Friday, April 25, 2025

Day 1 of the NFL draft is in the books

 

I love football might be an obvious statement and with that loves came one of my favorite times of the NFL season with the NFL draft. My wife and I go to the Vikings drafty party every year and love being a  part of the fans especially when the Vikings announcement comes. The SKOL chant is going loud and awesome to be a part of. The pick is announced and streamers from the US Bank Stadium begin to fall heavily. It’s an amazing sight and then seeing people wear the streamers afterward is just as much fun.

The Vikings slotted for pick 24 thanks to a phenomenal 2024 campaign. I was convinced in my head knowing the team has only 4 picks in the entire draft unless of course the team makes a trade or trades. It seemed like forever until 24 would be called and eventually the Vikings were on the clock. The TV screen showed Kwesi and Coach O’Connell on the phones so wondering if a trade is being talked about.

We soon got the answer is the screen at US Bank Stadium shows the Vikings pick Is in. The net anxious moment is waiting for Commissioner Goodell to make the long walk to the microphone. Oh boy what name is going to be revealed? Is it a position of need? A safety, offensive or defensive side of the ball?

The answer as we all was out of The Ohio State University, Donovan Jackson who can play offensive tackle or offensive guard?

I love the pick and as they say in the business not a sexy pick such as quarterback, running back, wide receiver, safety or cornerback? But what the Vikings picked was a player of huge need. The team’s run game has been brutal the last few years and Quarterbacks Cousins and Darnold have had to run for their lives way to much in my opinion.

The NFC North was the best division in NFL based on the incredible records each team had. The draft made the division even better. The Lions have had phenomenal drafts the last few years and their record speaks for itself. The Lions pick at 28 was DT, Tyliek Williams who is now added to a very good defense.

The Green Bay Packers pick at 23 was their first receiver chosen in the first round since 2002 and that was Matthew Golden. The Chicago Bears pick 10 was Tight end, Colston Loveland so he is added to a very talented tight end group.

I look at the NFL draft and see teams that got players I really like starting with the Denver Broncos pick 20 took DB Jahdae Barron who is now paired up with one of the best in the business, Patrick Surtain.

I love the Raiders pick at 6 running back, Ashton Jeanty who has the most scrimmage yards in the FBS. The Eagles who I don’t like whatsoever I thought got a great pick with pick 31 taking out of Alabama linebacker, Jihaad Campbell.

The shock of the night for me was hearing the Giants trade back into the first round and I was confident it would be a quarterback and that would be Shedeur Sanders. It was obviously not as they took Jaxson Dart out of Missisippi.

I love to look at the Vikings schedule and see who they will face from the first-round picks. The Vikings will see 2 of the top 10 picks on the road with #3 and # 5 picks.

The home schedule

#10 Chicago TE Colston Loveland

#17 Cincinnati DE Shemar Stewart

#23 Green Bay WR Matthew Goldn

#27 Batimore S  Malaki Starks

#28 Detroit DT Tyleik Williams

#29 Washington OT Josh Conerly Jr

#31 Philadelphia LB Jihaad Campbell

 

Away

#3 NY Giants DE Abdul Carter

#5 Cleveland DT Mason Graham

#12 Dallas OG Tyler Booker

#18 Seattle OG Gray Zabel

#21 Pittsburgh DT Derrick Harmon

#22 Los Angeles Chargers  RB Omarion Hampton

 

The overall NFL draft saw 17 offensive players and 15 defensive players.

Thursday April 24th is in the books and I loved from start to finish. I can’t wait for Friday night and Saturday afternoon for the rest of the draft.

That’s all for now

Thank you for reading

Purplesstick

 

 

 

Sunday, April 20, 2025

Christmas in April for NFL fans

 

This is the time I year I look so forward to as draft week is here and all the mock drafts I have seen or read I am ready for the real deal starting this Thursday night April, 24,2025.

The team last season surprised even me with all the success they had with double digit wins after Las Vegas has them winning 6-7.  I of course will take that surprise again and again.  I am a diehard but looking at last year’s schedule and so many new players how would it go?

I am very concerned this year again with the draft because our GM, Kwesi seems to have missed on more than he has not. I am a positive person and state here in this blog I love the job he has done signing free agents.

It’s a twofold thought because I love the new players but on the other hand, we are not getting younger by adding veterans. I look at the NFC North and see so much success with their drafts we can’t afford to get behind the youth movement.  I love what the Lions have done. In the last few years and the Packers I believe are one if the youngest teams in not the youngest.

I love the roster up and down and wonder what we need with so many veterans. I start with safety after losing Cam Bynum to free agency to the Colts and know Harrison Smith’s time is winding as the older, he gets. I am appreciative of his coming back for another year. I know the team signed Theo Jackson resigned Safety, Theo Jackson however he has very little play time in the secondary with most of his time om special teams. It will be an interesting makeup with Smith and Jackson. I know Josh Metellus is very versatile and will be needed. I look at the draft and have seen mock drafts with looking like Nick Emmanwori out of South Carolina is slotted to be in purple. The other safety, Azarey’eh Thomas from Florida State to be a potential pick.  I have watched highlights on both on would love to see either one in purple.

My other thought on the draft knowing we only have 4 picks I would not be surprised whatsoever to see a trade back to 26,27,28, or 29 and get more picks. If I was a betting man this is what I would bet on.

The other positions or positions I would like to add depth is offensive line or defensive line. I love to see the two new veterans signed in free agency Justin Skula (TB), Ryan Kelly (Ind) and Will Fries (Ind). I am glad the Vikings moved on from Garrett Bradbury at center. I do thank him for his time here but I thought he was too small and got pushed around a little too much for my liking.

One thing that has bothered me the last few years is watching the opponents get 3-4 yards before being touched while the Vikings running back might get a couple yards and then fight like heck to get more.  Our running backs have had to work much harder than they should have to at the line of scrimmage.

I have been looking at a couple mock drafts and see what is projected for the purple and a name I see are Grey Zabel,a guard from NDSU and Kelvin Banks Jr., out of Texas. I read what people like Is his reach ability.

I look at our current tackles both Brian O’Neil and the other book end, Christian Darrisaw which I love the duo however after early season ending surgery on Darrisaw how will he be?

I think right now on paper the offensive line will be much improved from last year and the Vikings will run the ball with authority.

It’s such an exciting time of hype and hope for all of NFL fans.

I am a big fan of giving JJ McCarthy the keys to the convertible and know our backup for now is unproved Brett Rypien. I know the time will sign a veteran and NO I DO NOT WANT AARON RODGERS!!!!!

 

Thursday night can’t come soon enough for me.  I have been to over 20 draft parties and honestly well over half of them fans have booed the Vikings pick.  It was last year the biggest cheers came with the drafting of JJ McCarthy at pick 10 then the team surprising the fans and moving up to 17 to take Dallas Turner.

How will Thursday go at US Bank Stadium will fans boo or cheer? Only time will tell.

 

That’s all for now.

Thank you for reading

Purplestick

SKOL