The Vikings Say Farewell to Longwell

Gayle Saunders
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The rebuilding of the Minnesota Vikings continues, as they have released 16-year veteran kicker Ryan Longwell.

On Monday The Vikings parted ways with Longwell. There was a good sign the writing was on the wall when the front office spent a 6th round pick on Georgia Kicker Blair Walsh.

The Skinny: Longwell had three seasons and $7 million left on his four-year contract he signed last year which included a $3.5 million signing bonus. The Vikings probably did not want to spend $1.75 million on his salary this season. They always say out goes the old, and in comes the new. The Vikes have already parted ways with veteran players, Steve Hutchinson, Cedric Griffin, and Anthony Herrera. I’m sure someone will add Longwell to their roster this off season.

Vikings: Meet the 2012 Draft Class

ROUND 1: Matt Kalil, T, Southern Cal

The Vikings traded down for extra picks in the fourth, fifth and seventh rounds, and added a franchise left tackle to an offensive line that has been in decline for years. Kalil allows second-year quarterback Christian Ponder to progress without having to worry about getting clobbered on a consistent basis. A prototype left tackle with long arms, Kalil should be able to block elite pass rushers one-on-one. That will free up the Vikings’ pass-catching tight ends to run routes rather than stay in to block. With Kalil on board, the Vikings are able to slide Charlie Johnson from left tackle to left guard, where he’s better suited to play.

Kalil is the starter immediately. The Vikings believe he’s not only a starter, but a future multiple Pro Bowl selection in the mold of a Joe Thomas or Jake Long. Kalil needs to get stronger, and there could be some growing pains. But coach Leslie Frazier believes Kalil has the quick feet, long arms and passion for the game that will allow him to become a reliable blind-side starter from opening day. It helps that Kalil will practice against the best pass rushing right defensive end in the league in Jared Allen.

ROUND 1: Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame

Until the Vikings traded their second-round pick (35th overall) and one of their fourth-rounders (95th overall) to Baltimore to move up to No. 29, they had only three safeties on the roster. One of those players, Eric Frampton, is strictly a special teams player. So Smith fills a giant hole on a team that hasn’t had a playmaker at safety since Darren Sharper left after the 2008 season.

Smith is a big (6-2, 213 pounds), hard-hitter with impressive range. He can play free and strong, which is what the Vikings ask their safeties to do. Smith also had seven interceptions his junior year, so he has an instinctive side the team has lacked at safety in a while.
He’ll start off as the third safety, but should be a starter by opening day because the position is so thin. Mistral Raymond, a sixth-round pick a year ago, will start at free safety. Jamarca Sanford, a seventh-round pick in 2009, is likely to lose his job quickly to Smith. The Vikings desperately need an instinctive player at the position and gambled two valuable picks to move up and grab one they think has it.

ROUND 3: Josh Robinson, CB, Central Florida

He gives the team some much-needed young depth at the cornerback position. The Vikings have added Zack Bowman and Chris Carr in free agency. They also get Antoine Winfield (injury) and Chris Cook (legal issues) back this season. But they still needed a young, potential star. Robinson gives them a guy who ran a combine-best 4.33 in the 40-yard dash.

Robinson won’t start this season, unless he has a tremendous training camp. He’ll provide valuable depth and a cornerback of the future. He could compete with Bowman and Carr for the nickel back position this season. But his best value is beyond this season.

ROUND 4: JARIUS WRIGHT, WR, Arkansas

At 5-10, 182 pounds, he isn’t the big, No. 1-type receiver the Vikings could have used. But Wright was a highly productive slot-type receiver who can back up Percy Harvin. Wright set the Arkansas career marks for catches (168) and receiving yards (2,934).

ROUND 4: RHETT ELLISON, FB/TE, Southern Cal

At first glance, it doesn’t appear the Vikings needed a tight end. But Ellison essentially will replace the retired Jim Kleinsasser as the team’s blocking tight end/fullback hybrid. Neither of the team’s top two tight ends, Kyle Rudolph or John Carlson, are strong blockers.

ROUND 4: GREG CHILDS, WR, Arkansas

Production waned as a senior (21 catches) because he was coming back from a torn patella tendon. Childs showed he’s 100 percent by running a 4.41 and posting a 41 1/2-inch vertical at his pro day. Childs gives the team depth, but could grow to be a starter in the future.

ROUND 5: ROBERT BLANTON, DB, Notre Dame

He’s the kind of lanky hybrid the Vikings covet for their Tampa 2 scheme. Blanton, a smart player with long arms and good cover skills, might be able to work his way into the team’s sub packages. The team drafted a similar player in Mistral Raymond in the sixth round last year.

ROUND 6: BLAIR WALSH, K, Georgia

Made only 21 of 35 field goal attempts last year. Walsh has a strong leg and could help the team on kickoffs while being groomed to eventually replace Ryan Longwell. Despite three years left on his contract, Longwell turns 38 in August. He also struggled last year, making 22 of 28 field goal attempts (78.6).

ROUND 7: AUDIE COLE, ILB, North Carolina State

A big, athletic player (6-4, 246) who could provide depth behind middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley, who is expected to start after missing all of last season because of hip surgery. The team hasn’t ruled out the possibility of re-signing E.J. Henderson, but it’s unlikely they’ll bring back a player who will turn 32 in August. Cole runs a 4.8 in the 40, so he’ll also be helpful on special teams.

ROUND 7: TREVOR GUYTON, DE, California

The Vikings never pass up a promising pass-rushing defensive end. A year ago, they took D’Andre Reed in the seventh round and essentially red-shirted him by keeping Reed on the roster but deactivating him for all 16 games. Guyton had 5.5 sacks a year ago, but unless he really surprises, Guyton is a candidate for the practice squad.

Final Draft Grades!!

