Bundy

Preseason poll submission: 1 Tennessee 2 Georgia 3 TCU 4 UCLA 5 Ohio State 6 Houston 7 Baylor 8 Central Michigan 9 Duke 10 LSU 11 Kentucky 12 Bowling Green 13 SDSU 14 Florida State 15 Kansas 16 USC 17 North Texas 18 Tulsa 19 Mississippi State 20 SJSU 21 Notre Dame 22 Washington 23 Texas State 24 Purdue 25 Ball State

This is a semi-compiled list of Big 12 players who are potential 2024 Draft selections. It is (somewhat) ranked by potential draft order. Check back throughout the season to take note of the players Draft Stock. The 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ DT Logan Lopez, Houston A ovr B+ Pot SR Lopez is the best non-QB in the conference from the minute Houston steps into the Big 12. With 21 TFL and 3.0 sacks last year, he'll face tougher competition in this conference, but he's a massive wall in the middle. With last year's DT-rich class in the past, Lopez slots in as a top 15 pick in early 2024 projections. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ QB Travis Knebel, Baylor A ovr A- Pot (JR) Travis Knebel is a hot name flying around early mock circles. He's got Baylor competing for the playoff, and he's made strides from his (so) season. He was a sub-60% passer and had just 9 TDs to 11 INTs last year after a redshirt year in 2021, but he also rushed for nearly 1700 yards and 18 TDs. Knebel isn't a lock to declare for the 2024 Draft, but if he does, I expect the Pennsylvania teams - Pittsburgh and Philly - to be pounding the table for him. On potential alone, and with the fact he'd be just as old as the true seniors in the draft, I think he'll go late 1st, so 25th-32nd, to either Pittsburgh or the Eagles. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ DE Omarius Beasley, Oklahoma A ovr B+ Pot JR Beasley is another underclassman who could declare. A true junior, Beasley had 10 TFL and 6.0 sacks in his sophomore campaign, which aren't stats that scream "immediate top 10 pick", but show potential to grow. Fellow Sooner Kyle Wilson had 16 TFL and 3.0 sacks and was the first DE taken in this year's draft, and Beasley outplayed him. If Beasley just mirrors last year's stats, I think he's a late 1st rounder should he declare early. If he can get to double digit sacks, he goes top 15 if not sooner. Stable coaching, which the Sooners have yet to consistently see from previous coaches, by @DStack will be key to Beasley's 2023 season and further development. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ SS Garrett Smith, Baylor A ovr C Pot SR Garrett Smith saw playing time in his sophomore season, putting up 45 solo tackles with 2 assists, 2 TFLs, and 1 recovery. He then EXPLODED onto the national scene in 2022, leading Baylor with 94.5 tackles, 16 TFL, and had 3 PD , 2 INT, and forced a safety. Safeties weren't highly valued in last year's draft, and Smith's potential may scare some off. Right now, I'd place him in Late 1st-Mid 2nd range. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ DE Whit Wilson, Oklahoma State A ovr B- Pot SR 16 TFL and 2.5 sacks a year ago don't scream "perennial pass rusher", but Wilson prides himself on being able to both chase down QBs and set the edge on the ground. Oklahoma State has also lacked consistent coaching, and right now I think Wilson has the potential to go very late R1, through around where Kyle Wilson went this year in the mid-2nd. I don't know that he'll be a true dominator ever, but could be a more-than-solid bookend through his rookie contract. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ DE Malcolm Kahnle, TCU A ovr C Pot JR Kahnle had 20 TFL and 7.0 sacks as a freshman in 2021, and followed it up with 21 and 5.0 in 2022. He's a consistent DE who can both set the edge and pin his ears back. I think 2024 might be early in his development for him to declare, as he could be a Top 10 pick in 2025 with the right development trajectory and stats, but with a weak 2023 proceeding draft, he could cash in early (albeit, at a discount) and go R2 as a true junior. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ FS Mike Barr, Oklahoma A ovr C Pot SR Barr had 45 tackles last year, but no PD and no INT. He's a Run Stopper by trade, so playing him him could work for an NFL team, but he might suit the pro game better as a strong safety rather than a traditional midfielder. I think Barr is a 3rd rounder right now based on pedigree alone. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ FB Michael Elias, Oklahoma State A ovr C+ Pot SR I don't think I've ever paid attention to Elias prior to composing this list. He had 660 rushing yards with 3 TD and a 4.62 avg in 2022 playing for @kwheele, with 6 catches for 102 yards. Last year, he didn't touch the ball once. If @Broletariat can afford to spare him the rock, I could see him going as high as R3 given FB usage, or conversion to being a Power back at the pro level, but right now I think he'd go R4-5 if he never gets another touch at the CFB level. The 4 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐ DE Meyers Wilson, TCU A ovr A+ Pot SR Wilson has just 9 tackles in his career as a reserve on TCU's loaded roster, but with Chris Whalen gone he looks to make a name for himself. I think he gets an "incomplete" draft grade because we know NOTHING about him, but his potential is off the charts, and similar players who actually play would probably go R3-R5. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ OT Mike Hubbard, TCU A ovr A+ Pot SR Six offensive tackles went R1 last year, four of them 4-star players. Hubbard only gave up 1 sack last year, and the 6'4", 285 Californian seems to be right in their pedigree. Late R1-Early R2 seems to be where Hubbard is headed. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ OG Jose Moustakas, Kansas A ovr B+ Pot SR Big Moose was an anchor on the Kansas line last year, paired with Browns draftee Ben Gohara. Moustakas has his work cut out for him as the Jayhawks have graduated 4 OL over the last 2 years, but right now I think he's solidly a 3rd rounder. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ DE Chad Walters, Iowa State A ovr A- Pot SR Walters had 9 TFL and 2.0 sacks last year, which is super underwhelming. @Qupax could certainly coach him up with a full off-season under the belt, and a more stable regime, like many in the Big 12, should clear things up. A 6'4", 290 Run Stopper, if Walters can get into the mid-20s in TFLs this year, I think he could go late 2nd. With such low productivity though, Im downgrading him a round. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ QB Andrew Solano, TCU A ovr B+ Pot SR Solano carved the Big 12 up last year, but lost some targets to the NFL. He's not as tall as pro scouts would like him to be, he doesn't have wheels to escape NFL rushers, and he could take care of the ball better with his smaller than average hands. That said, he threw for nearly 400 yards per game at 64%. As things stand, I think Solano falls into the Kemoko Allard/Wayne Murray "develop" kind of QB, rather than the Theo Scribner or Yusei Asencio that you want to see on the field year 1 or 2. Solano should start pro games at some point, but for now, I think he goes R3-R4. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ CB Evan Duke, UCF A ovr B+ Pot SR Duke is a playmaker, with 5 PD, an INT, 2 FF, and 2 FR, scoring 1 TD. If he can repeat that in the Big 12, he climbs into Late R2, but for now he's solidly in R3-4. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ DE Sean Lee, Houston A ovr B Pot SR Lee had 9 TFL and 4.5 sacks last year, but his potential isn't quite there to mock him early Day Two. Lee is a safe R4 pick, a slight reach in R3. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ OG Frank Valdez-Scantling, Kansas State A ovr B Pot (JR) Frank Valdez-Scantling should be a household name by the end of the year. I think staying for 2024 and entering the 2025 class would be a big bump to his value, possibly putting him even into Day One territory, but he could have been drafted in 2023 and been NFL ready as a 21 year old rookie. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ILB Meyers Ross, Iowa State A ovr B Pot SR Meyers Ross is a solid Field General, who will probably make his way into the pros as a backup with potential to start one day. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ C Josh Varvaro, TCU A ovr B Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐⭐ DT Chris Holmes, Texas A ovr B Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐⭐ TE Alex Atkins, Kansas A ovr B- Pot SR Alex Atkins dominated as a true sophomore, catching 80 passes for 1187 yards and 4 TDs. His production slipped as a junior because Kansas shifted their priorities from being more "pro style" to an offense feeding three running backs, with two going over 1000 yards and the 3rd finishing with 973 yards. Kansas graduated Bene' Humber, so perhaps they'll turn back to Atkins a bit to push the ball down the field. In Spring Games, he saw some time playing at WR as Kansas experimented with ways to spread the ball around, so don't be surprised to see him in some foreign lineups. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ DE Randal Holmes, Kansas A ovr B- Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐⭐ CB Chaz Zeitler, Oklahoma A ovr B- Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐⭐ CB Marlon Kozma, Oklahoma State A ovr B- Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐⭐ SS Keibert House, Texas Tech A ovr B- Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐⭐ TE Ervin Dotson, BYU A- ovr B- Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐⭐ QB Xavier Means, Texas Tech A ovr B+ Pot (SR) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ RB Steven Huerter, UCF A ovr B Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐⭐ WR Tim McCrae, Oklahoma A ovr C+ Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐⭐ OG Logan Travis, Texas Tech A ovr C+ Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐⭐ CB Simeyon McCoy, Kansas State A ovr C+ Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐⭐ CB Skye Lattimore, Baylor A ovr C Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐⭐ CB Mike Alonso, Iowa State A ovr C Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐⭐ OT Tom Guerra, Oklahoma A ovr C+ Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐⭐ OT Chris Avery, Kansas State A ovr C+ Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐⭐ OT Mike Penny, Texas A ovr C+ Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐⭐ C Isaiah Jackson, Jr, Texas Tech A- ovr C Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐⭐ SS Niko Suarez, Oklahoma State A- ovr B- Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ILB Jordan Niang, Houston A- ovr C+ Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐⭐ K Luis Terdoslavich, Texas Tech A ovr C+ Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐⭐ QB Hanser Zagurski, Texas A- ovr C+ Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐⭐ RB Jerry Davis, Oklahoma State A ovr C Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐⭐ RB Moises Walker, Houston A- ovr C+ Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐⭐ WR Colton Smith, Oklahoma State A- ovr C+ Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐⭐ DE Kyle Johnson, West Virginia A- ovr C+ Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐⭐ RB Rod Carter, Texas A- ovr C+ Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐⭐ DE Matt Odor, Oklahoma A- ovr C Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐⭐ OG Trevor Gonzalez, Oklahoma A ovr C Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐⭐ RB Stanley Segovia, TCU A ovr C Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐ DT Dante Gates, Kansas A ovr A Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐ FS Maikel Infante, Kansas State A ovr A Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐ CB Rico Harrison, BYU A ovr B Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐ DE Fish Vander Laan, TCU A- ovr A Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐ CB Rey Clark, Houston A- ovr A- Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐ WR Alex Thompson, UCF A- ovr B+ Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐ DT Jonathan Del Rosario, Texas Tech A- ovr B Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐ FB Marcell Maysonet, Kansas A- ovr B Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐ CB Toru Alvarez, Baylor A- ovr C+ Pot (SR) ⭐⭐⭐ OG Bradley Jones, Houston A- ovr C+ Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐ DE Chris Barreto, Kansas A- ovr C+ Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐ DT Miguel Cortes, West Virginia A- ovr C+ Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐ DT Trent Gerber, Oklahoma State A- ovr C Pot SR ⭐⭐⭐ CB Matt Viloria, Texas B+ ovr C+ Pot SR

