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Vikings Discussion & Random Thoughts
It is finally draft day. We will see tonight what the Vikings do in round one at pick 18. Most “experts” have them taking a player in the secondary, either Safety or CB, some DT, but depending on how things play out ahead of them they could go in many directions, including trading up or back. We’ll see what KOC, the scouting staff, and Bryszinakskwsski decide what to do. Hopefully they make a pick, it sucks when you stay up late to see who it might be only for them to trade out of the first round entirely. Either way I am more optimistic than I’ve been since KAM’s first draft.
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Draft day already? WTF… did we pick a good one, at least?
We’ll find out a few years from now
OK, I’m surprised I stayed up this late. Off to bed. Hope everyone sleeps well, and we’ll resume the convo tomorrow.
SKOL
FTP
I think this was the highest number of O-linemen selected in the first round of the NFL draft ever. Nine guys picked. I think the previous high was actually last year, with six guys selected in the first round.
Ok, it is official. The Vikings get a C+ for their 1st round pick of Caleb Banks.
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/grading-caleb-banks-selection-vikings-021233083.html
But Alec Lewis said he was told the guy is a Unicorn…
With one pick left to go, 9 O-linemen have been selected in the first round. Might be a record.
Good offensive linemen are REALLY hard to find. Maybe teams are finally going back to the “build your team from the inside out” philosophy.
What a strange thought, maybe we should try it??
Haha!
Oldest adage in football. Games are won in the trenches. Remember the Super Bowl between the Chiefs and the Bucs? The Chiefs lost three starters on the O-line in the playoffs, and Mahomes got crushed in the Super Bowl. Only scored 9 points. No matter how great your QB is, a bad O-line is gonna result in a poor offense.
Amen.
Isn’t this crazy…
Wow.
Poor Stealers, had one stolen out from under them. #grin
In case you were wondering:
Vikings OTA Offseason Workouts: May 26-27, May 29, June 1-2, June 4, June 15-18
Mandatory Minicamp: June 9-11
Thank you.
T’pup’s having a helluva first half. 61-39 at the midway.
I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but I don’t have a ton of confidence in this current Vikings regime’s draft picks. However, Flores knows what he is doing, so that makes me feel better.
Yeah… I’m not like jumping for joy, but maybe they got it right. We’ll know 2 years from now if he was worthy of a first round pick. We’ll have all that 20/20 hindsight then.
Banks is very talented but foot injuries at 320 lbs are concerning. I remember old friend Kevin Williams having some sort of foot injuries at some point with the Vikings but he got over them. I wonder what Williams would look like in a B-Flo defense instead of basically playing the Tampa two his entire career.
The ultimate ‘hope for the best but expect the worst pick’. So very, very Vikings.
Theinenam goes to the Bores 29th overall. Damn.
Soulless ginger, hard pass.
This couldn’t possibly bite us in the butt like passing on Hamilton right?
KOC on the pick…
Sounds like they had a good look at his foot. Hope it was good enough.
Unicorn…
I think we need to start a prayer/healing circle for him and his foot.
Laughing… OK sign me up.
Well…
He was announced as a DE so I assume they plan on him playing opposite Redmond.
327 lbs? More of a NT.
Lance Zierlein’s breakdown.
If it takes a double team to displace him then we have a defender unblocked to take out the ball carrier.
The Vikings had the highest blitz rate in the league last year by far at 48%. The Falcons were second at 33.9%. Yeah, Flores definitely wants a guy that requires a double team to stop him up front.
Must be a 3-4 DE not an edge guy at 327 lbs.
He’ll play all over, specific positions are almost irrelevant in Flores defense, it’s more just position groups, I’m guessing Flores likes his versatility to play all over the line
Banks 6-6, 327, 9.83 RAS.
Caleb Banks broke out with four sacks and seven TFLs in 2024, showing off blue-chip raw tools in the process. At 6’6″, 325 pounds, with arms over 35″, he has overwhelming size, length, and forklift power, to pair with inhuman burst and quickness at that size. His rare raw talent has grandfathered him into the “stack-and-shed nightmare” category, and he flashes excellence as a pass-rusher with swims, swipes, and long-arms.
Banks needs more control and counter consistency, but his physical makeup is ready-made for instant impact at the NFL level. The major questions come from his medical history and lack of availability in 2025. He’s had foot issues in the past and suffered another injury that required a procedure against LSU, and ultimately caused him to miss most of the 2025 season.
If his foot holds up he is outstanding…..IF.
Let’s hope he’s ready when camp starts.
The guys on NFL Network seemed surprised. I don’t know if that is a good or bad sign.
He didn’t fit their narrative.
Banks started as top 10 but fell hard after he hurt his foot again at the combine.
He was rated in some places as a round 2 guy. I am not feeling warm and fuzzy on tbe pick, but if Flores wanted him……
He started as top 10, he dropped lately due to injuries.
Hopefully medical said Flores can have him.
DT Banks…. No idea. Ok sure.
Our pick is a high risk/reward type of pick. Not what i expected from the front office
Have to assume that they got a good look at the foot.