It’s very difficult to “grade” a draft just days after the selections however it isn’t difficult to see where we feel value was found and how teams did or didn’t manipulate the board to fit their needs. Certain players are sure to reach the dreaded “bust” status while others will ascend to “late round gem” status. Here is how we grade all 32 teams in the 2012 NFL Draft! Read more

Breakdown of All The Draft Day Trades

Draft Trade Breakdown

DAY 1 – Thursday Trades

Read more

2012 Draft Recap

NFC West Draft Results

Cardinals		49er’s		Seahawks		Rams
Michael Floyd	WR	AJ Jenkins	WR	Bruce Irvin	LB	Michael Brockers	DT
Jamel Fleming	CB	Lamichael James	RB	Bobby Wagner	LB	Brian Quick	WR
Bobby Massie	OT	Joe Looney	OG	Russell Wilson	QB	Janoris Jenkins	CB
Senio Kelemete	OG	Darius Fleming	LB	Robert Turbin	RB	Isaiah Pead	RB
Justin Bethel	S	Trent Robinson	S	Jaye Howard	DT	Trumaine Johnson	CB
Ryan Lindley	QB	Jason Slowey	C	Korey Toomer	OLB	Chris Givens	WR
Nate Potter	OT	Cam Johnson	DE	Jeremy Lane	CB	Rokevious Watkins	OG
				Winston Guy	S	Greg Zuerlein	K
				J.R. Sweezy	DT	Aaron Brown	LB
				Greg Scruggs	DT	Daryl Richardson	RB

NFC North Draft Results

Bears		Packers		Lions		Vikings
Shea McClellin	LB	Nick Perry	DE	Riley Reiff	OT	Matt Kalil	OT
Alshon Jeffery	WR	Jerel Worthy	DT	Ryan Broyles	WR	Harrison Smith	S
Brandon Hardin	S	Casey Hayward	CB	Dwight Bentley	CB	Josh Robinson	CB
Evan Rodriguez	TE	Mike Daniels	DT	Ronnell Lewis	LB	Jarius Wright	WR
Isaiah Frey	CB	Jeron McMillian	S	Tahir Whithead	LB	Rhett Ellison	FB
Greg McCoy	CB	Terrelle Manning	LB	Chris Greenwood	CB	Greg Childs	WR
		Andrew Datko	OT	Jonte Green	CB	Robert Blanton	S
		B.J. Coleman	QB	Travis Lewis	LB	Blair Walsh	K
						Audie Cole	LB
						Trevor Guyton	DE

NFC East Draft Results

Cowboys		Giants		Eagles		Redskins
Morris Claiborne	CB	David Wilson	RB	Fletcher Cox	DT	Robert Griffin III	QB
Tyrone Crawford	DE	Rueben Randle	WR	Mychal Kendricks	LB	Josh Leribius	OG
Kyle Wilbur	LB	Jayron Hosley	CB	Vinny Curry	DE	Kirk Cousins	QB
Matt Johnson	S	Adrien Robinson	TE	Nick Foles	QB	Keenan Robinson	LB
Danny Coale	WR	Brandon Mosely	OT	Brandon Boykin	CB	Adam Gettis	OG
James Hanna	TE	Matt Mccants	OT	Danny Kelly	OT	Alfred Morris	RB
Caleb McSurdy	LB	Markus Kuhn	DT	Marvin McNutt	WR	Tom Compton	OT
				Brandon Washington	OG	Richard Crawford	CB
				Bryce Brown	RB	Jordan Bernstine	CB

NFC South Draft Results

Falcons		Panthers		Saints		Buccaneers
Peter Konz	C	Luke Kuechly	LB	Akiem Hicks	DT	Mark Barron	SS
Lamar Holmes	OT	Amini Silatalo	OG	Nick Toon	WR	Doug Martin	RB
Brady Ewing	FB	Frank Alexander	DE	Corey White	S	LaVonte David	LB
Jonathan Massaquoi	DE	Joe Adams	WR	Andrew Tiller	OG	Najee Goode	LB
Charles Mitchell	S	Josh Norman	CB	Marcel Jones	OT	Keith Tandy	CB
Travian Robertson	DT	Brad Nortman	P			Michael Smith	RB
		D.J. Campbell	S			Drake Dunsmore	FB

AFC West 2011 Draft Results

Chargers		Raiders		Chiefs		Broncos
Melvin Ingram	DE	Tony Bergstrom	OG	Dontari Poe	DT	Derek Wolfe	DT
Kendall Reyes	DT	Miles Burris	LB	Jeff Allen	OG	Brock Osweiler	QB
Brandon Taylor	LSU	Jack Crawford	DE	Donald Stephenson	OT	Ronnie Hillman	RB
Ladarius Green	TE	Juron Criner	WR	Devin Wylie	WR	Omar Bolden	CB
Johnnie Troutman	OG	Chris Bilukidi	DT	De’Quan Menzie	CB	Philip Blake	C
David Molk	C	Nathan Stupar	LB	Cyrus Gray	RB	Malik Jackson	DE
Edwin Baker	RB			Jerome Long	DT	Danny Trevathon	LB
				Junior Hemingway	WR

AFC North Draft Results

Steelers		Browns		Bengals		Ravens
David DeCastro	OG	Trent Richardson	RB	Dre Kirkpatrick	CB	Courtney Upshaw	DE
Mike Adams	OT	Brandon Weeden	QB	Kevin Zeitler	OG	Kelechi Osemele	OG
Sean Spence	LB	Mitchell Schwartz	OT	Devon Still	DT	Bernard Pierce	RB
Alameda Ta’amu	DT	John Hughes	DT	Mohamed Sanu	WR	Gino Gradkowski	OG
Chris Rainey	RB	Travis Benjamin	WR	Brandon Thompson	DT	Christian Thompson	S
Tony Clemons	WR	James Michael Johnson	LB	Orson Charles	TE	Asa Jackson	CB
David Paulson	TE	Ryan Miller	OG	Shaun Prater	CB	Tommy Streeter	WR
Terrence Frederick Kelvin Beachum	CB OG	Emmanuel Accho Billy Winn Trevan Wade Brade Smelly	LB DT CB TE	Marvin Jones George Illoka Dan Herron	WR S RB	Deangelo Tyson	DT