@subsequent

FAN or MANkato 2023 | Preseason Week 3 Offseason with the Minnesota Vikings The Dreaded Day. With the Vikings final preseason game complete, players returned to Minnesota with anxiety on their mind. "Did I show enough in the preseason," "is this it for my football career?" they wondered. For the vets who knew they had solidified a spot in the Vikings 2023 plans, it was a simple "complete media responsibilities and go home" type of day. But the rest of the players, the ones uneasy about their roster status, seemed to mull about in the locker room at the Vikings facilities in Eagan. Of the notable cuts, the Vikings released a trio of veteran special teamers. Austin Clark, a ST coverage specialist who had played WR at Tulane in 2021, was perhaps the most surprising, as he was a fan favorite during his rookie 2022 season. Clark could still see an opportunity elsewhere, as he caught passes for 21.55 yards per reception with 6 TDs at Tulane, before returning 2 kickoffs for 48 yards and adding 6 ST tackles in his lone season with the Vikings. Gregory Linley was considered safely to be the Vikings punter this year, but the team brought in ex-Bills 2nd year man Anthony Upton, who won the job outright with booming punts of 50-60 yards throughout the preseason. Linley could also catch on somewhere this season. Robin Reynolds went 32/36 on XP and just 24/34 on FG in his rookie year after beating out two other kickers on the Vikings 2022 offseason roster. The Vikings drafted Jordan Tripucka this year, all but cementing Reynolds' fate, but there was thought the BYU kicker might still slip onto the practice squad given the short leash Vikings kickers seem to be on. The Vikings made several releases on the offensive line, where they had a lot of numbers and only so many spots on their 55 and PS. Rookie C Cesar Barnes saw his roster status become obsolete with the acquisition of Dustin Woodson-Luster in a post-draft trade from the Steelers, and with the Vikings already carrying starter Darren Williard and backup interior OL Quinterrius Parsons, there just was no room for the drafted rookie out of Indiana. OT Gary Albers is a rising face to watch, with the former Kansas Jayhawks OT looking NFL backup worthy at times during this offseason. Albers unfortunately didn't fit the Vikings pass heavy scheme, but the talent in a run-oriented offense is there. His fellow Jayhawk and Viking teammate, OG Danny Syndergaard, was also released. The Vikings have looked heavily at Kansas for UDFAs these past two seasons, but have cut Albers, Syndergaard, DT Mike Brantly, and DT Daniel Dekker, which could put future Jayhawk UDFAs on edge when receiving offseason invites from the team. The most surprising release came with the cut of OT/OG Brandon Gwynn. Gwynn started games at right guard for the Vikings last season, and many penciled him in as either a competitor for the starting RG spot, or at leats, a roster lock. Gwynn, though, didn't even receive an offer to return to the Vikings practice squad. The 6'4", 289lb pass blocker should find a home elsewhere. Some unsurprising cuts included TE Matt Hwang, a UDFA mostly on the preseason roster due to his height (6'5") and the lack of Vikings tight ends; WR Jurrell Walker IV, who had 2,254 receiving yards and 20 TDs at Auburn, but failed to make a splash in a crowded Vikings receiving corps; and camp arm QB Randy Madson. LB Spencer Lacombe had a tackle for a loss in the Vikings preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers. What does this mean? The Vikings have completed cuts down to 67 overall roster spots, but this doesn't mean that the opening day roster is solidified. Unlike last week, where the Vikings had an internal cut down date, all of the other teams must also make compliant cutdowns, which the Vikings will no doubt sort through. Teams will also need to designate practice squad players, which could also be opportunities for the Vikings or others to add to their rosters. The Vikings famously added RB Robert Thomas last year off of the Eagles, who would go on to be a prominent kick returner in Minnesota. How did the rookies fare in the preseason? 1ST ROUND DT Marcus Sirles Sirles played just the preseason opener against the Raiders, finishing with two tackles. In a normal year, Sirles probably would have played at least the 2nd game as well, but the Vikings needed to look at their understudy DTs and Sirles was locked in as a starter from the moment he was drafted. 2ND ROUND DE Kyle Wilson Wilson was in the same exact situation as Sirles, though not an "absolute" lock to start. Wilson played the first game, had 2 tackles, and then headed to the film room instead of playing against scrubs the final two weeks. Wilson will get the starting nod for week 1. 3RD ROUND RB Aldrick Ynoa Ynoa carried 4 times for 6 yards in his preseason debut, an underwhelming amount of touches for one of the most electrifying backs in 2022's college game. He added 2 catches for 8 yards on 3 targets throughout the preseason, but the Vikings seemed to primarily focus his preseason work in the return game rather than being blocked for by a completely inexperienced line. 3RD ROUND SS Alfredo Nix-Jones ANJ started the Vikings Week 2 and Week 3 preseason games, combining for 10 tackles. This SS race is currently too close to call, but Id expect a "tie" to lean towards vet Christopher Chapman for the time being. 4TH ROUND TE Conner Pence Pence caught 3/8 targets for 24 yards, and will slot in at TE2 for the season opener. 4TH ROUND WR Brock Scott The Vikings had plenty of WR mouths to feed all preseason, so Scott didn't get much work. He'll begin the season as the team's largely untested slot man. 4TH ROUND LB Ryan Hicks Ryan Hicks becomes the team's 3rd "starter" of the class, though he will strictly be the teams LOLB in 4-3, run heavy sets for the time being. 5TH ROUND OG Mike Wynn Wynn didn't see much action, with the team opting to play UDFA linemen instead. He needs a year or two of development before contributing, and will likely be the highest-drafted Viking to be on the practice squad. 5TH ROUND WR Ty Mizzell Mizzell saw early slot work, hauling in 1/3 targets for 6 yards against the Raiders. He'll begin the year as WR4. 5TH ROUND CB Darnell Hale Hale forced a fumble against the Chiefs, and will take on immediate dimeback responsibilities. 6TH ROUND RB Doug Brothers Brothers carried 6 times for 32 yards against the Raiders, probably the most accurate look he'd get all preseason. He finished the preseason adding 31 more carries, but for just 64 more yards, and hauled in 6/11 targets for 56 yards. Expect Ynoa to see a major increase in usage in the regular season, but don't rule out Brothers getting his own share of touches. 6TH ROUND OT Elijah Greene Greene had a strong preseason, locking up the Vikings 3rd OT spot early. The Vikings will likely start Steve Kozel at RT throughout the regular season, but Greene could be the future there. 6TH ROUND DT Brent Lopez Lopez had 3 tackles against the Chiefs, and will play rotational DT this season. 6TH ROUND C Cesar Barnes As seen above, Barnes is the first of the Vikings' 2023 draft class to be cut. He struggled to compete for training camp reps, and became buried in the bevy of linemen the Vikings carried through the preseason. 7TH ROUND QB Derrick Marshall Marshall was given two games worth of live action, and struggled mightily, with the caveat of having to throw to primarily UDFA caliber receivers while being blocked for by entirely inexperienced OL. Marshall finished the 2 games with 8 INTs and took 4 sacks, but the experience he gained was invaluable. 7TH ROUND DE Erick Kieshnick A Minnesota favorite as an alum of the Gophers, Kieshnick came into the preseason with high hopes. He's survived the first rounds of roster cuts, but will likely figure in as the Vikings DE5 or DE6, and could spend time on the practice squad. 7TH ROUND DB LaDarius Lockett Lockett was a cornerback at Ohio State, but the Vikings have used him exclusively as a project free safety. Lockett had 7 tackles in 2 games, and will likely contribute off the bench and on special teams. 7TH ROUND K Jordan Tripucka Tripucka went 2/2 on XPs, but missed his lone FG attempt, a 47 yarder against Kansas City. He'll get the Vikings place-kicking job over Robin Reynolds, but will be on a short leash like the 3 Vikings kickers that have come before him. So, who will be crowned Mr. Mankato 2023? Elijah Greene and Doug Brothers could make strong cases, as late round rookies who have earned roster spots. But the Vikings had a number of UDFA who shined, with several currently penciling in as players who will either make the opening day 55, or early season practice squad. The Contenders WR Matt Aboushi, UDFA, Old Dominion Aboushi was a priority UDFA who the Vikings were quick to get involved. He managed just 2 receptions on 13 hurried targets from Derrick Marshall, but given the Vikings inexperienced WR depth, and a solid 6'2". 205lb frame, Aboushi could be a matchup nightmare in the red zone. Barring a late preseason move, Aboushi will make the opening day 55, but will be very low on the DC. LB Austin Armstead, UDFA, Penn State At 6'2", 235, Armstead has the ability to play either inside or outside at the next level. He won't play over Ryan Hicks, but had 15 tackles with an assist, which will give him the chance to see future Vikings reps. DT Cayson Rodgers, UDFA, Northern Illinois The Vikings have an interior DL with potential, with veteran Neil Henry being joined by marquee selection Marcus Sirles and 6th rounder Brent Lopez. But Rodgers outperformed fellow UDFA Paul Reed, notching 3 tackles with a TFL in just 1 game of opportunity. Rodgers had 25 TFL and 7.0 sacks in his college years on an uninspiring MAC team, but will give new NIU coach @Ape a selling point that, yes, a team from DeKalb can produce NFL talent. LB Ezekiel Sands, UDFA, Kansas What would an offseason be without the Vikings bringing in a homer player out of Kansas. Ziggy Sands had 129.5 tackles at KU, with 28 TFL, and was the Jayhawks defensive captain both of his years there. With the Vikings, he managed 10 tackles, a TFL, and a FR, and beat out LB Anthony Williams for the reserve ILB spot to Narrinder Beckmann. OL Jared Simon, UDFA, Bowling Green Simon was the college teammate of Elijah Greene, and the Vikings worked out Bowling Green QB Dexter Reed early in the offseason, who highly praised his guard Simon. The Vikings played Simon at left tackle throughout the preseason, and will keep him as a reserve guard/tackle with his 6'4", 295lb frame. A pass blocking specialist, expect him to be listed on the left side of the Vikings depth chart. MR. MANKATO 2023 Joining 2022 winner WR Oswaldo Urrutia in Mr. Mankato lore, this year's winner of the fan-voted Mr. Mankato award is EDGE Ashaad Anderson, UDFA, Baylor Anderson had a massive 4 tackle, 2 TFL, 2.0 sack performance against the Chiefs at home in week 2, and had 3 more tackles against Carolina in week 3. Anderson isn't expected to start anytime soon, but could compete with 2022 rookie starter Mitch Rivers for backup reps behind Kyle Wilson and Paul Munford.

No we’re having it in Mankato because we actually care about our fans 👀

FAN or MANkato 2023 | Preseason Week 2 Offseason with the Minnesota Vikings The Vikings came into their preseason week 2 game expecting to get some work done for their second stringers and priority rookies, and were entirely outmatched by the Kansas City Chiefs. 7th round QB Derrick Marshall struggled mightily to get into rhythm, completing just 6 of his 29 attempts, though a very inexperienced line (4 rookies, 3 of them undrafted) blocking for him did him no favors. Of the few highlights of the afternoon, Doug Brothers ripped off an early 20 yard run midway through the opening quarter. Punter Anthony Upton, a 2nd year man cast off by the Buffalo Bills and competing with veteran Gregory Linley for the lone punting job on the team, sent some massive 50 and 60 yard punts away, and during the 2nd quarter CB Darnell Hale forced a fumble on a Chiefs punt return, with Upton having raced down field to cover his own punt, and hopping on the loose ball. Though otherwise bleak to any fans watching the game, there was a massive energy felt towards one certain player, who has easily punched his way into Mr. Mankato contention, and is perhaps more of a favorite than Oswaldo Urrutia was last year. EDGE Ashaad Anderson, an outside blitzer from Baylor, was considered a long shot to even sniff survival through early Vikings cutdowns. The Vikings have had Anderson working in at end throughout camp, and he's feasted on the Vikings 3rd and 4th stringers, which has largely been brushed off as camp fodder beating up on camp fodder. But Anderson has been relentless, and the Vikings gave the rookie a nod by starting him at the left end spot. Anderson had two sacks, earning an roaring ovation from the home crowd especially on a 13 yard sack of Jose Delpozo. Following Week 2 of the 2023 preseason, the Vikings have made 10 releases in their self-imposed "cut down to 80" before the final matchup of the offseason. For several players, it came as a shock. OL Braden Anger, an OT by trade at Wisconsin, but a guard in the Vikings eyes, was perhaps the biggest early cut. Anger was one of five players invited to Eagan by the Vikings during the predraft process, and is the native son of Willmar, Minnesota. Anger started the preseason week 2 game at left guard against the Chiefs, and while the team appeared outmatched entirely on offense, Anger didn't see, to be the worst of their problems, and appeared destined for at least a practice squad spot. But the Vikings were carrying 18 offensive linemen to this point, and will likely carry 10 or less on their opening day 55. A Communication Arts major at UW, if Anger can't catch on with another team, he appears headed to a sports desk in the Twin Cities. OLB Adrian Nicholson was someone the Vikings really liked through the 2022 UDFA process, as he'd ran a 4.48 40 with 30 Bench Reps at that combine. Unfortunately, Nicholson could never elevate himself to the Vikings 55 during his rookie year, and that was with a very thin LB corps that he was competing against. He survived the purging of the Vikings roster during the start of the 2023 preseason, but was a non-factor through training camp and was just a reserve LB against the Chiefs. CB LaRoy Crockett played 617 snaps last year, even competing his way into a nickel CB role at times and finishing with 22 tackles and an INT! Crockett beat out fellow 2022 UDFA CB J.P. Cunningham for that nickel CB role, and for a spot on the Vikings 90-man through camp, But Crockett was hardly truly in the Vikings plans, as they made multiple draft picks in the secondary, and the Vikings are giving him a shot to make a different team's roster for the final week. WR Marco Ngata was a teammate of Alex Williams III and Austin Bishop at Wisconsin, and the 6'3" receiver was looking for a shot at an increased role with Mathew Madden's departure. But like Crockett, the numbers game didn't work in Ngata's favor, with the Vikings drafting multiple receivers and bringing a handful more UDFAs in. TE Zack Leyba was someone the Vikings were very familiar with after seeing his Michigan film against Kansas in 2022, and the tight end depth chart continues to be lacking, with only Carl White and drafted rookie Connor Pence seemingly "locked in." Leyba consistently was used with the efficiency of a tackling dummy throughout camp, and it was clear he was just not an NFL caliber player. DT Mike Brantly is probably a practice squad caliber defensive tackle as a rookie, but he was DT7 on a surprisingly deep defensive tackle unit. QB Jeffrey Gingerich was a new acquisition to the team within the preseason, but the Vikings opted to roll with Austin Bishop and Derrick Marshall as their long term plans, and with Randy Madson as a camp arm. OL Diego Walker IV, DE Blake Kuechly, and ILB B.J. Geathers were also released. The Vikings take on the Carolina Panthers as they close the preseason this weekend.

