Tag: Pro Football Network

Pro Football Network gives Minnesota some EDGE help in latest mock draft

Dallas Turner continues to be a popular selection for the Minnesota Vikings

While the buzz around Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins not returning to the team is heating up, more and more mock NFL drafts have the Vikings skipping quarterback and drafting defensive help in the first round. That’s the case yet again in the latest mock draft from the folks over at Pro Football Network.

In writer Lorenzo Reyna’s latest mock draft, he has the Vikings taking Alabama’s Dallas Turner with the 11th pick in the draft, opting not to trade up for a quarterback or take one with their pick at that spot. Here’s Reyna’s analysis of the selection:

Minnesota could go quarterback in the draft. But with Danielle Hunter likely on his way out, the Vikings need a disruptor against the run and pass. Dallas Turner, who many believe has top-10 potential, fits that mold here and becomes the first EDGE off the board.

This pick is interesting for a couple of reasons. The obvious is opting for an EDGE when quarterback is a potential major need. More interesting, however, is the who of the pick. Alabama’s Dallas Turner is a great athlete and would provide a great insurance plan in the event of Danielle Hunter leaving.

However, it’s interesting that Turner is the pick here with both Jared Verse and Laiatu Latu still on the board. Both players have been heavily mocked to the Vikings in previous mock drafts, so to see a different name at the position is noteworthy. Ultimately, all three players would provide Minnesota with the insurance they need, and a great complement to Hunter if he stays in Minnesota.

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Vikings take top-tier cornerback in recent mock draft

The Minnesota Vikings get some much-needed secondary help in latest mock draft. Is it the right choice?

As the off-season approaches, the amount of mock drafts that fans can consume will rise exponentially. With the Super Bowl coming up and the NFL combine just around the corner, Pro Football Network’s Lorenzo Reyna dropped his pre-Super Bowl mock draft.

At pick 11, the Minnesota Vikings looked to the secondary as they took Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean.

The Vikings may become torn between Terrion Arnold or Cooper DeJean at No. 11.

PFN NFL Insider Adam Caplan recently spoke with a “high-level scouting source” who told him DeJean is a top-five talent. DeJean is a fleet-footed option as a gap closer with his speed and click-and-close ability. He’s also shown a knack for being a processor in knowing when to jump on routes and adjust his hip direction.

DeJean may be one of the best athletes in this upcoming draft, but there are some concerns about his ability in straight-man coverage.

Luckily for DeJean, the unorthodox approach for defensive coordinator Brian Flores won’t leave him on traditional islands too often where he could be in a possibly treacherous situation. Add to that his versatility to play both inside and outside, and the Vikings have a day-one contributor in the secondary.

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Pro Football Network once again projects Vikings’ trade up in latest mock draft

Should the Vikings trade up to 2nd overall to take a quarterback? Wil Helms of Pro Football Network thinks so

It has become very clear over the past week that most NFL draft outlets believe that the Minnesota Vikings‘ biggest need in the 2024 NFL draft is at quarterback. And they’re right. The Vikings only have two quarterbacks under contract for 2024 — Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall — and neither impressed during their time in 2023.

It’s also become clear that those same draft analysts believe the Vikings are going to have to be aggressive if they want to get their next quarterback. After projecting a move up in the draft last week for Drake Maye, Pro Football Network is once again projecting an aggressive move by the Vikings.

This time writer Wil Helms has the Vikings trading up to the second pick, giving the Washington Commanders the 11th pick, along with picks 42, 155, and first and third-round picks next year. What do the Vikings do with that pick? Take the highly-talented quarterback from LSU, Jayden Daniels. Here’s what Helms had to say about the selection:

With Williams off the board, we’ll throw another change into the order of the top three quarterbacks. Rather than having the Commanders take Maye to replace fellow Tar Heel Sam Howell, we’ll have them trade down and ride with the incumbent starter for one more year — depending on how the board falls later.

Again, mock drafts are a game of information. Sources expect the Vikings to be aggressive in the draft in their search for a franchise quarterback on a rookie deal.

Jayden Daniels can make every throw and has elite athleticism. If the Vikings put a guy with his upside in an offense with Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson, they’ll have the chance to contend for a Super Bowl if the LSU quarterback reaches his potential.

Daniels would be quite the departure in play style from Kirk Cousins, and would inject some athleticism into the position that the Vikings haven’t seen regularly in quite some time. Fans got brief glimpses of what a skill-set like that could do in Kevin O’Connell’s offense with Josh Dobbs, but Daniels’ athleticism is on another level from Dobbs.