AFC East Draft Results

Bills		Dolphins		Patriots		Jets
Stephen Gilmore	CB	Ryan Tannehill	QB	Chandler Jones	DE	Quinton Coples	DE
Cordy Glenn	OT	Ollvier Vernon	DE	Dont’a Hightower	LB	Stephen Hill	WR
TJ Graham	WR	Michael Egnew	TE	Tavon Wilson	S	Demario Davis	LB
Nigel Bradham	LB	Lamar Miller	RB	Jake Bequette	DE	Josh Bush	S
Ron Brooks	CB	Josh Kaddu	LB	Nate Ebner	S	Terrance Genneway	RB
Zebrie Sanders	OT	B.J. Cunningham	WR	Alfonzo Dennard	CB	Robert Griffin	OG
Tank Carder	LB	Kheeston Randall	DT	Jeremy Ebert	WR	Antonio Allen	S
Mark Asper	OG	Rishard Matthews	WR			Jordan White	WR
John Potter	K

AFC South Draft Results

Texans		Colts		Jaguars		Titans
Whitney Mercilus	DE	Andrew Luck	QB	Justin Blackmon	WR	Kendall Wright	WR
Devier Posey	WR	Coby Fleener	TE	Andre Branch	DE	Zach Brown	LB
Brandon Brooks	OG	Dwayne Allen	TE	Bryan Anger	P	Mike Martin	DT
Ben Jones	OC	TY Hilton	WR	Brandon Marshall	LB	Coty Sensabaugh	CB
KeShawn Martin	WR	Josh Chapman	DT	Mike Harris	CB	Taylor Thompson	TE
Jared Crick	DE	Vick Ballard	RB	Jeris Pendleton	DT	Markelle Martin	S
Randy Bullock	K	Lavon Brazil	WR			Scott Solomon	DE
Nick Mondek	OT	Justin Anderson	OG
		Tim Fugger Chandler Harnish	LB QB

Professor Schloss’s 1st Round Draft Grades

Professor Schloss’s 1st Round Draft Grades
First my notes:

This was a super quick draft that was over before you knew it. I never understood the reason for dragging it on and on. Teams have had months to figure this out, so unless something really unexpected happens and your guy is taken or if you’re exploring a last minute trade, there really isn’t any reason to take the entire clock.

Trades, trades, and more trades. There is nothing more exciting on draft day than trades. Given the new rookie wage scale, this will probably be a trend more than an anomaly. Teams that traded down in the draft received great value and teams who traded up knew exactly who they wanted and what it took to get him. It’s always a good sign to a fan when your team has a plan and does what it takes to execute.

The first 20 minutes were super boring. Why did the first 3 teams announce who they were taking ahead of time? What do they have to gain? Totally took the luster and excitement out of the top of the draft. I really don’t understand why the Colts have to announce they are taking Andrew Luck 1st until they need to submit their pick. This is competitive league, so why throw your cards on the table before the game even starts. Only good thing that came out of this was it gave RG3 the chance to wear those fantastic Redskin colored socks which he proudly showed everyone.

How does the NFL have the jersey for the rookies as soon as their drafted? The only explanation is they print up 1 for each player they think will be drafted. What happens to all of those other jerseys?? What if a team picks someone out of left field, does that guy get a blank jersey?

Looks like the NFL heard my complaint last year and stopped showing the player before they were drafted. I take full credit. The draft was so much more enjoyable with this improvement. I actually looked forward to hearing what Roger Goodell had to say for once.

Draft Grades:

1.Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck – A+
Everything that can be said about Luck basically has been. Slam dunk of a number 1 pick and perhaps the best transition of quarterbacks ever with a #1 replacing a #1. Luck doesn’t have a ton of talent surrounding him yet, so hopefully expectations are tempered in year 1 in Indy. Let’s all remember Peyton came in and won only 3 games while throwing 28 picks his first year. Just because the recent crop of rookie quarterbacks have excelled year 1, doesn’t mean Luck has to. Side note on Luck, anyone else think he came off as kind of a dork? If I were him, I’d grow that ugly beard again he had before his senior year started. The dorky 15 year old look might not be too imposing to NFL defenses.

2. Washington Redskins – Roger Griffin III – A
Really liked what RG3 said after he was drafted. His focus remains on the team and showing the veterans he is there to work. A Cam Newton esque rookie campaign might be a little much to ask, but RG3 with Shanny coaching him up, can be a star from day 1 in Washington. The Skins gave up the house for him so I imagine they think this pick is pure gold. The massive haul is the only thing keeping this from being a top grade. Of course if he ends up being a franchise QB, all the picks will be more than worth it. Btw, could we be in for a Steve Smith like rejuvenation for Santana Moss this season?

3. Cleveland Browns – Trent Richardson – A
Brad Childress is the Phil Jackson of football (except for the 11 rings and ability to know what you’re doing). Phil went from Jordan to Kobe while Childress goes from Peterson to Richardson. Trent may go down as the best player to come out of this draft and the Browns made sure they nabbed him. While the entire league goes pass happy, the Browns will take a different approach and utilize the best RB prospect to come out since Peterson. I will say I’m not sure the Browns “had” to trade up and swap spots with the Vikings for this pick though. I realize other teams were interested in doing just that, Tampa perhaps, but my gut feeling tells me Vikings would have still just picked Kalil and Richardson would have been sitting there still at #4. Obviously I know a lot less than Cleveland did, or at least think they did, so perhaps this was necessary to get a much needed running back. After missing out on RG3, it’s tough to blame Cleveland for not taking any chances with the other player they loved in the draft. The city of Cleveland needed a star player, and they get one here.