0 14 2 0:36 Minnesota 4 4 15 Kansas City Punt P Anthony Upton punts for -5 yards. Touchback. Confused why we punted it here instead of kicking the FG or going for it.

Vikings looked competent in the 1st quarter. Then the game got very out of hand.

FAN or MANkato 2023 | Preseason Week 1 Offseason with the Minnesota Vikings Week one of the Vikings preseason kicked off with the team flying out to joint practices with the Las Vegas Raiders. Through these practices, the Vikings and Raiders agreed to terms on a trade, with Minnesota sending RB Dominic Love to the Raiders, receiving QB Jeffrey Gingerich back in return. Sources confirm the trade is complete, though the league office has yet to file the trade. While the joint practices went smoothly, Vikings individual practices and temperaments heated up in the heat of the desert. In a crowded defensive tackle room that has already seen the dismissal of Marvin Scott, things broke down quickly amongst the backups. During a line technique drill between the interior linemen, things especially escalated, as undrafted rookie DT Cayson Rodgers bowled over late-drafted guard Mike Wynn, sending the offensive lineman into the legs of ex-Commanders DT Michael Fumagalli, who had drawn a stalemate with converted-tackle Braden Anger, Fumagalli slumped over, his helmet smashed into the ground awkwardly and coming off his head. A tirade of expletives was sent Rodgers' way, and as Rodgers extended a hand to help the vet up, Fumagalli instead answered by throwing his helmet at Rodgers, turning into a round of punches being thrown by each defensive tackle. It took Marcus Sirles and Neil Henry to pry Fumagalli out of the scuffle, where he was led away to the coaches offices. Rookie Report With the Vikings and Raiders #1 units squaring off in the game, there wasn't room for many low-level rookies to strut their stuff for the TV cameras. Rookie 6th round RB Doug Brothers led the Vikings with 32 rushing yards on 6 carries, and 3 receptions for 17 yards on 4 targets. Fellow drafted rookie Ty Mizzell showed out in practices, earning the shot at the WR3 role over higher drafted rookie Brock Scott, but come game time Mizzell hauled in just 1 of 3 targets for a measly 6 yards. Defensively the Vikings started Sirles, 2nd rounder Kyle Wilson, and linebacker Ryan Hicks. The trio combined for just 5 tackles, though the Raiders ran a pass heavy gameplan. 4th round tight end Connor Pence has been fighting the media label of being overdrafted. Pence was lobbying offensive coaches to run with the starters, but the Vikings opted for veteran Carl White instead. Pence made a few decent plays in practice, beating Raiders LB Justin Freeman, but in game saw just 1 target, which he caught for no gain. Last year, the Vikings saw an impressive rookie showing from Austin Clark, a midseason pickup who made his name on the special teams unit. This year, the biggest chance at making the Vikings roster again appears to be through the special teams unit. Aldrick Ynoa is all but a lock for the roster as a 3rd rounder, but the Vikings were looking to get him involved in the return game. Ynoa had several 27 yard kick returns, finishing with 113 yards across 5 total returns. WR Danny Cichy appears headed to the practice squad at best, but after a mediocre 8 yard punt return, ripped off a 15 yarder that was called back by a penalty. That penalty, running into the kicker on Brogan Teague, marred an otherwise solid ST performance by Teaque, who had returned a kickoff 25 yards. Overall, a relatively quiet week when it comes to those fighting to make the squad. However, even with the Vikings starters out of the way for the preseason, the team doesn't appear to be set when it comes to the 90-man roster. Despite the (pending) acquisition of Gingerich at QB, the team brought in college notables Dexter Reed and Bronson Morel for workouts, though they failed to agree to terms for the time being. The Vikings have extended offers to Jaguars castoff LB Peter Kiefer, and 2nd year players OT Justin Paul and WR Allen Bagley III. In corresponding moves, the Vikings have released OT Ricky Gonzalez. OG Fernando Zapata, and OLB James Bates.

Im an idiot

Phoenix will enter into negotiations with PG Earl Rivera

TCU 10-2 (8-1) HOUSTON 10-2 (8-1) BAYLOR 9-3 (6-3) OKLAHOMA 9-3 (6-3) KANSAS 9-3 (6-3) KANSAS STATE 8-4 (6-3) TEXAS TECH 8-4 (5-4) UCF 6-6 (4-5) WEST VIRGINIA 6-6 (3-6) OKLAHOMA STATE 5-7 (4-5) TEXAS 5-7 (3-6) BYU 4-8 (2-7) IOWA STATE 3-6 (1-8) CINCY 2-10 (1-8)

