x
Breaking News
More () »

McNiff's Riffs: Perk, Schwartzy help 'riff' on the NFL draft

Who loves the NFL Draft as much as Tim McNiff? Nobody... except maybe KARE 11's Eric Perkins and Dave Schwartz. The dynamic duo is helping with prognostications in this edition of McNiff's Riffs.
Credit: Al Bello
Stock Image

Once again the NFL Draft is upon us, an event that has become just one more talking point that seems to divide us as Americans. When it comes to the draft, people generally fall into one of two camps, either you think the draft is over-hyped nonsense and you simply can’t understand what all the fuss is about, or, you’re like me and you consider the NFL Draft to be Christmas day for (alleged) grownups.

I love the draft. NO, I mean I freaking LOVE the draft! Always have, and I guess I always will.

READ: More McNiff's Riffs

Of course, I’m old enough to remember when there was no televised coverage of the draft. Back when they used to hold it on a single day, in the middle of the day, in the middle of the week and when it comes to the Vikings, I have seen it all.

In the first round of the 1982 draft, the Vikings took running back Darren Nelson of Stanford ahead of Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Allen of USC. I fell on the floor.... literally fell on the floor. I wanted to start kicking me feet and pounding the floor with my fists, but I was a college freshman and was way too cool for that.

Credit: Charles LeClaire
Passing on Hall of Fame running back Marcus Alllen in favor of... gasp... Darren Nelson is near the top of the list of legendary Vikings draft day gaffes.

Nelson went on to a nondescript career with the Purple while Allen was a Super Bowl MVP who now has his bust in the Pro football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Sadly, I’ve seen worse.

In 1995 Warren Sapp was the best defensive player in the nation coming out of the University of Miami. His stock fell though, when Sapp failed his pre-draft drug test and he started to slide down the board.

Credit: Reinhold Matay
'Character issues' caused the Vikings to pass on Warren Sapp in 1995. Sapp went on to a Hall of Fame career, while Vikings first-rounder Derrick Alexander drifted off into oblivion. It's selections like this that keep Tim McNiff up at night.

There he was, just sitting there, waiting for the Vikings to take him at pick #11. However, the Vikings had been through a series of 'off-field incidents' that season and instead of taking Sapp (and his pot baggage) the Vikes selected Derrick Alexander, a defensive end out of Florida State. While well-intentioned, Alexander had a career much like Darren Nelson while Sapp... you guessed it.... was more like Marcus Allen, winning a Super Bowl and ending up in Canton. To make matter worse, Sapp was drafted by Tampa Bay, a team playing in the Vikings' division at the time, so Warren made sure to torture the Purple Gang for their transgression, twice a year, for many years.

I didn’t throw myself on the floor with that pick. Heck, I was 32-years old, after all. Instead, I just hurled a pillow at the wall (well it WAS a “throw pillow”) while screaming an obscenity that rhymes with “truck”.

Worst part? I wasn’t in my own home at the time and my late father in-law was napping.

Not good.

And then there was 2003, when the Vikings became the laughingstock of the NFL by failing to get their first-round pick, #7 overall, in by the time their 15-minutes on the clock expired, allowing not one but two teams drafting behind them to get their picks in first.

But I digress.

The Minnesota Vikings go into this year’s NFL draft holding the 30th pick (out of 32 teams) in the first round, and a total of 8 selections in the 7-round process. It will be Rick Spielman’s seventh draft as the Vikings General Manager, having participated in five additional drafts while serving as the team’s Director of Player Personnel. It’s safe to say we know a little bit about him.

One of the things we know about Spielman is that he believes that volume can lead to value. What I mean is, ideally Spielman would like to have as many picks as possible, increasing the likelihood that with more players comes better odds of finding players who can help your football team.

Past that, even Spielman admits, it’s pretty much a “crap shoot”.

“Our philosophy on the trades, I think last year we traded-up twice and down seven times”, said Spielman. “It’s not planned, it’s more reactive to what’s happening and how the names are falling off the board. And also what the depth is at that particular position.”

Coming off their best season in years, offensive line appears to be the position where the Vikings have the greatest need. The Vikings head into the draft with 8 selections, which is a little less than Spialman says he’s comfortable with, so I believe that at some point he will trade back in an effort to accumulate more picks. The question is, when will he do that?

With as many as six quarterbacks poised to go in the first round we do know that the Vikings should be able to get an impact player at 30. Will that player fill a “need” or simply be the guy the Vikings like best?

To help us prognosticate what the Vikes will do in the first round, I’ve enlisted a couple of draft experts, straight out of the KARE-11 Sports staff.