4. Minnesota Vikings – Ryan Kalil – A
Anyone else wonder why Ryan was kissing Valerie Bertanelli after he got drafted? Anyway, the Vikings trade down, get 2 more picks, and still get the guy they wanted at 3. I’d say that’s Minnesota highway robbery. No one is happier about this pick than Christian Ponder though. I realize the sentiment these days are left tackles aren’t as important as they were thought to be a few years ago, but getting a cornerstone guy there for the next 10 years will only help the Vikings. They didn’t seem to fall in love with any one player in this draft, so picking probably the safest bet while trading down for more picks is smart play by the Vikes. Big question remains for Minnesota fans, how many years will they get to enjoy Kalil before the team picks up and leaves??

5. Jacksonville Jaguars – Justin Blackmon – A
Didn’t’ really understand the backlash as of late for Blackmon. A lot of scouts and talking heads didn’t feel he was a true #1. Did they watch him in college? The guy was dominant the past two seasons at OK State. There is no team starved more for wide receiver talent than the Jags so this pick is a no brainer. Even if Blackmon never develops into Calvin Johnson (who f’n does???) he is the best receiver they have had their since Jimmy Smith who retired over 7 years ago! Probably had to trade up to leapfrog the Rams to take Blackmon, so I applaud the initiative.

6. Dallas Cowboys – Morris Clairborne – B+
This grade doesn’t reflect the player, but more what Dallas gave up to get him. If a Pro Bowl CB in Asante Samuel is worth only a 7th round pick, giving up a #2 and their #1 to move up to draft Morris is a huge price. Dallas does get the last of the ‘big 6’ though and do get the top cover man in the draft. As a Cowboy fan I had my heart set on Barron, but I guess I never thought they had a chance for Claiborne. Any Dallas fan will tell you how poor their secondary played last year so with Claiborne and the addition of Carr this offseason, along with the banishing of Terence Newman, suddenly cornerback is a position of strength for the Cowboys. I am just still a bit concerned about a playmaker at the safety position and a another pass rusher, which cannot be addressed now until the 3rd round.

7. Tampa Bay – Mark Barron – A
That awful Tampa defense just got a lot better on draft night. Barron is the real deal and seems like one of those rare playmakers in the secondary who seems to always be around the ball and make things happen. Bonus points for trading down and still getting one of the top 2 impact secondary rookies. Can we just start calling him “The Baron” now? Awesome nickname. I wish Dallas got him…

8. Miami Dolphins – Ryan Tannehill – C
The first real boom or bust pick of the draft. The Dolphins were a mess this off-season so this pick needs to be a homerun or they will continue to fade into obscurity. We have seen so many quarterbacks enter the league with all of the tools Tannehill possesses, but flame out rather quickly. This pick is so tough to grade because you really don’t know what Tannehill will become. If Miami seriously thinks he is the answer as QB then this pick makes total sense. A part of me thinks they talked themselves into him though. He probably won’t play much at all in year 1 so the Fins might find themselves at the top of the draft next season where there are some stud signal callers available. Then what will they do? Ryan does win the award for hottest WAG in the draft room though, so that counts for something. (http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/ryan-tannehill-wife-stole-show-thursday-nfl-draft-161434718.html)

9. Carolina Panthers – Luke Kuechly – A-
Carolina could have used help at receiver and picked the ND product Floyd, but elect to go defense here and it found a gem in linebacker Luke Kuechly. Luke is the poster child for productivity, and his ability to play the pass will allow him to be a three down linebacker. Cam can’t do anything while the defense is on the field, so upgrading that unit has Carolina back on the path to relevancy in the NFL. The only hesitation I have is the recent lack of success top 10 linebackers in the league has had. Kuechly seems as poised as anyone to break that mold though.

10. Buffalo Bills – Stephon Gilmore – A
The Bills needed a top flight corner to match up against #1 receivers and they grab one with Gamecock product Gilmore. The Bills have dedicated themselves to building a top defense and continue with a great secondary addition. While the offense might still need work, they are hoping Fitzpatrick gains some of his magic back while the defense becomes one of the best in the AFC.

11. KC Chiefs – Dontari Poe – B-
I hope KC fans like Vegas, because their team just took one of the bigger gambles in the draft. Poe is the typical workout wonder who everyone seems to become obsessed with right before the draft. His lack of productivity at Memphis is puzzling though and raises some major red flags. At the very least he should turn into a space eater. Chiefs fans are probably hoping Poe isn’t the second coming of Glen Dorsey though. Poe massive size should prevent that from happening hopefully.

12. Fletcher Cox – B+
The Eagles trade up to get a player they really liked and given Andy Reid’s draft history, we have to trust he knows what he is doing. While Cox wasn’t necessarily a position of need, he will certainly help sure up the between the gap defense that struggled mightily at times last season. The Eagles front four is pretty nasty but Cox gives them some nice depth, flexibility, and youth. Again, I trust Andy Reid here.

13. Arizona Cardinals -Michael Floyd – C
This pick seems like the Cards were nostalgic for the days of Fitz and Boldin catching passes together. Big difference between then and now though, those guys had Kurt Warner throwing to them. Fitz and Floyd will have the pu pu platter of Kolb and Skelton. Can’t help but think the Cards could have used some offensive line help here. Rief or DeCastro would have made sense. You can have Moss and Rice out there, but if Kolb or whoever else can’t get it to them due to lack of protection or “talent’ it won’t matter.