FAN or MANkato 2023 Offseason with the Minnesota Vikings The early morning sun shone over the practice fields of Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center in Eagan, Minnesota. A whistle rang out from midfield, tearing through the still, crisp morning aura, signaling for the team to group up. For the slew of rookies in attendance, this was the start of their NFL careers. Several vets were in attendance as well, as the Vikings aligned their rookie minicamp to coincide with the voluntary portion of their OTAs. One newly added veteran was not in attendance on the field, but up inside the management level of the facilities. For Marvin Scott, his Vikings career spanned just weeks, as the free agent-signee from the Carolina Panthers turned his playbook in. After signing a two year deal, Scott walks away from the Vikings with $440k in cash, and the Vikings end the relationship with a clear message to the rest of the roster: if you don't want to compete, hit the streets. Following the draft, Scott found himself needing to be in rotation behind entrenched starter Neil Henry, and 1st round selectee Marcus Sirles, and with the Vikings adding 2nd-year Michael Fumagalli in a trade from Washington, and rookie Brent Lopez in the 6th round, the Vikings defensive interior became crowded. Scott took to instagram for some release - and the Vikings granted it with release. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ With minicamp out of the way, the Vikings head to their second annual year of hosting training camp at Minnesota State's campus in Mankato, where they'll reside through the preseason portion of their schedule. Last year, through a miniseries, the Vikings highlighted a few players on the cusp of making the roster, with the ultimate "winner", wide receiver Oswaldo Urrutia, being named the inaugural "Mr. Mankato", having secured himself a spot on the Minnesota Vikings roster. This year, through a more dedicated series, we follow the status of the Vikings roster, looking for Mr. Mankato 2023. As the Vikings head to camp, we take a look at the breakdown of the roster. On the eve of training camp, we look at the Vikings training camp depth chart: DEFENSE The Vikings defensive depth chart is littered with rookie candidates for Mr. Mankato. Heading into the Preseason Week 1 game at Vegas this weekend, the Vikings open camp with three drafted rookies looking to make immediate impacts as penciled-in starters: 1st Round DT Marcus Sirles, 2nd Round DE Kyle Wilson, and 3rd Round LB Ryan Hicks, who the Vikings are looking to line up in their rushing down defense at OLB. Vikings returning veteran starters (Marcos Maldonado, Paul Munford, Jeffrey Kersting, Wade Hires, and Paul Wade) seem to be relatively locked into their starting roles. The Vikings projected starters at MLB (Beckmann), SS (Chapman), and nickel corner (Cornelius) are all FA signings, who are expected to be pushed by their rookie understudies for roles. We likely won't see much for defensive storylines in week one, although the defensive tackle position is a clustered jumble of competition. Henry and Sirles are the starters - that much is true. Beneath them, rookie draftee Brent Lopez and UDFA Paul Reed appear to be favorites for Week 2 and 3 playing time. Michael Fumagalli, a 2022 3rd round selection by Washington who was brought over in the Mathew Madden trade, is shockingly low on the depth chart, competing for reps with Reed, UDFA Cayson Rodgers, and UDFA Mike Brantly. At defensive end, we see 2022 UDFA Elieser Blake slightly edging out UDFA DEs Dallas Dobbs and Black Kuechly, while former Baylor OLB Ashaad Anderson looks to transition to DE in an attempt to even have an NFL career. The defensive secondary is relatively thin, with the Vikings relying on Day Two picks to fill out the bulk of their early-projected 55 man roster. Alfredo-Nix Jones was the top drafted strong safety of the class, and finds himself in a training camp battle with Christopher Chapman, though the FA vet has the early edge. LaDarius Lockett and Darnell Hale terrorized the Big Ten quarterbacks the last two years, finding themselves as part of the Vikings mass draft class. James Davison and Anthony Shelton did much of the same in the Big 12, but as lesser draft prospects, come to the Vikings as UDFAs. And Brogan Teague, a unicorn of a rarity as a white cornerback, looks to cling to the roster, doing everything he can to harass the special teams coaches in hopes of making a name for himself. Linebacker has been a revolving door since the inception of the Vikings, with only Jeffrey Kersting remaining of the Vikings initial pool players. Anthony Williams battled into special teams reps last year and managed 8 ST tackles, and was poised to start at ILB for a hot minute during the initial off season stages this year. The Vikings, however, opted to bring in Narinder Beckmann as their projected starting MLB, and signed B.J. Geathers and Ziggy Sands to compete for the backup role. Austin Armstead was someone the Vikings thought very highly of throughout the draft process, but in looking to convert the former Penn State ILB to OLB at the pro level, waited until priority UDFA to sign the prospect. Spencer Lacombe, at 6'2", 255, adds a thick frame to potential running down formations. And Adrian Nicholson spent 2022 on the Vikings practice squad, one of the rare holdover 2022 rookies to survive the offseason on the Vikings roster. OFFENSE Where the Vikings competition seems to be focused comes at some of the flashier offensive positions. Through early media availability sessions, the Vikings have been focused on involving a 2nd running back even more, although not as a traditional fullback so much as an additional, short-range weapon. For the 2nd year in a row, the tight end position appears to be a jumbled, inexperienced group, and so the Vikings have been wanting to get Christian Sinnock easier outlets to help cut down on his forcing of passes when under pressure. Cooper McGough is the clear primary ball carrier, but with Minnesota adding Aldrick Ynoa in the 3rd round, they want defenses to commit to the box. Doug Brothers was also brought in with a draft selection, and the Ohio State grad appears primed to see used at both Vikings RB positions, though in early camp he's stuck to backing up McGough. Robert Thomas was 2nd in the nation in rushing yards in 2021, and the Vikings used his versatility as a rookie to define an entire role in their offense - perhaps at Thomas' expense. Thomas returned kicks and punts for the majority of the 2022 campaign, ousting 2022 priority UDFA Le'Veon Caminero from the roster, which came as a surprise to many since Caminero was the college roommate of Alex Williams III, and was initially brought in along with fellow Badger Austin Bishop to help transition Williams III to life in the pros. Thomas will have to compete with a variety of flashy athletes for return duties in 2023, but he'll also have to compete with the decorated Bene' Humber for a shot at a RB role. Quarterback, on the other hand, is relatively straight forward. Christian Sinnock is the clear starter; young, signed long-term at a team-friendly rate, and showing massive improvement. Sinnock passed for over 5,000 yards in 2022, and despite losing perhaps the best wide receiver in the league, his numbers may not dip as much as one might expect. Backing up Sinnock is going to be a tough competition, but the Vikings loved Derrick Marshall throughout the draft process enough to assign him a mid-round grade. Minnesota eventually took him in early Round 7, cementing his status above the other quarterbacks on the roster. Austin Bishop started the season finale last year, looking "good for a UDFA starting QB", but not good enough to come into the off-season worry free. The Vikings hosted a veteran QB on a free agent visit before he ultimately signed elsewhere, and the Vikings used one of their five league-regulated predraft workouts on the rookie above him on the DC, Marshall. Minnesota very publicly made a round of UDFA calls post-draft, with Justin DeShields even seen posting a public snapchat in a Vikings sweatshirt from a gate at MSP, but they eventually landed on Northwestern's Randy Madson, who will likely be little more than a camp arm. At tight end, the Vikings gutted their entire 2022 TE corps. They made an eyebrow raising selection of Conner Pence in the 4th round, who was productive at Oklahoma but not considered a starting-tier prospect in the pros. Carl White, a 26-year-old, unsigned receiver, will make his pro debut against the