Yes I know what ‘assume’ means, but at this point it all we have.
Honestly, I had forgotten that he played at UofL.
@UofLSheriff50
Former Louisville Cardinal Caleb Banks ended up going 1st round (#18) to the Vikings despite an injury plagued final year.
Left Louisville went to Florida and it was a tough pill to swallow because he clearly had huge upside
It’s hard to keep track these days, college players are just out there chasing the money, not that I blame them, but being a free agent every offseason is just crazy, like Mendoza probably wouldn’t have been #1 if he didn’t transfer
I hate the carousel.
Ditto
Banks?
Yuck.
hawt
3 Surgeries in one year on that foot. Hope the medical staff got a good look at it.
Yikes.
I heard Steve Austin’s surgeon operated on him though… so…
That guy has to be old by now.
Interesting…
Kind of a surprise, but if the foot is healed.. ..
At least it was a position of need
Caleb Banks?
Hope the medicals on his foot check out.
Good Pick if they do.
Agreed… kid was pretty highly ranked, and we were just saying we needed some interior defensive line help with Hargrave and Allen gone.
Well, it would seem the Vikings trust their training staff evaluations. If they were going to take a flyer on an injury risk I would have thought it would have been McCoy, the CB from TN. If he can stay healthy it’s potentially a great pick if he is fully recovered from the foot issues.
Maybe they looked at McCoy and didn’t like what the Dr saw.
That’s what I’m guessing
They went DT, not shocked at all, banks is a good prospect
#Vikings select DT Caleb Banks with the No. 18 overall pick. #sko
#nfldraf
Here’s hoping he gets healthy and stays that way
Amen Brother.
Miller over Freeling is an interesting pick for the loins
Loins take T Miller from Clemson.
We up!!
Theinemen or Faulk.
Falk is big enough to act as a DT if needed 6’5 7/8″•276 lbs. 9.10 RAS.
Vikes on the clock
S from OR
Thank you Jets for taking that TE off the board for us.
$1 For Corn (Buccaneers) take Rueber Bain, Edge from Miami.
Thats 3 Edges selected, good thing we still have Greenard.
Rumors that Greenard will be traded.
Rumor has been around for weeks, hasn’t happened and may not.
No surprises.
Vikings set to take dude from OR
Which one? S or TE?
Nevermind, Sadiq to the jets
Not TE., Murderapolus would take that Tight End and make him a Wide Receiver.
#badjoke
Yes
Ravens go Guard.
Someone needs to take that TE so we are not tempted to.
I liked Ionae
I preferred Fano as he could play any of the 5 OL positions at a high level.
I’m happy, Lamar needs a better OL.
4 O-linemen already…
Bain has to be soon.
Didn’t the Ravens lose their Center this year also? That’s a huge loss.
Yep
Jets did…
Rams take Ty Simpson
Interesting. Heir apparent to Stafford? He’s in a good place with Sean McVay.
Probably the best situation for a young QB to be in, 17 year vet current mvp QB and Sean McVay as HC, sit for a year or two and learn from the best.
QB rated 37th overall?
Got to get your guy I guess.
Wow, I’m shocked.
Not sure i like the Simpson pick
Caleb Downs to the Cowboys, damn it.
It was a fant hope but real one.
Ohio St showing out this draft.
Indeed. Just what I was thinking.
Cowgirls trade up
Back??
Who do you suppose they had to trade up one spot to block from taking their guy
2 5th rounders per my son/cowboy fan.
Giants go OL
New York #Giants select OL Francis Mauigoa with the No. 10 overall
The Brownies take at #9 T Spencer Fano, OT. Utah.
Clev takes OL Fano
Ok you can take over as announcer while I dish up dinner. #grin
The Bounty Gate-rs at #8 take WR Jordy Tyson, Zona St.
Hi Kathy!!!
OK, clean up the language boys!
Damn it.I mean ‘Of course’.
No worries, lol.
Anybody hear what the chiefs gave up to go from 9 to 6?
Too much I suspect.
Their #9, a 3rd round, a 5th round
@AlbertBreer
The Chiefs are trading the 9th overall pick, a third round pick and a fifth round to the Browns for the 6th overall pick, per sources.
Chefs sent 74 and 148 I think
Redskins at #7 take Sonny Styles, LB, again The Ohio State.
Good pick IMO
Best one so far IMHO but he had no chance of falling to #18.
This 10 minute to 8 minute thing is working for me, seems to be moving much better.
Agreed.
And Hi Kathy.
Hi!
KC, no not that one Kfey, selects Mansoor Delane, CD, LSU at number 6.
So far so good.
Why “so far so good”?
No one I hoped would realistically fall to us has been taken.
I agree then
Not Caleb Downs?
Don’t jinx us.
They must have believed the ‘bad knee’ rumor.
The NY GI-Ants at #5 take Arvell Reese, Edge, Ohio St strikes again.
Chiefs up to 6
Vikes should be on the clock by 10 Eastern
8 PM here, right after dinner, perfect.