14. St. Louis Rams – Michael Brockers – A
Rams get a talented and much needed player in Brockers here while at the same time amassing multiple picks by trading down. They put themselves in the driver’s seat for round 2. If I’m a Rams fan, I’m somewhat distraught they didn’t come out with either Blackmon or Floyd, but looking back at draft histories, some of the best wide receiver talents have come in round 2, and I can’t imagine they don’t select at least one with all the picks they have. Besides lack of guys to throw the ball to, the Rams porous run defense was their achilles heel last year. Brockers immediately upgrades that unit. Great job of the Rams this draft to maximize their draft position and getting a ton of picks in return. RG3 might be fantastic, but they seem invested in Bradford and shouldn’t have let one poor season deter them from sticking with him. Bravo St. Louis.

15. Seattle Seahawks- Bruce Irvin – D+
Eek, this was a reach. Irvin goes from former high school drop out to #15 pick in the NFL draft. Not exactly the poster child for staying in school campaigns. While I don’t think Irvin can’t be a productive starter on the NFL level, with so many teams finding ways to trade down and accumulate more picks, it’s hard to figure out why the Hawks’ felt they had to reach at 15 for the WVU linebacker. Hard to imagine he wouldn’t have been there much later in the 1st round or even on day 2.

16. NY Jets – Quinton Coples – C+
Coples could have easily gone top 10 given his talent. His effort and motor remain a question mark though, as does his consistency. Rex Ryan sometimes brings out the best in defensive players so I’m sure that was the thought process here. The Jets defense was vastly over rated last year so if Coples plays like his raw talent suggests, this unit has received a huge upgrade. Given the locker room issues that plagued the Jets last year, you do have to wonder if this is the best environment for someone like Coples. I think they would have been better served to pick Ingram here but Rex and Co. swing for the fences with this pick.

17. Cincinnati Bengals – Dre Kirkpatrick – B+
“Dr.” Dre Kirkpatrick is exactly what the Bengals needed to replace Jonathan Joseph, who was sorely missed last season when Leon Hall went down. With Hall and Kirkpatrick, Cinnci has a secondary duo who can match up with pretty much any receiving tandem in the league. Given Kirkpatrick’s unique size, he can match up against the bigger wideouts while Hall shuts down the quicker ones. Hard to imagine the Bengals nailing two drafts in a row, but it appears they are on their way.

18. San Diego Chargers – Melvin Ingram – A
Great job by the Chargers to get the guy many thought was the best pass rusher in the draft, all the way at 18. Ingram is the hybrid pass rusher that has become so popular these past few years, and gives the Charger defense some much needed flexibility. When a guy’s biggest knock is he has “short arms”, I’d say SD did well with this selection. Besides, it’s not like he has T-Rex arms. http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/prehistoric/tyrannosaurus-rex/

19. Chicago Bears – Shea McClellin – C+
McClellin was a big riser coming into the draft and seems like another pass rushing specialist, which we are finding out teams cannot have too many of. Any pressure that gets taken off Julius Pepper is also a big positive. I’m just left feeling the Bears could have done more to protect Cutler and shore up a shaky offensive line. With Riley Reiff and DeCastro still sitting there, this pick is a bit puzzling to me.

20. Tennessee Titans – Kendall Wright – C
I’m not convinced about Wright. He’s fast but he’s not exceptionally fast. He isn’t tall. He was productive but he also had RG3 tossing him the ball. He is great after the catch and in space, but will he be able to get open against top corners in the NFL? If there is concern Kenny Britt cannot come back fully healthy this pick makes a lot more sense. Wright should be a nice slot receiver, but I want a little more with pick #20.

21. NE Patriots – Chandler Jones – A-
The Pats weren’t the best pass rush team last year and they might be without their top two sack men next season so this pick makes sense. Jones has as much upside as a pass rusher as anyone in this draft. Being a fellow Syracuse Alum, I am quite proud that our awful football team finally had a 1st round pick. Cuse grads tend to over achieve in the NFL (Marvin Harrison, Dwight Freeny, Mike Williams, etc…) so this pick could be special. The Super Bowl runner ups finally traded up in a draft instead of trading down, and they come away with a premier pass rushing talent.

22. Cleveland Browns – Brandon Wheedon – D
This was interesting… It was reported earlier in the day that the Browns gave Colt McCoy a vote of confidence and assured him they wouldn’t be selecting a quarterback in round 1. Lesson learned, never trust your bosses… This pick signals the white flag for McCoy as the starter in Cleveland as I can’t imagine he is willing to stay and mentor Wheedon who is about twice his age. Cleveland obviously plans to address who their QB will be throwing to in the later rounds as there isnt much to work with. A little unfair if you ask me though as Wheedon gets to work with Richardson right off the bat while McCoy had a list of cast offs last season. This selection seems like a medium risk medium reward type of pick. Wheedon probably won’t be worse than McCoy, but how much better will he actually be? Thoughts of Chris Weinke comes to mind…

23. Detroit Lions – Riley Reiff – A-
What is going on Detroit these days… The Lions are not only relevant again, but they have drafted well in the last few years, and their star player is now on the Madden Cover. (I fear for Megatron with this win. The Madden Curse is alive and well (just ask Peyton Hillis) ). Detroit is not without their weaknesses though and they address one of them right here with the second best tackle prospect in the draft. Even if Reiff doesn’t turn into a starter at LT, he should hold down the RT fort for a decade. Anytime you give Matthew Stafford more time to throw to Calvin, you are doing something right. Keeping Stafford healthy should be the #1 concern for the Lions going forward.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers – David DeCastro – B+
I was certain pre draft they would take one of the Alabama linebackers with Upshaw or Hightower. Both guys screamed steel curtain defense. But with DeCastro slipping, the Steelers make a great pick here as keeping Big Ben upright is the most important to the Steelers success. Roethlisberger ran around like a chicken with his head cut off last season. Pouncy and DeCastro equals great anterior anchors for Pitt, and should also help what was a less than spectacular running attack last season.

25. NE Patriots – Don’ta Hightower – B
The Saban Belichick connection continues. For the second time in the 1st round the Pats trade up to get their guy. Hightower is a winner and should instantly help with the Pats new pass rush attack pairing with Chandler Jones. Hate to say it, but the Pats just got a lot better already, which is terrible news for the rest of the AFC.