Raiders, having signed with the Vikings to compete with Pence for early TE1 reps. Pence has shown an ability in rookie sessions, but White is the go-to guy for now when the Vikings do first team reps. Behind them, like in 2022, is a trio of UDFAs looking to crack the 55. In 2022, D.J. Neverauskas beat out Pat Mathieu (and some other TE who Im blanking the name of, he was that good) for, initially, a spot on the roster, and then post-John Hendrickson, the starting role. Neverauskas was signed to just a 1-year deal, and the Vikings purged Mathieu and (Mike Smith? again, very quality TE) from the roster. Brandin Castillo is UConn's All-Time Receiving TD leader, both career and season wise, with 9 career receiving TDs, 6 of them coming this past season. At 6'4", 227, Castillo resembles a big wide receiver more than a traditional tight end, though with the Vikings he's been focusing entirely on TE. Matt Hwang from App State fits the "big WR" mold even moreso, at 6'5", 229. Hwang's junior season saw him lead the team with 5 touchdowns, but his senior season saw him as much more of an afterthought in the red zone offense, posting just a single score. And Zack Leyba made a name for himself at Michigan, catching the eye of Vikings scouts in his 7 reception, 95 yard game at Kansas in 2022. Leyba led Michigan in receiving yards during 2022, but post-Kansas managed just 43 receptions for 495 yards and 2 scores. Leyba is likely going to be a "multiyear practice squad" caliber player, and time will tell if he's given that opportunity to develop. On the offensive line, the five starters heading into September are all locked in. The left side of the line - Charles Seay, Louis Perez, and Darren Willard - is made up of returning Vikings starters. The right guard position was a revolving door in 2022, but the Vikings made a trade for 2nd year, 2022 Steelers 2nd round selection Darren Woodson-Luster, who will earn starting reps at right guard over his natural center position. And right tackle is currently manned by Steve Kozel, a FA signing, although there's been pushes internally for the Vikings to try 2nd year, Washington-selected center/Vikings 6th OL Quinterrius Parsons at right tackle. Parsons, in the meantime, will likely back up the entirety of the interior come the start of the season, though for the Raider game, will stick to playing backup center. Ronald King was a FA signing to play right guard, but with the additions of Woodson-Luster and Parsons, finds himself looking for a roster spot, lining up as a reserve LG. Fernando Zapata was a Viking last year, though his career is winding down and the Vikings don't owe him any guaranteed money if he doesn't make the final roster. Cesar Barnes and Mike Wynn were drafted interior offensive linemen who have immediately struggled adapting to the pro game, and will likely be practice squad fodder for this season at the least. And Danny Syndergaard was on the roster in 2022, playing 42 snaps. To the common fan, talking trenches - especially offensively - is sleepy, paint-drying experience. But for Vikings faithful, the thickest competition might be on the offensive edge - tackle. Rookie Elijah Greene and 2022 UDFA Brandon Gwynn have been taking reps on both sides of the line, with many considering Greene all-but-locked for a roster spot this fall. Gwynn, a tackle by trade, played right guard at times for the Vikings as a rookie, earning himself a mammoth +5 progression despite being a UDFA. Rookie UDFA Jared Simon played with Greene at Bowling Greene, though the Vikes currently view him as a left tackle prospect rather than his draft-listed guard. Iowa State's noted Esmil Bertolet was a mauling OT in the Big 12, but the Vikings are kicking him inside for the time being to get him OL reps. Diego Walker IV, another mauler in the Big 12, kicks outside from his Baylor-listed guard spot to Vikings RT. And Braden Anger, another one of just five Vikings-hosted workout players, played OT for the Wisconsin Badgers, but due to his smaller stature the Vikings are lining him up inside. For something less confusing to the casual eye, we turn to the Vikings receiver position grouping. Mathew Madden is gone, but Alex Williams III is immediately stepping into the WR1 role after a successful rookie showing. Paul Gurule returns as WR2. Everything beyond that is rabid competition. The Vikings drafted Brock Scott and Ty Mizzell, and they're both looking at early reps in the slot. 2022 Mr. Mankato Oswaldo Urrutia isn't a lock to make the roster, though he also fits into a slot role. And then UDFA's Jurrell Walker IV and Danny Cichy will push each other in a crowded room. Austin Clark has yet to see a single WR practice rep in team drills, but he signed on midway through 2022 and became a STU standout with 6 ST tackles on 417 snaps, adding 2 KR for 48 yards. Clark isn't an outright lock for the roster, but his speed and standing with the ST coach will certainly give him a leg up, even if he never lines up at a listed offensive position. Marco Ngata was a practice squad WR in 2022 who is still around for his comfortability with Austin Bishop. On the outside, behind AWIII and Gurule, it gets interesting. Matt Aboushi, a UDFA out of Old Dominion, was once considered a 5-star recruit, and he put up seasons of 42/877/3, and 87/1393/7. Aboushi threw up 32 reps at the combine BP drill (3rd to Danny Maronde [4th Round, Patriots] and Alex Henderson [1st Round, Cowboys]). Already tall compared to most WRs at 6'2", he had a 40.01" vertical at the combine (2nd to Jakeem Erlin, 2nd Round, Colts). Aboushi isn't going to outrun a corner with his speed, but with his physical stature, he's a jump ball candidate. Why did he fall through the draft? Perhaps it was his slower 40-time, perhaps we was an afterthought playing at Old Dominion. Several teams around the league removed Aboushi from their draft boards due to his F injury rating. But as a UDFA, with no clear pecking order behind the two starters, Minnesota is a prime opportunity for Aboushi. Joining Aboushi as a bigger-bodied WR/UDFA is Dustin McCoy, a 6'2", 211lber from Rice. McCoy led Rice in catches/targets/receiving yards as a senior, with rather pedestrian 36/79/489 marks. He also did not catch any touchdowns, and his inactivity in the stat column compared to many others likely knocked him out of the draft. Rice, however, had a quarterback who could run the ball pretty well - he just couldn't throw it into an Olympic-sized swimming pool if he were standing on the diving board, completing just 45% of his passes. With just 19 receptions for 262 yards as a junior, McCoy really didn't have a stellar highlight tape to sell teams on. He wasn't invited to the combine, and instead had to rely entirely on the few scouts gathered at the Conference USA Pro Day, where he posted a slow 4.54 40, but hammered out 32 bench reps and a 40" vertical. McCoy carried a D- injury grade to many medical experts, and its entirely likely that the Vikings were the only team to give him a call for their roster. Behind Paul Gurule, the Vikings have the intriguing West Virginia standout, Avery Sterling. Sterling doesn't have the burst to get open in the crowded interior passing game, but his precise route running sliced open Big 12 defenses, earning him a 1,057 yard season with 9 TDs and a 17 yard average. As a junior, Sterling caught just 5 passes for 100 yards, but one of those came as a 50 yard gain that put him in the WVU plans for 2022. With the big bodies ahead of him, Sterling is going to have to continue his impressive footwork to make the roster. We haven't yet talked about the two fan favorites. While Minnesota Gophers fans didn't have much to cheer about in the W column, their vaunted defense has become legend of lore. The Vikings drafted Eric Kieshnick in the 7th round, and there's been talk of the rookie making big plays in the way that 2022 6th rounder Mitch Rivers did as a rookie throughout camp. Like last year, when the Vikings brought Alex Williams III' college roommate Le'Veon Caminero in, the Vikings also brought in the college roommate of Kieshnick - strong safety Tyler Moss. Moss, seemingly every Minnesota co ed's favorite player, was a standout in the box, recording 74.5 tackles, 9 TFL, and 2 INT. Kieschnick had added 28 TFL and 10.5 sacks in 2022. While many in Mankato crowd the autograph lines for Marcus Sirles and Aldrick Ynoa, there's been an equal crowd for the 7th round DE and the UDFA SS. Join us next week, where we dive into the antics of roster construction, team bonding, and recap the rustle with the Raiders.