Daniels would be fun to watch in the Vikings offense with weapons like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson at his disposal. But a move like that doesn’t come without risks. If the Vikings were to pull off a trade like that and Daniels doesn’t pan out, it would likely spell the end for both O’Connell and GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.

Vikings get aggressive in latest Pro Football Network mock draft

Could the Vikings move up to take a quarterback? Joe Broback of Pro Football Network thinks so

With Kirk Cousins set to hit free agency and the rumors swirling about him leaving Minnesota, many have begun to think about life after Cousins for the Minnesota Vikings. That’s leading many to believe the Vikings are going to be aggressive in the 2024 NFL Draft to get their QB of the future. The latest in that trend comes from Joe Broback of Pro Football Network.

In his latest mock draft for PFN, Broback has the Vikings being about as aggressive as they can be, moving all the way up to the top spot in the draft to take former North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye. In the move, Broback projects the Vikings giving up picks 11, 42, 126, along with first and second round picks in 2025, in exchange for the #1 pick and a sixth round pick in 2025. Here’s Broback’s full analysis on the selection:

There’s a growing belief that Minnesota wants to move up in this draft, but at what cost? To get Drake Maye or Caleb Williams, the Vikings give up significant draft capital. How much remains to be seen, but it’s likely they’ll need more if they trade with Chicago.

Maye is a great fit in Minnesota’s offense. He has the arm talent to move the ball down the field on all three levels, and that’s a major crux as to why he’s considered a top-two pick. He’ll do well under Kevin O’Connell’s tutelage, but Maye also gives the Vikings an aspect that they didn’t have with Kirk Cousins.

One of the biggest gripes with Cousins was his inability to escape pressure frequently. Maye’s mobility allows this team to breathe more easily, and now the fan base can wait to see how he develops.

On the surface, that seems like a lot to give up to get a quarterback, especially in a class with multiple good options. However, at the end of the day, if you get it right with the quarterback no one cares how much you gave up to get him. Minnesota already has a solid supporting cast in place, if they’ve decided Maye is THE guy, they should be aggressive in getting him.

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Four Aggies selected in Pro Football Networks’ newest 2024 NFL Mock Draft

In Pro Football Networks’ newest 2024 NFL Mock Draft, four Aggies were selected, including stand-out linebacker Edgerrin Cooper.

Surprising to some, but Texas A&M has over 25 active NFL players coached by three separate coaching staffs over the last decade-plus, and leading into April’s 2024 NFL Draft, several Aggie veterans are deemed to hear their names called, including linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, and wide receiver Ainias Smith.

While a bevy of NFL Mock Drafts will continue to be released across the internet for the next three months, Pro Football Focus’ Ian Cummings, one of the hardest-working analysts in the industry, released his newest 7-round Mock Draft last weekend, which included four Aggies selected across six of seven rounds.

While Cooper, Smith, and safety Demani Richardson have the most realistic shot at being selected sooner rather than later, veteran offensive lineman Layden Robinson could be a late steal for guard-needy teams.

Even though Texas A&M, in now former head coach Jimbo Fisher’s final season at the helm, finished 7-6, the Aggies’ have continued to develop talent on both sides of the ball year after year, and under new HC Mike Elko, expect even more players to be selected in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Here are the four players Ian Cummings predicted to will be selected in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft.

2024 NFL mock draft: Four Alabama players projected to be first round picks

Pro Football Network is expecting four former Alabama football players to be selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft

Even though the NFL playoffs are still dominating the headlines, for most NFL teams and fans, the 2024 NFL draft is already on their mind. The draft is not slated until the end of April, but that hasn’t stopped draft analysts from dropping their mock drafts.

It should come as no surprise that the Alabama Crimson Tide is expected to be well-represented in the first round of this year’s draft, which has become common over the past nearly two decades.

With just under 100 days until the 2024 NFL draft is officially open, let’s take a look at where Pro Football Network has projected the former Crimson Tide players to land in their latest mock draft.

Defensive back becoming popular choice for Vikings with latest PFN mock draft

Cornerback in the first round? Wil Helms of Pro Football Network thinks so

Most of the fun in the lead-up to the NFL draft each year is taking a look at all the different mock drafts that come out and looking at the different thought processes behind the selections. Each different take gives a bit of insight into a direction each team could go. Lately, defensive back is becoming a trendy option for the Minnesota Vikings at pick 11.

That trend continues with the latest mock draft from Pro Football Network writer Wil Helms, with Helms tabbing former Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold as the Vikings selection. This is what Helms had to say about the talented Crimson Tide defensive back:

This is the third mock I’ve done for Minnesota and the third different DB I’ve given them. Terrion Arnold has the arms, hips, and frame to be elite in man coverage and is a guy that the Vikings can leave on an island. Minnesota loves to blitz, so that’s an important part of the defense.