26. Houston Texans – Whitney Mercilus – B
I can’t imagine a guy named Whitney really making an impact in the league, but what’s in a name. Mercilus will have his work cut out for him to prove he is not a one year wonder. With the Ryans and Williams defections, this pick makes total sense as the Texans get a guy who had 16 sacks a year ago in the Big 10. You don’t get that many without having some unworldly natural ability. I bet the Texans were hoping DeCastro would fall to them here but Wade Phillips just got another toy to use for next year.

27. Cincinnati Bengals – Kevin Zeitler – B
Perhaps the most boring pick of the 1st round. Cincinnati needed a RB and another WR but resisted the urge of the sexier pick and probably makes the smart play here. The more time Dalton has to throw deep passes to AJ Green the better. Besides, there is always value in backs in the later rounds and Zeitler should help the running game whoever is back there in 2012, so they indirectly improve.

28. Green Bay Packers – Nick Perry – B+
Good news, we no longer have to hear how Clay Matthews has no pass rushing help in Green Bay. Perry is exactly what the Pack needed to add a second dimension to their pass rushing attack.

29. Minnesota Vikings – Harrison Smith – B-
The Vike’s needed help in the secondary and address some of that here with the #2 safety on the board in Smith. I watched the ND product play for 4 years, and while he never stood out, he always seemed to be around the ball and constantly making tackles and plays. Smith is never going to be a shutdown safety a la Ed Reed or Eric Berry, but he will help prevent the big plays that plagued Minnesota all of last season. Most importantly, Harrison seems like a great candidate to defend the ever dangerous Tight Ends in the league.

30. San Francisco 49’ers – A.J. Jenkins – C-
I got burned last year by questioning the Niner’s selection of Aldon Smith so I choose my words carefully with the evaluation of this year’s surprise selection. Forgetting the fact that SF essentially drafted a receiver who was much lower on most scouts boards than some other receivers still available (Hill, Randle), after an offseason that saw Manningham and Moss brought in, why did the Niners feel they had to reach for a WR in this spot? With Crabtree still there, Jenkins comes in essentially as the #4 on the depth chart. I’d want more out of my first round pick. San Fran didn’t have any pressing needs but probably could have used the pick to trade out of the 1st round of or at least sure up the offensive line and secondary. They are an elite team and should be in win now mode. Just not sure how this pick lines up with that.

31. Tampa Bay Bucs – Doug Martin – B-
Two Boise State guys in the 1st round??? The Potato state must be going nuts. LaGarret Blount was probably ecstatic they didn’t land Trent Richardson, but this can’t be too pleasing at the end of the round. Regardless, Blount and Martin should make a pretty interesting 1-2 punch for the Bucs. As much as a like Martin and think he can be productive, I can’t help but wonder if the Bucs should have continued to go defense here and hope to get a back in a later round. “The Baron” isn’t going to fix this awful defense by himself. I am also still confused who is playing cornerback for them next season. Ronde Barber will be looking at homes to retire at while Aquib Taliq will be looking at jail cells to serve in.

32. NY Giants – David Wilson – C
Ahmad Bradshaw is not an every down back in the NFL so teaming him with another back makes a lot of sense. What doesn’t make to me is why the Giants didn’t feel more inclined to pick the #1 rated Tight End on the board when their top 2 TE’s on last year’s depth chart are essentially out for the 2012 season. Do the Giants not remember they plucked Bradshaw out of the 7th round? First round TE’s have given teams a ton more value than RB’s over the last decade. The league seems to be moving to a more TE oriented offense to create mismatches and Fleener would have fit that mold. Wilson is a talented back and should provide some new energy into the Giants backfield, but I can’t help but wonder if the Giants let this pick go a bit by not shoring up the TE position or the offensive line. Fleener or Cody Glenn would have been better picks in this spot.

1st Round Draft Results!

The 1st Round of the 2012 NFL Draft is in the books and as we had speculated, there was a lot of trading going on. The new Rookie wage scale eliminated any contractual issues and made for trades to happen easier. The Browns, Cowboys, Patriots, Vikings and many others all made some big trades that effected the board. Impossible to say who was a winner or loser after one round of Drafting, we will wait a while to see how the players actually pan out. Here is a list of the 1st Rounders selected and what we thought the of picks and the slot in which they were selected.

Here are the Draft Results from the 1st Round of the 2012 NFL Draft:

PICK TEAM PLAYER POS HT WT COLLEGE
1 – Colts Luck, Andrew QB 6’4″ 234 Stanford (No Brainer, great pick)

2 – Redskins (From Rams) Griffin III, Robert QB 6’2″ 223 Baylor  (Same as Luck, great pick, big arm huge upside)

3 – Browns (From Vikings) Richardson, Trent RB 5’9″ 228 Alabama (Maybe a bit much to move up but great pick)

4 – Vikings (From Browns) Kalil, Matt OT 6’6″ 306 USC  (Got extra picks and the guy the wanted, good job)

5 – Jaguars (From Buccaneers) Blackmon, Justin WR 6’1″ 207 Oklahoma St. (Need Weapons for Gabbert, solid pick)

6 – Cowboys (From Redskins through Rams) Claiborne, Morris CB 5’11″ 188 LSU (HUGE pick for Dallas, great move)

7 – Buccaneers (From Jaguars) Barron, Mark SS 6’1″ 213 Alabama (Great pick for the Bucs, hard hitter with range)

8 – Dolphins Tannehill, Ryan QB 6’4″ 221 Texas A&M (Least favorite Pick, could have traded down & still got him)

9 – Panthers Kuechly, Luke ILB 6’3″ 242 Boston College  (Solid MLB, will help day one)

