vikings might think there's some value to unlock by moving him to guard: pic.twitter.com/1ueaijM4MC
Cole still has some upside as a 25 year old athlete, but Pro Football Focus gave him only a 46.1 pass blocking grade last year. The fact that it only took a sixth rough pick to trade for him says a lot too. Sadly, Mason Cole is not the starter Minnesota needs protecting Kirk Cousins at guard.
Dakota Dozier is in a similar situation to Cole. Dozier has been a guard in the league for a few years, but he continues to earn poor pass blocking grades from PFF. He is familiar with offensive line coach Rick Dennisonās run blocking scheme, but that isnāt enough to compensate for his suspect pass protection skills. Dozier will have to dig deep to even make the roster coming out of training camp.
Dakota Dozier is beaten off of the ball and then fails to pick up a stunt, leading to a drive-ending sack pic.twitter.com/1zdZ7kxNUa
As the draft approaches, itās good that Minnesota has already made some moves on the offensive line. That said, the position group is still in dire need of upgrades via free agency or the draft.
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With the cap having gone down this year, the Minnesota Vikings had even less money to spend on free agents. The 2021 draft is coming up fast, and Minnesotaās selections will make or break their season. Contrary to popular belief, the Vikings should not draft a defensive end early.
The number one priority in this draft should be offensive line. Whether itās a guard, tackle, or both, GM Rick Spielman needs to add another premiere body to that position group. The team is paying Kirk Cousins over 30 million this year, and he must be protected to maximize his performance.
Now letās take a look a look at the current defensive ends on the roster ranked by skill (in my opinion):
Danielle Hunter
DJ Wonnum
Stephen Weatherly
Hercules Mataāafa
Jalyn Holmes
Jordan Brailford
?. Kenny Willekes (injured all of last year)
Reports say Danielle Hunter is recovering well from last seasonās injury, so he will be starting almost every down.
DJ Wonnum proved Minnesota scouts right with his performance last year. In limited reps (on the field for 30% of defensive snaps), he played at a very high level. Wonnum was able to defeat blocks with his hands, turn the corner on tackles, and get to the quarterback. He tallied three sacks as a rookie, and he deserves a much bigger role. Itās too early to call him the next Danielle Hunter, but weāll never know if heās buried on the depth chart by a first-round defensive end.
Stephen Weatherly will likely split snaps with Wonnum. Heās not the flashiest player, but Weatherly is actually one of the smartest football players youāll meet, per some specials the Vikings Entertainment Network has done on him. He brings great experience to the defensive line as a sixth-year player.
Players lower on the depth chart have some intrigue too. Several of them are entering contract years, so youād expect them to be putting it all on the line. Kenny Willekes has never played an NFL snap before because of an injury, but he received plenty of praise coming out of Michigan State.
Aside from the teamās true defensive ends, the Vikings have great defensive tackles and other players on defense capable of blitzing that should be used more in that role. Recent acquisitions Michael Pierce and Dalvin Tomlinson will be extremely difficult to block up front. Anthony Barr and Harrison Smith are quick and crafty when sent after the quarterback, so Minnesota would be better off using their pass rush skills than spending a draft pick on a new defensive end.
As tempting as it will be to draft an exciting new defensive end, the Vikings are much better off using their first round pick elsewhere.
In the first few days of NFL free agency, teams have been interested in Vikings offensive lineman Brett Jones. The former Canadian Football League standout is a sneaky good asset, and Minnesota needs to keep him in the north.
Brett Jones is not mentioned often in Vikings news. He usually rides the bench as a backup guard and center, but being on the bench isnāt always indicative of talent.
Jones was one of the top offensive linemen in the CFL before making his way to the states in 2016. CFL talent doesnāt always translate to the NFL, but Jones has good technique and itās kept him in the NFL for half a decade.
Many fans (including myself) were shocked when he wasnāt a starter last year. His film looked good, and Minnesota was in dire need of an upgrade at left guard.
Regardless of if he rides the bench or is a starter, Jones has big value in his versatility. He has positional experience at guard and center – a trait that most teams in the NFL look for via the draft and free agency. At 29 years of age, he also balances plenty of experience playing professional football and having gas left in the tank. Itās no wonder teams like the Broncos are interested in him.
It would be overkill for GM Rick Spielman to write Jones a blank check, but Spielman should really consider extending a one or two year offer to the experienced lineman. Chances are, Jones would take a veteranās minimum to stay with the team heās familiar with.
If Jones is allowed to walk in free agency, it will be nearly impossible to find a player with as much bang for the buck. Keep your eyes on this underrated lineman.