5000/25 last year and 19 INTs for Maldonado, might not be too far off 👀 hurriedly looks up Sweezy-adjacent bakeries to make an order from

NFCN predictions: I don't think much separates the division, really. Winner probably has about 10 wins, 4th place team could have 7, we all canibalize each other. Where the Lions are better is their defensive front 7, so Im going to say Lions 11-6 Packers 8-9 Vikings 8-9 Bears 7-10 and thats not a knock on the Bears. MIN, DET, and CHI all traded away someone who could be an impact guy, while GB drafted Ramik Phelps who I think is the biggest receiving add in-division. Lions defense is going to win them tight games, their offense doesn't threaten me at all on paper Vikings QB Christian Sinnock is going to pass for 5k and 30 TD, but the defense is still too youth-centric to truly make noise. Marcos Maldonado probably has a regression in INTs but I could still see him snagging 10 Packers offense is the most complete, but I wonder if they'd be more potent throwing to Phelps in a WR3 role than primarily in the traditional TE role. The edge of their defense is solid, but the right team could pound it down the middle on em all day, and their DBs seem to be weaker (on paper) than anyone else in-division. Bears are starting a young RB duo and, like Minnesota, traded a solid WR to get a younger one into the role, which I think is a good move for the future but could hinder their record for this year.

Theres a spy in the Vikings FO, they know my strat! 👀 I wouldn't be surprised by this, (on paper) I like a lot of the young depth I've already added this offseason, but I also signed a great kick returner off of the Eagles PS last year (had 121 rush yards and 47 receiving yards as RB4 but had 856 KR yards and 552 PR yards) and its proof that Im always evaluating the options that are open.

Kansas OOC Schedule: Week 1A at UCLA @Jmjacobs Week 2A at Georgia @Sarge Week 2B vs Kansas City (AI) Week 3A vs Utah @SageBow Week 3B vs Wichita State (AI) Week 4A at Marquette (AI)

to Steelers: TE Gregory Anderson, 2024 4th (DAL) to Minnesota: C Dustin Woodson-Luster @smackemz

scouting for the Kansas Jayhawks scheme a bit early are we 👀

I really liked Daniel Ennis and kept my fingers on his pulse with @cultur3 all year, was hoping no one would notice him and he'd fall to R3 since I couldn't justify an "early" WR just yet after swinging big last year. Also very hot on DeAndre Wieters, hard to beat taking his versatility in R5.