10 – Bills Gilmore, Stephon CB 6’0″ 190 South Carolina (My favorite Corner in the draft, knack for the ball)

11 – Chiefs Poe, Dontari DT 6’3″ 346 Memphis (A bit of a reach, combine numbers got him to 11 not game tape)

12 – Eagles (From Seahawks) Cox, Fletcher DT 6’4″ 298 Mississippi St. (Great pick, will help clog the Wide 9)

13 – Cardinals Floyd, Michael WR 6’3″ 220 Notre Dame (Should have went O-Line but Floyd too good to pass up)

14 – Rams (From Cowboys) Brockers, Michael DT 6’5″ 322 LSU (Rams need DT’s in a bad way, solid pick)

15 – Seahawks (From Eagles) Irvin, Bruce DE 6’3″ 245 West Virginia (Bit of a reach, bulk needed, great rusher though)

16 – Jets Coples, Quinton DE 6’6″ 284 North Carolina (Jets need rushers, Coples should be a good one)

17 – Bengals (From Raiders) Kirkpatrick, Dre CB 6’1″ 186 Alabama  (Bengals got a good, hard hitting CB, solid pick)

18 – Chargers Ingram, Melvin DE 6’1″ 264 South Carolina (Good fit for the 3-4 at OLB, will bring needed pressure)

19 – Bears McClellin, Shea DE 6’3″ 260 Boise St. (Versatile, can play End or OLB good looking player)

20 – Titans Wright, Kendall WR 5’10″ 196 Baylor (Bit of a surprise but adds needed Deep Threat to pair with Britt)

21 – Patriots (From Bengals) Jones, Chandler DE 6’5″ 247 Syracuse (Great pick, huge upside and fills a big need)

22 – Browns (From Falcons) Weeden, Brandon QB 6’4″ 221 Oklahoma St. (Like Weeden better than Tannehill)

23 –  Lions Reiff, Riley OT 6’6″ 313 Iowa (Great pick, protecting their top 2 investments, QB & WR)

24 – Steelers DeCastro, David G 6’5″ 316 Stanford (Steelers delighted this run masher fell to them, perfect fit)

25 –  Patriots (From Broncos) Hightower, Dont’a ILB 6’2″ 265 Alabama (Another great pick, brings leadership & attitude)

26 –  Texans Mercilus, Whitney DE 6’3″ 261 Illinois (Lost Mario Williams, found another long & lean DE to replace him)

27 –  Bengals (From Saints through Patriots) Zeitler, Kevin G 6’4″ 314 Wisconsin (Need to protect Dalton, get RB later)

28 –  Packers Perry, Nick DE 6’3″ 271 USC (Very good edge rusher opposite of Clay Matthews)

29 –  Vikings (From Ravens) Smith, Harrison FS 6’2″ 213 Notre Dame (Very solid pick, Vikings need D’ help back there)

30 –  49ers Jenkins, A.J. WR 6’0″ 192 Illinois (A big of a head scratcher, Coby Fleener would have been better)

31 – Buccaneers (From Patriots through Broncos) Martin, Doug RB 5’9″ 223 Boise St. (Good pick)

32 – Giants Wilson, David RB 5’10″ 206 Virginia Tech (Speed back to pair with Bradshaw, GMen built off the run game)

The only thing that we hope fans keep in mind is that is absolutely impossible and honestly not smart to try and grade teams after one round or even one year for that matter. True Draft evaluation takes years.  The Broncos stockpiled picks and are targeting players that they see will be available in Rd. 2 and the Ravens did the same. There is no reason to reach for a player that you don’t fall in love with. Let the draft come to you, however if you see a guy fall a little like Morris Claiborne and he fills a huge need than you take him, just like the Cowboys, Patriots and Vikings did.

After one day we will not proclaim Winners and Losers but will say we were impressed with the Browns, Vikings, Cowboys, & Patriots and were slightly confused with the Dolphins & 49ers.

If Tannehill turns out to be the second coming of Dan Marino than we’ll all be proven to be wrong, however they most certainly could have traded down and received the same player with more compensation. As far as the Niners, just think they have a glut at WR and believed that Coby Fleener would have helped the Passing Attack a bit more than their now 3rd WR acquired via Free Agency or the Draft.

Rounds 2 and 3 are on deck this evening, should be just as exciting as Round 1…as Bart Scott says, Can’t Wait!!

Draft Buzz!

As I’ve said all along, this is the season of deceit and smoke-screens when it comes to teams providing NFL Draft news. Most of the time, stories are planted as diversions in order to get a team to perhaps to stay away from the player that they really want. At times however we do get nuggets of insight about teams and perhaps some moves that they would like to make. This is the latest draft buzz.

Philadelphia Eagles : have reportedly shown interest in trading into the Top 5 perhaps interested in a Left Tackle to replace the injured Jason Peters. At 15 they have a realistic chance of moving into the Top 5 and with reports that the team is actively shopping Asante Samuel, he could perhaps be involved in a Draft Day deal.

New York Jets: have reportedly been rumored to be secretly targeting Alabama RB Trent Richardson to help bolster their sagging Run game. The Jets hold the 16th pick and would have to put a considerable package together in order to land Richardson who is expected to go either 4th to Cleveland or 5th or Tampa Bay. Some speculate that the Jets will target DE/LB Melvin Ingram from South Carolina if they are unable to land Richardson. Ingram is heralded as one of the best pure pass rushers in this years draft.

Denver Broncos : have recently been reported to have an interest in trading up, if necessary, for Cornerback Stephon Gilmore. The Corner out of South Carolina has been a very hot prospect lately and many teams, including the Jacksonville Jaguars have reportedly shown interest in him. NFL Network’s Michael Lombardi said that Jacksonville has a higher grade on Gilmore than the top rated CB Morris Claiborne. As for the Broncos, they have apparently reached out to teams to see what it would take in order to make a deal happen in the projected slot that Gilmore is expected to go.