Eric “Sure Pick Perk” Perkins

“I would expect the Vikings to take an offensive Lineman, but have been surprised by Spielman on several occasions, so it’d be a shaky beat at best. I like Connor Williams from Texas and Brian O’Neill from Pitt intrigues me, but frankly there appear to be a handful of competent bodies that would bolster an O-Line that could use the depth.

To me, quite honestly, the only position that I’d really love to see the Vikings address is that of kick returner. While Cordarelle Patterson continues to lead the league in return average, I became increasingly impatient with the lack of splash out of Marcus Sherels. Please Mr. Spielman, address this issue. And not with a 7th rounder.

Dave “Inside Info” Schwartz

With the 30th overall pick the Vikings will.…..trade down into the second round. Rick Spielman is known for doing this. He stockpiles draft picks like squirrels do buts before winter. He has a “magic number” of ten, believing that it increases his odds of hitting on one and right now they own just 8.

Once they get to that pick I believe they will go offensive line. If he’s available Will Hernandez, a guard from UTEP would be the first option. If not, then Frank Ragnow of Chanhassen. The G/C combo from Arkansas is a beast and can play multiple positions which the Vikings love (and they need since they always seem to have injuries on the offensive line).”

Tim “No Clue” McNiff

Both Perk and Schwartzy have outlined the Vikings need at offensive line, and thrown out some names that are likely candidates. Two names I’ll add to that list are Isiah Wynn of Georgia and James Daniels of Iowa: Both players might still be available in the 2nd round.

Keeping in mind that the Vikings still play in a division with Aaron Rogers (Packers), Matthew Stafford (Lions) and the upcoming Mitchell Trubisky (Bears), and since this draft is light on edge-rushers, the Vikes might go for the best defensive back available. I'll throw out Donte Jackson, a CB from LSU, or Mike Hughes, a corner from Central Florida University. And if somehow Da’Ron Payne, a defensive tackle out of Alabama is still there I don’t think the Vikes will be able to resist.

If the purple takes a flyer and opts for another wide receiver in the 1st round, you may want to call and check on my welfare.

Bonus Draft Coverage!

Green Bay Packers

Keep an eye to the east as the Packers go into the draft with a new GM, 12 draft picks and a crabby quarterback. The injury to Aaron Rogers revealed Green Bay to be deficient in several areas, but they are poised to start the rebuilding process with this draft.

With so many picks the Packers can contemplate trading up from the 14th spot, and there are a couple players on their radar that may tempt them to do it.

One would think the Packers would want to go offensive line to protect their unhappy franchise quarterback, but this is a team in desperate need of help in the defensive secondary. If six QB’s are picked and either safety Derwin James of Florida State University or cornerback Denzel Ward of Ohio State are there, that’s what the Packers will do. Word out of Title Town is that James is the guy and the Pack may be willing to trade up to get him.

Chicago Bears

The Bears also need help in several areas, and with the 8th pick in the draft Chicago is hoping that somehow Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson (described as the “safest pick in the draft”) is still there when it’s their turn.

He won’t be. Tampa takes Nelson at #7, leaving the Bears with their pick of LB Roquon Smith of Georgia or Tremaine Edmunds of Virginia Tech University. The pick here is Edmunds.

Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions have a new head coach in Matthew Patricia, the longtime defensive coordinator of the New England Patriots. I’d love to see Patricia fool everybody by taking an offensive player at #20, and there should be some really talented receivers and running backs available. Patricia won’t go in that direction if Vita Vea, a defensive lineman out of Washington is available. If Vea is gone I think the Lions get help on the offensive line, and guard Will Hernandez of UTEP, offensive tackle Mike McGlinchy of Notre Dame and Connor Williams, the OT from Texas, should all still be there.

I’ll close by saying that the Cleveland Browns, who have the draft's first overall selection, are reportedly shopping their 4th overall pick, which could net them two first rounders this year, and more in the future. Maybe, just maybe, the Brownies are finally going to turn things around.

That said, the Indianapolis Colts traded the #3 overall pick to the New York Jets in exchange for the 6th, 37th and 49th pick this year, and the Jets 2nd rounder next year. Remember, the Colts get QB Andrew Luck back this year, so if somehow Bradley Chubb (defensive end out of NC State) is still there at #6 the Colts are the big winners in this year’s draft.

Write it down.

Hear more Vikings from Tim in his bi-weekly podcast "McNiff's Huddle" below:

On a mobile device, go here: https://mcniffshuddle.podbean.com/

Before You Leave, Check This Out