Kansas spring game signup: week 1: at Miami @cultur3 week 2: at Florida @Weeze week 3: at Florida State @Kirby

Minnesota Vikings: week 1: at Vegas (starters) @cultur3 week 2: vs Chiefs (backups) @JW1952TX week 3: at Panthers @Sarge

Who are your draft day winners and losers? WINNERS Patriots - love that they doubled up on WR, with Matthew Cunningham to stretch the field (and significantly better injury grade than the Speed WRs taken before him), and then coming back and getting an amazing value pick in Maronde. I like the Seth Mazzoni pick as well. Bills - Buffalo somewhat controversially traded out of the 1st, twice, but I understand why. Felt like the Top 15 players were solidified, and then the next 20-30 felt a tier below them. Wayne Murray in the 4th is absolute value to me, he could have gone round 2 and I wouldn't have blinked. Chiefs - I like that the Chiefs weren't afraid to make the moves that others might have been. Scribner needs to develop, yes, but I think he could be on the field sooner than most think - one of the biggest ways to develop, is playing time. The Chiefs also tripled up at OLB, and I think that's something more teams should do instead of dumping all their late picks. You're buying lottery tickets, and of the Chiefs get just one full time starter at OLB out of the three, their draft was worth it. LOSERS I don't know that there are real "losers" considering its too early to get a feel for anyone through just 1-2 drafts, but I think that teams that took low-injury players early might get a wake up call, depending how violent injuries occur. The best ability is availability, so I'd be very wary to be one of the teams drafting like a D-injury ILB in the 1st, a position you want involved heavily in every play. Teams that didn't draft a DT. This class was extremely talent rich, and while I think we may see comparable tops of this class in other classes, People who don't think that at least 15 of my selections will make my roster, if not more. I keep saying that I literally had like 30 UDFA last year across my roster and PS, and then I let some more pool players go to FA this year. Load the roster up to 90, find some gems, the preseason was almost as exciting for me as the season in my early teens, I loved the multiple cutdowns and seeing teams scour the waiver wire, I loved going to training camp in Mankato where it was affordable and you got to be right up close to the players. Those are lost to time and change now, but I think thats the magic of sim football, that you can still replicate those moments. Who got the most value from their picks? I really loved the Bills. Murray, Jermaine Shuck, and then Matt McCants and Ola Cunningham could be day one starters. What kind of strategy did teams take that you agreed with? i.e. taking higher Overall vs Potential, worrying about Potential instead of Overall. I dont care about potential as long as its like in the C range, so C- and up. I think a B overall, C- potential player, is someone who can easily work in as a starter early on. You just cant expect them to be HOF worthy. Obviously I'm an outlier in strategy here, but I think that you should dive deeper into the player than just "overall/potential". People are going to rave about their Day Two picks who have A potential, then not give them many reps and theyll be disappointed. I had a 6th round DE with B+ potential last year, I got him on the field, he went +6. But I never would have taken him without comparing his predraft workouts to others, or by looking at his stats. Did any teams have a draft that you envy or did any teams stick out to you?' I envy @mahrowkeen for taking a specific gadget player that I had specific plans for