Cleveland Browns: While the Browns hold two first round picks in this years draft, there is more and more “feeling” around NFL circles that the team will look to draft Oklahoma St. QB Brandon Weeden. The 29 year old draftee is a great talent but many teams are shying away from his age. In my opinion he is the 3rd best QB available and if you don’t mind him turning 30 soon, as a rookie, then you should grab him. The Browns certainly won’t take him at 4 but maybe interested in a trade down at 22 and try to get him later all while stocking up on picks.

Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings have reportedly been weighing their options between Left Tackle Matt Khalil, Wide Receiver Justin Blackmon and Cornerback Morris Claiborne. If the Vikings leave Khalil on the board, I would expect the trade lines to heat up for the Browns at 4. Many teams, including the aforementioned Eagles, might be looking to move up and snag him.

PLAYER NEWS:
Ohio St. O-Lineman Mike Adams recently tested positive for Marijuana at the NFL Combine per reports. It’s unknown how these reports get out, as they are confidential in nature. It could be a leaked story or could be made up in an attempt for teams to pass on him so another team can take him.

Nebraska CB Alfonzo Dennard was arrested recently for allegedly assaulting a Police Officer during an altercation after leaving a night club. Not a huge deal and might or might not effect his draft stock but it certainly isn’t the best time to get into trouble.

Other Tidbits that could effect the draft:
The Patriots have been looking at Running Backs recently, hosting Ryan Grant, Joseph Addai and Tim Hightower on Friday. The team maybe looking to add a veteran RB to pair with up and comer Stevan Ridley. The Patriots have always liked veteran players and perhaps they are looking to fill the RB void via Free Agency and not through the draft.

The Eagles have reportedly dropped the asking price for CB Asante Samuel after they failed to move him and his big contract. Scheduled to make around $11 million this year and with a glut of CB talent the Eagles are looking to move Samuel but have been unable to find compensation they feel fair. Reports now say the team is looking for a 5th to 6th round pick. The Broncos have shown the most interest recently trying to work out a deal as recent as a week ago.

Pre Draft Visits: Minnesota Vikings

By Gayle Saunders
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League rules allow each team to bring in 30 players for predraft visits. No on-field work is allowed. The visits are simply an opportunity for the players to sit down with the coaches, as well as the personnel people, for any additional questions, football or otherwise.

Not every player accepts every invitation he receives, so teams don’t always get the first 30 players they requested. But coaches often will look at video with players to get a sense of their football awareness, or put them to work, marker in hand, on the dry-erase board to see how they dissect certain game situations.

One important fact to note from last years draft is, 21 of the NFL’s 32 1st round selections had confirmed pre-draft visits and/or workouts with the NFL teams they were selected by. So there is a good shot that he players below will get drafted if they’re on the board during the teams draft selection.

Below we’ll be updating the chart of pre-draft visits, if you have a player visit you’d like us to add to the chart leave a comment and I’ll add it. Thanks for your help in advance!

LAST UPDATED 4/20/12

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Justin Blackmon – WR from Oklahoma State
Michael Floyd -WR from Notre Dame
Stephen Hill -WR from Georgia Tech
Alshon Jefferey -WR from South Carolina
James Hanna -TE from Oklahoma
Tom Compton -OT from South Dakota
Matt Kalil -OT from USC
Jonathan Martin -OT from Stanford
Amini Silatolu -G from Midwestern State
Greg Zuerlein -K from Missouri Western
Michael Brockers -DT from LSU
Dontari Poe -DT from Memphis
Chase Baker -DT from Boise State
Trevor Guyton – DL from University of California
Morris Claiborne-CB from LSU
Trumaine Johnson – CB from Montana
Dre Kirkpatrick – CB from Alabama
Ron Brooks – CB from LSU
Casey Hayward -CB from Vanderbilt
Lionel Smith -CB from Texas A&M
D.J. Campbell – Safety from California

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Vikings Stadium in Limbo!

The Minnesota Vikings plans for a new stadium for the Vikings appears to be in serious limbo and it has the Football world talking. The Minnesota House Committee voted against a bill, 9-6, late Monday night to fund the project.

The Vikings were seeking tax-payer money to fund the project estimated at $975 Million. According to Representative Morrie Lanning “Somebody’s going to have to pull a rabbit out of a hat for this thing to be alive at this point”

As of right now, the Vikings will play in the current Metrodome in 2012 but the future after this season is unclear.

“It’s a mistake to think the Vikings and the (National Football League) will continue with the status quo” about the idea of playing in the Metrodome without a new stadium, Vikings vice president of public affairs / stadium development Lester Bagley told reporters after hearing of the vote by the House Committee.

The other wrinkle in this story is the fact that a stadium in Los Angeles is currently being built, giving the Vikings ownership slight leverage to relocate the team if they feel it’s in the best interest of the franchise.

During the hearing, Rep. Dean Urdhal asked, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune: “Why should the state of Minnesota contribute to a stadium for a billionaire owner?”

A valid question by Urdhal for sure, however with that said, having an NFL team in your state is a good thing. Most stadiums are funded through Municipal Bonds, which are funded through tax payer dollars. The revenue that having a professional franchise, and a storied one like the Vikings which always has exceptional turnout and fan base, would probably be a bonus of the State of Minnesota.

THE SKINNY: The Vikings, with the Stadium in Los Angeles being built, have some leverage to move the franchise. I can understand the State not wanting to strap Tax Payer dollars into a project that a Billionaire owner can easily afford and in the end he and the team will profit from. In the same token, the State would also benefit from keeping the Vikings where they are. Fan turnout, jobs created from the stadium, parking, vendors and merchandise sold all are a big factor in helping the City make money. We will have to wait and see how it plays out but it looks like this fight will be a bitter one that will come down to the very end.

How do you feel about the Vikings Stadium situation? Please leave a comment with your thoughts!

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