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The Oregon Duck once again ranked prominently among top mascots in college football

Once again, the Oregon Duck has been named among the best mascots in the world of college football.

Whoever at the University of Oregon was the one that decided to turn The Duck from an ordinary mascot to the San Diego Chicken of college sports is a marketing genius.

Licensed from Disney, Oregon’s version of Donald Duck is among the most recognizable and marketable mascots in the nation. He is often on commercials throughout the year, and is always quick to mind when conversations of the best mascots come up. Recently, NFL.com conducted its annual survey of who the best college mascot was, and unsurprisingly, the Duck was featured prominently.

But he is joined by an interesting collection of live and suited mascots. The Duck is joined by another representative of the Pac-12 in the list, but perhaps not an obvious choice. There’s no Benny Beaver, Sparky the Sun Devil, or not even the Stanford Tree was good enough to make the cut.

Here’s the list, according to NFL.com, of the Top 10 mascots out there. You decide if they got it right or not.

Vikings select premier wide receiver in recent NFL.com mock draft

The Minnesota Vikings score a top wide receiver in NFL.com mock draft.

Despite releasing Adam Thielen, the Minnesota Vikings have yet to address the wide receiver during the off-season.

This approach sends a pretty clear signal of one potential need during the NFL Draft. Unless the Vikings feel comfortable with K.J. Osborn and Justin Jefferson as their wide receivers, they’ll likely need to select one at some point during the draft.

NFL.com’s Rhett Lewis’ first mock draft has the Vikings taking a wide receiver early, selecting TCU’s Quentin Johnston in the first round.

Hendon Hooker is off the board here, and the Vikings could use some help on defense … but the potential of pairing a big-bodied physical specimen with Justin Jefferson might be too appealing to pass up in this scenario. Johnston has some work to do on his hands, but he offers terrific run-after-the-catch ability and could alleviate some pressure on Jefferson.

Measuring in at 6-foot-4, Johnston is a unique blend of size and athleticism, making him an intriguing player early in the draft. While he’ll likely need to clean up his hands, as Lewis mentioned, Johnston would fit in nicely with Jefferson and could create a fortified group of offensive weapons for whoever their quarterback of the future is.

It’s also interesting that Lewis mentioned Hendon Hooker as a potential selection. Hooker seems to be gaining more traction as a first-round selection, and the Vikings need to figure out who their future quarterback is. If they remain at pick 23, then Hooker could be an option for the Vikings.

NFL.com draft analyst sends WR, OT to Cowboys as ‘ideal top 2 picks’

An undersized wide receiver and an under-the-radar lineman may actually be perfect for Dallas, says the network’s draft expert. | From @ToddBrock24f7

There’s no way to know for sure, but in all likelihood, the big board of every team in the NFL probably looks a whole lot like the big board of every other team, at least for the first 60 or 70 prospects. Sure, there will be discrepancies and the occasional outlier here and there, but by and large, everyone– owners and GMs, TV talking heads and certified draft gurus, basement bloggers and casual fans- is talking about all the same guys.

It’s where they will all end up that makes it so captivating.

NFL.com’s draft analyst Chad Reuter has been poring over the names for a lot longer than most, so when he plays matchmaker and pairs up a college prospect with the club that he says is the “ideal” fit, it’s worth noting.

That’s exactly what he’s done for for the first two picks for each team. Not a mock draft per se, the exercise sends each club what they need most while also being realistic about which players will theoretically be available once they’re on the clock.

For the Cowboys, Reuter addresses two positions that it’s no secret they’ll be focused on early in the draft proceedings.

Will Levis in Minnesota? Chad Reuter predicts a big trade up

Getting a quarterback of the future is a priority for the Minnesota Vikings and they trade up for Will Levis in the latest mock draft.

Quarterback of the future is the singular most-important player that the Minnesota Vikings can add this season. Kirk Cousins is playing on the final year of his contract and an extension doesn’t feel like it’s coming anytime soon.

NFL.com’s Chad Reuter sent the Vikings their quarterback of the future by having them trade up to the 10th overall pick for Kentucky quarterback Will Levis.

Minnesota takes a big swing by moving up for Levis, the strong-armed passer who needs more consistency in his game from the pocket. The Vikings hope that Levis learns enough from Kirk Cousins (who’s entering a contract year) to eventually take the reins from the veteran in 2024. To move down 13 spots, Philly receives a 2023 Day 2 pick (No. 87 overall) and a first-rounder next year.