Arnold has grown tremendously in college and will likely get better as he gets older.

Arnold certainly has the size and physicality to be a star in the Brian Flores defense, but one has to wonder if cornerback is really the most pressing issue for this team. Especially with another popular mock draft option for the team, Michael Penix, going just two selections later.

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Pro Football Network sends Vikings some QB help in latest mock draft

The Vikings go quarterback in another mock draft

With the college football regular season done and the NFL season coming down the stretch run, more and more NFL draft content is being pushed out. That means we’re going to see mock drafts galore in the coming weeks and months. Most of these mocks have been sending the Minnesota Vikings some quarterback help, and the latest from Pro Football Network is no exception.

In PFN’s latest mock draft, Joe Broback has the Vikings selecting Georgia quarterback Carson Beck with the 21st overall selection. Under Beck, the Georgia Bulldogs have dominated their competition this season, rolling to the top spot in both the College Football Playoff rankings and in the AP Top 25 poll.

The choice is an interesting one for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, it’s a new name for fans to get familiar with. It bucks the trend of giving the Vikings one of the top names at the position. But, more importantly, it’s interesting in the sense that Beck may not even enter into the 2024 NFL draft.

Beck has only had one season at the helm for Georgia, and is a redshirt Junior. It is entirely possible that Beck opts to put his NFL aspirations on hold for a year and goes back to Georgia to complete his college eligibility.

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More rumors circulating about Danielle Hunter

More rumors are circulating about the Vikigns edge rusher

The Minnesota Vikings have been one of the most talked about teams when it comes to the trade deadline. The Vikings started 2-4 but their two wins came against the two worst teams in the National Football League.

Pro Football Network’s Adam Caplan reported that outside linebacker Danielle Hunter is a likely trade candidate.

Known in personnel circles for his size, strength, and speed, the ninth-year edge rusher could really help a team that is looking to make a deep playoff run. And as a league source told us recently, Hunter’s ability to play in multiple defensive schemes (has played with 4-3 and 3-4 defensive alignments in his career) should give teams interested in him the belief that he could contribute right away.

While Minnesota is currently just one game out of an NFC Wild Card spot, there’s a strong belief in personnel circles that the Vikings don’t have a realistic chance to make the playoffs this season, and the reality is that this is a team that’s in transition and needs to rebuild in some areas.

This doesn’t really tell us anything about what the Vikings will do at the trade deadline. It does tell us what those around the league think about the situation and where the Vikings are at.

If Hunter is moved, it won’t happen if they are at 0.500 at the trade deadline. They are definitely a team in transition, but they aren’t playing like a bad football team.

General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah hasn’t faced a situation like this during his 21 months on the job. How he will handle the trade deadline will speak volumes about what his future plans are.

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2 Minnesota Vikings made Pro Football Network’s top 100 players

Minnesota Vikings LT Christian Darrisaw and WR Justin Jefferson both made Pro Football Network’s top 100 list.

Each year, NFL Network releases its top 100 players in the league. It comes out in multiple episodes and generates good discussion.

This year, Dalton Miller of Pro Football Network set upon the daunting task of creating a list of the top 100 players in the NFL. He ranked Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson at eighth overall and left tackle Christian Darrisaw at 87th overall.

Jefferson is the best wide receiver in the National Football League and Miller agrees, drawing the comparison to the player he replaced in Stefon Diggs.

Think about Diggs for a second. He’s one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, and the Minnesota Vikings simply replaced him with a more athletic version of himself.

Justin Jefferson is the best receiver in the NFL. He glides on the field, and his ability to manipulate defenders with pacing and stride length while attacking leverage is unmatched. But Jefferson can also go up and get the ball and makes no qualms going over the middle. He’s a three-level threat who should have an easier job in 2023 with a bit of help coming his way offensively in Jordan Addison and a full season of T.J. Hockenson.

Miller spoke highly of Darrisaw and that it was just a matter of time for him.

It was only ever a matter of time for Christian Darrisaw. Penei Sewell and Rashawn Slater vacuumed up most of the buzz surrounding the 2021 OL class, but Darrisaw had that same kind of ability coming from Virginia Tech. Darrisaw played well but was very obviously a rookie in 2021. He was excellent at protecting Kirk Cousins a season ago, and he’s one of the most dominant run blockers in the NFL at the position.

You could make arguments for right tackle Brian O’Neill, edge rusher Danielle Hunter and safety Harrison Smith to be included in this list, but there are a lot of really good players in the NFL.

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