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