A third round pick this year and next year’s first round pick feels like a fair trade to get the guy to lead your franchise for the next decade. Of course, that would leave the Vikings without a day two pick this year, but you can live with that.

Levis compares directly to Kirk Cousins, except he has a howitzer of an arm that can make throws similar to Josh Allen. A year sitting behind Cousins and learning would be ideal to help Levis grow and develop.

Vikings go surprising route in Lance Zierlein’s mock draft

The Minnesota Vikings go a much different route in the latest mock draft from Lance Zierlein by taking linebacker Drew Sanders.

The Minnesota Vikings have been mocked a myriad of different players, 50 to be exact. While most of them have been at quarterback, wide receiver and cornerback, there have been a few outside of the box picks.

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com has the Vikings going a much different route in Arkansas LB Drew Sanders. They also traded down to 27 with the Buffalo Bills which makes the selection a little more palatable.

Sanders spent one season at inside linebacker and absolutely filled up the stat sheet at Arkansas. He’s big and a solid athlete; he can be a capable pass rusher for Minnesota to deploy when needed.

This is a much different direction than we have seen in some time. Sanders is an Alabama transfer that thrived playing MIKE linebacker for the Razorbacks this season. His best comparison is Anthony Barr and that should tell you all you need to know about his versatility.

This is a really good player, but it is the right value for the Vikings? I don’t believe that it is, but it’s hard to say no to a good football player.

NFL.com names the Seahawks’ 3 biggest needs going into the draft

What are the Seahawks’ three biggest positional needs going into the 2023 NFL draft?

The Seattle Seahawks filled some of their most-pressing needs in free agency. However, there’s still a lot of work to be done this offseason. The next big thing on the horizon is the 2023 NFL draft at the end of April, where Seattle has a chance to cover some ground between themselves and the dominant division rival San Francisco 49ers.

Going into the draft the Seahawks have 10 total picks, including two first rounders and five picks overall in the first three rounds. That’s more than enough ammunition to seriously upgrade this roster where it needs it most. According to NFL.com, Seattle’s three greatest needs going into the draft are the defensive line, a true No. 3 option at wide receiver and the offensive line.

“The need for a third receiver behind DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett still looms. Also, there is room for upgrades off the edge on defense and on the interior of both the offensive and defensive lines.”

On the defensive side, the glaring need is at edge. Aside from Uchenna Nwosu Seattle has no reliable players on the edge. Fortunately, that’s the second-deepest position in this draft class after cornerback, so they’ll have plenty of chances to find an upgrade or two. The top-ranked edge in this class is Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr., but some believe Texas Tech’s freakishly-long Tyree Wilson will get picked ahead of him.

Seattle will also need to find a new nose tackle to replace the 36-year old Al Woods, who was a salary cap casualty. Baylor’s Siaki Ika may be the best choice there – and he’s projected to be an early second-round pick.

As for the third wide receiver, there are several intriguing options to choose from, including Jaxon Smith-Njigba from Ohio State, Zay Flowers from Boston College and Josh Downs from North Carolina.

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Vikings add explosive wide receiver in latest Bucky Brooks mock draft

In the latest mock draft from NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks, the Vikings added an explosive wide receiver at 23rd overall.

The Minnesota Vikings chose to move on from some high priced veterans this offseason, including hometown wide recevier Adam Thielen. The decision was a difficult one but one that had to be made considering his cap hit.

NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks released his latest mock draft and gave the Vikings an explosive replacement for Thielen in Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers.

After moving on from Adam Thielen this offseason, the Vikings grab a route-running specialist as a playmate for 2022 Offensive Player of the Year Justin Jefferson. Flowers’ speed, quickness and precision make him an ideal candidate as a WR2 opposite the All-Pro wideout.

Flowers would be an interesting addition to the Vikings. Despite being a smaller receiver, Flowers is both explosive and a well-rounded threat that can attack all three levels of the defense.

Taking a wide receiver in round one is the second-best outcome for the Vikings in the NFL draft with finding a quarterback of the future being the only better outcome.

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Vikings select rising ACC defensive tackle in recent NFL.com mock draft

The latest mock draft from Eric Edholm has the Vikings taking DT Calijah Kancey.

Although the Minnesota Vikings signed edge rusher Marcus Davenport during free agency, many still believe that the Vikings could pursue additional help along their defensive line.

Defensive coordinator Brian Flores is known to rotate defensive linemen in particular situations, which means having more options is beneficial to the overall health of the defense. The Vikings may draft another defensive lineman in the first round of the NFL Draft, especially if the value was there.

In Eric Edholm’s recent mock draft for NFL.com, the Vikings selected Pittsburgh defensive tackle Calijah Kancey in the first round, giving the Vikings an additional pass rusher.

The Vikings are badly in need of interior pressure, and Kancey can provide that. Also, I wouldn’t be surprised if Will Levis lands here should he still be available.

Kancey is an intriguing NFL Draft prospect, especially with his undersized frame. At the NFL Scouting Combine, Kancey measured in at 6-foot-1 and 281 pounds, which makes him a tweener in the NFL. His frame is cause for concern, though, because it will limit his overall fit at the next level because he’ll likely get out strengthed by most interior offensive linemen.

In the case of the Vikings, it’s hard to see an immediate fit for Kancey. Flores has historically operated in odd fronts, meaning the Vikings will likely see three defensive linemen on most plays. Davenport will likely see some snaps as a down lineman, and the Vikings also signed defensive end Dean Lowry in free agency. With Kancey’s weight, it’s impossible to expect him to play as a 0-tech, which means he’ll have to play as an outside defensive lineman.

As for the Will Levis mention from Edholm, it’s certainly something to keep an eye on. The Vikings have not committed their future to Kirk Cousins, which opens the door for a long-term option at quarterback.

Morning mock draft: Daniel Jeremiah sends Bills a new WR prospect

The Buffalo Bills could very well be in the market for a wide receiver at the 2023 NFL draft. Even in the first round.

However, NFL.com’s top draft analyst, Daniel Jeremiah, has the team taking one we don’t see often mocked to the Bills: Quentin Johnston.

It’s a very good reason why we don’t see him on Buffalo’s radar.

According to many who endlessly study the draft each year, Quentin Johnston is the top receiver prospect. Among those who think so is Pro Football Focus, who rank him as their No. 1 wideout on the board and eighth-best overall player.

But Jeremiah sees an exciting world ahead where Johnston is the player Buffalo lands in Round 1 at the No. 27 overall selection. That’s right, the Bills don’t even need to trade up, he’s just there for the taking.

Even Jeremiah admits Johnston could go much sooner–but he doesn’t and Buffalo snags him.

A 6-foot-4 playmaker, Johnston played a pivotal role during TCU’s excellent season in 2022. He had 60 catches for 1,069 yards and six touchdowns. The combination of size and explosiveness in Johnston’s game makes him an exciting prospect to image in Buffalo’s red, white, and blue.

Here’s how Jeremiah broke down Johnston to the Bills:

Opinions vary quite a bit from team to team when it comes to the wide receivers in this year’s class. Johnston could be the first one taken or slide down to the bottom of the first round. He would give Josh Allen a big, explosive weapon to complement Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis.

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Vikings ‘sneaky-interesting’ landing spot for star quarterback in 2023 NFL draft

How the quarterbacks will come off the board in April is going to be fascinating and the Vikings are a sneaky landing spot for one

The Kirk Cousins conundrum is here once again for the Minnesota Vikings. Rumors have been swirling about what the Vikings might do, and the latest have the Vikings either signing Cousins to a multi-year extension or letting the situation play out in 2023.

If the Vikings choose to do the latter, they will need to start thinking about a succession plan. That could very well come in the NFL draft this April. If they do choose to take one, the first round feels like an unlikely spot.

There is a way for that to happen, but it would require making a drastic trade up or having one of the top quarterbacks fall to them. That quarterback would be Florida’s Anthony Richardson.

In a piece for NFL.com, Lance Zierlein explored potential teams to select Richardson and he believed that the Vikings are a “sneaky interesting” landing spot.

I think this would be a sneaky-interesting landing spot for Richardson — if he were to make it all the way to No. 23, which seems like a long shot in itself. Kirk Cousins would clearly be the starter in 2023, which would allow Richardson a chance to take mental reps for an entire season before potentially taking the reins in 2024 with some talented pieces around him.

Here on Vikings Wire, I have opined about that very thing and even made the argument for taking the Florida quarterback. It isn’t the most likely scenario, but anything can happen in the NFL draft. Nobody thought Aaron Rodgers would fall to 24th overall in 2005 either.

As far as a fit, the Vikings would be a good one. The flaws that Richardson has are mostly mechanical ones that can be worked on and (hopefully) fixed with time. Plus, the Vikings offense is semi-complex in comparison to what he ran at Florida. If they give him time to grow and learn under Cousins and Kevin O’Connell, they could have a real superstar on their hands.

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