The 2023 simfbaNFL Draft came and went, and 18 players heard their names called as members of the 2023 Minnesota Vikings Draft class. DEFENSIVE TACKLE MARCUS SIRLES Alabama Round 1, Pick #11 2022 1st-Team All-American 2022 1st-Team All-SEC 6.48 second 3-cone - 36 BP - 6.7 Run Stop - 7.105 Pass Rush Marcus Sirles was projected by many to be a Top 10 selection in this draft, and with the Vikings main targets - now confirmed to be Tennessee OL Noah Prater and Penn State WR Richie Igwebuike - off the board in the picks leading up to #11, the Vikings found a massive value pick in Marcus Sirles. At 6'2", 295, Sirles isn't going to hulk over anyone, but the pass rushing specialist had 10.0 career sacks at 'Bama (8.0 of them last year) and 63 TFL (40 in 2022). Minnesota lost one of their starting DTs to free agency, and while they signed veteran Marvin Scott and traded for 2022 draft selection Michael Fumagalli from Washington, Sirles is immediately a massive, long-term upgrade at the position. The 2023 class was loaded with defensive tackle talent, though, so Vikings fans might want to wait before declaring Sirles to be busting out a gold jacket in 15 years. Still, Sirles is a massive talent for the Vikings to plug and play against an ever-improving NFC North. DEFENSIVE END KYLE WILSON Oklahoma Round 2, Pick #145 2021 1st-Team All-Big 12 The 2023 Draft was very talent-poor at the defensive edge rushing positions, both DE and OLB together. At pick #45, Minnesota once again became the winner of the "fortunes", grabbing their second defensive lineman in as many picks. Kyle Wilson had 6.0 sacks and 22 TFL in 2021, and was poised to be a 1st Round selection when it came to 2023. The Sooners instead struggled through some coaching changes throughout the 2022 offseason and season, and Wilson only managed a 3.0 sack, 16 TFL senior campaign. Still, Wilson isn't some edge rushing prodigy - he's a balanced defensive end who should be able to duke it out with the nastiest of OTs, across from a pass rushing specialist bookend. The Vikings have a speed rusher in 6th year vet Paul Munford, who couldn't quite get his sack numbers going in 2022, though he was paired with a rookie 6th rounder in Mitch Rivers. The Vikings still hope to have Rivers contribute, but Wilson will slot in ahead of him on the initial DC, and with the Vikings coming away with two starters in as many picks. RUNNING BACK ALDRICK YNOA Tennessee Round 3, Pick #81 2022 1st-Team All-American 2022 1st-Team All-SEC In 2022, the Vikings added the top two leading rushers in the 2021 CFB season, drafting Virginia's Cooper McGough in the 3rd round and signing Robert Thomas off of the Eagles practice squad. But the Vikings have since traded veteran RB Bruno Hanson (to Dallas), and there's a Mathew Madden-sized hole in their heart... and in their offense. Madden accounted for 150+ touches and 1800+ yards alone, so the Vikings find themselves needing to explore ways to spread that vacant load out. Enter Aldrick Ynoa, who might not be one of the top two leading rushers of the 2022 CFB season, but did come in at #3. Ynoa caught 75 of his 93 targets last year for 1033 yards, and accumulated 3957 yards rushing and 34 touchdowns rushing over his Tennessee career. There wasn't a particular "standout" runningback in the predraft process of this class, but the Vikings brass considered many of the backs to be widely undderated, and once Jacksonville took Jaquiski Zettel, all bets were off. Minnesota will likely explore ways to split the rushing attack between Ynoa and McCough, so that opposing teams can never key in on which, is doing what. Especially with Ynoa's 4.34 40-yard dash time scaring any would-be linebacker defenders. STRONG SAFETY ALFREDO NIX-JONES Pittsburgh Round 3, Pick #89 2022 1st-Team All-ACC With the Vikings 3rd defensive selection in as many rounds, they likely found their third full-time, day one starter of the draft. A multi-year starter for Pitt, Alfredo Nix-Jones had a solid but unspectacular junior season, that blossomed into All-ACC honors with his 3 INT, 79.5 tackle senior season. ANJ is a speedy (4.37 40 at ACC Pro Day), strong (24 BP) safety who has range and decent hands. His lateral movement (6.82 cone drill at the combine) was top of any SS invited to Indianapolis. The Vikings liked 2022 starter Timothy Santos enough, but were pleasantly surprised to add FA signee Christopher Chapman to their safety room as well. Time will tell what happens to the two vets, but they've likely been relegated to reserve roles with the Vikings swiping the top strong safety of the draft. TIGHT END CONNER PENCE Oklahoma Round 4, Pick #107 The first of the Vikings draft picks that hadn't received any post-season accolades during his college career, the draft panel panned this Vikings selection and perhaps for good reason. However, with a quick run on tight ends, the Vikings made sure top open up Day Two of the draft by securing their top remaining tight end. Pence, like Kyle Wilson, struggled to keep up with the coaching turnover during his two seasons at Oklahoma. The Vikings, meanwhile, enterred 2022 with John Hendrickson at TE - he and Vikings QB Christian Sinnock failed to click, the Vikings shipped him to Tennessee early in the season (who later sent him to Cincinnati for a massive haul), and the Vikings turned to UDFA D.J. Neverauskas, who made a name for himself catching passes from Matt Howard. Neverauskas, even considering his UDFA status, was an even more disappointing trial than Hendrickson was at the TE position, and just as Matt Howard's sanity left him, so too did Neverauskas from the Vikings roster this offseason. Long story short, Pence and the Vikings are a match for each other. Pence put together 43 receptions, 445 yards, and 5 TDs in his time in Norman, entirely during his senior season. If the Vikings can get him to put up similar stats, perhaps it will quell future draft panels. If not, they'll certainly be justified. WIDE RECEIVER BROCK SCOTT Virginia Tech Round 4, Pick #117 Though we already discussed the absence of Mathew Madden, the Vikings were still sitting in Round 4 with a hole at WR3 behind Paul Gurule and Alex Williams III. The Vikings like to push the ball downfield through the air, opening up the ground game and short passing game for their speedy, handsy, backs. In 2021, Brock Scott did exactly that, catching 45 passes for 826 yards and 5 TD - at 18.35 yards per clip. In 2022, he caught more passes for more yards, but as a slightly shorter yards per gain, a respectable 16.47 avg, and added 4 more TDs. Scott is never going to be a burner, he ran a 4.46 40 at the ACC Pro Day, which is respectable but not elite. However, he is a route running technician, with Vikings front office members thinking he might be the best in the draft at running precise routes to his open gaps. Scott is the frontrunner for the often-used WR3/slot role in Minnesota, and with teams needing to dedicate focus to Alex Williams III as he hits his prime, the opportunities for Scott will be there. INSIDE LINEBACKER RYAN HICKS Kansas State Round 4, Pick #118 2022 1st-Team All-American 2022 Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year 2022 1st-Team All-Big 12 Ryan Hicks took a redshirt year in 2021, with Kansas State coach @Swipet giving him time to focus on his academics while developing himself to be a better football player. Hicks, just a 3-star recruit, made the most of that opportunity, becoming a field-roving nightmare for Big 12 offenses to be wary of. The 23-year-old rookie posted 99.5 tackles, 27 of them for a loss, and added 2.0 sacks in his lone season playing college football. Hicks did his best Lightning McQueen impression at the combine, where his "speed, I am SPEED" showed off with him posting an insane 4.46 40, more than a 10th of second faster than the next ILB in Indy. His 3-cone was also more than a 10th of a second faster than the next ILB at the combine, and with the Vikings grabbing defensive trench help earlier in the draft, the idea is that Hicks will be able to cleanly run around and wreak havoc just as he did at Kansas State. Some experts considered Hicks a reach, but Vikings GM @Bundy referenced Seattle's selection of Christian Carter in last year's first round as another "overdrafted linebacker" who could (and did) outperform "expertise." Hicks will battle FA-signee Narrinder Beckmann for the Vikings starting ILB role, which was vacated by LB Michael Naccarato's FA departure to Carolina. OFFENSIVE GUARD MIKE WYNN Air Force Round 5, Pick #139 2021 2nd-Team All-MWC; 2022 2nd-Team All-MWC The sexiest picks were seemingly over, but the Vikings still had business to do in the 5th round. The Vikings offensive line lost OT Nelson Garcia to Las Vegas via trade, and their right guard position was manned most impressively by UDFA Brandon Gwynn in 2022. Minnesota signed FA Ronald King to potentially start at right guard, but he's a short-term band aid, and left guard Louis Perez is still elite, but is aging out. The Vikings made a trade to pick up IOL Quinterrius Parsons from Washington, but behind Perez, King, and Parsons, the entirety of the Vikings backup line consisted of 2022 UDFAs - at the guard spot, there was Gwynn (a tackle by position but a guard by availability), Danny Syndergaard, and Kemoko Claudio. Enter Mike Wynn, who helped anchor an Air Force team for two seasons en route to two All-MWC mentions. Wynn is not a pass blocking specialist, nor is he a big mauler, he's just a guard who shows up every day and does what's asked of him. With Minnesota likely only bringing 8-9 offensive linemen to their 55-man roster Week 1, Wynn now has a leg up on the others, and should pencil in as a reserve interior lineman. WIDE RECEIVER TY MIZZELL Texas Round 5, Pick #149 Ty Mizzell had a very down senior season, posting 73 receptions for 870 yards and 6 TDs at 11.92 yards/reception. However, in 2021, when he had quarterback John Saffold chucking him the ball, Mizzell was a star. His 69 receptions for 1282 yards came at a 18.58 average, and he found the end zone 8 times. Fortunately for Mizzell, one of the Vikings rostered quarterbacks just so happens to be... John Saffold. The Vikings don't expect Mizzell to be a break out starter as a rookie, but he doesn't need to be one. He rounds off his routes a lot, he doesn't have elite hops - it's the 5th round. And where Mizzell graded out well through the predraft process, was his hands. Truly catchable passes, he doesn't drop, coming away with an 8.95 catching grade. Minnesota missed out on their FA WR targets, and they missed out on the elite receiving prospects in the draft. But, outside of 2022 Mr. Mankato Oswaldo Urrutia, the Vikings roster contained no quality backup receivers, and Mizzell looks like a WR who could make a career out of being a WR4, who occasionally supplants a WR2. That's exactly what he can be in Minnesota. CORNERBACK DARNELL HALE Northwestern Round 5, Pick #160 Darnell Hale isn't a household name, nor should he be, he played at "ChIcAgO's BiG tEn tEaM" Northwestern, and they get swept under the rug where they belong. But - maybe he should be? Hale, in 2022, snagged 4 interceptions and had 6 PD, adding to his 2 INT junior season. He doesn't match up with big WRs as he's just 5'10", and his vertical is that of someone who wouldn't be a basketball star beyond their local YMCA, but where Hale excels is defending in space. He posted a 3.92 shuttle at the Big Ten Pro Day in Chicago, faster than Iowa standout Jermaine Shuck. Minnesota of course was captained by INT GOD Marcos Maldonado last year, but behind Maldonado on the DC was a bevy of "starter-level" CBs. Paul Wade tested the waters in FA, but returned to be Minnesota's CB2. Ralph Cornelius signed in FA to be a special teams leader, and to compete for time in Minnesota's nickel/dime roles that they primarily use (running a 4-2-5 as their base). And Elias Oliva has outside corner potential, but is already 26 and is pending FA after the year. Minnesota had turned to UDFAs J.P. Cunningham and LaRoy Crockett last year for their nickel/dime roles, and while they certainly showed improvement, opposing offenses picked the pair apart, and Minnesota missed the playoffs. Hale isn't a lock for opening day NB, but he should impress enough early in his rookie contract to earn consistent dime and even nickel reps. RUNNING BACK DOUG BROTHERS Ohio State Round 6, Pick #162 2022 2nd-Team All-Big Ten When the 6th round officially opened, Minnesota waited all of 1 pick (Detroit) in anticipation, before scrambling to get their draft card posted in record time. Though they've invested heavily in the RB position early during the past two drafts with McGough and Ynoa, Minnesota is certainly running a very specific offense, and Brothers is very much in their mold. Last year, Minnesota brought in UDFA QB Austin Bishop and UDFA Le'Veon Caminero from Wisconsin, to help 1st rounder Alex Williams III make the transition to the pros. What they had planned for Caminero, they transitioned quickly to Robert Thomas, and now, have made a scheme out of it. The Vikings struggled to consistently run the ball in 2022. They love Doug Brothers. Brothers posted the highest overall receiving grade of running backs the Vikings considered, with solid hands and decent route running. But Brothers can also hit the edge of a tackle and turn up field like very few in this class. Brothers caught 128 passes for 1003 yards in his collegiate career, and with Ynoa and McGough also serving as receiving threats, its likely Brothers could double as a WR5 or even get into the slot role at times, to truly take advantage of the short-intermediate routes opened up by this receiving corps. The Vikings have Brothers down as averaging a 4.35 40-yard dash, and he's sure to make an impact as a change of pace guy who will really change the pace of the linebackers he's leaving in the dust. OFFENSIVE TACKLE ELIJAH GREENE Bowling Green Round 6, Pick #165 2022 1st-Team All-MAC Elijah Greene has done his fair share of winning over the past two seasons, helping to protect Bowling Green mastermind QB Dexter Reed in @PoopyRhinoPickles impressive offense. Greene, like Wynn, isn't a specialist when it comes to blocking, but rather is just a solid guy who can adapt to the playbook given to him. At the MAC Pro Day, he put up 39 BP reps. Greene's status as a 6th round pick isn't in question by anyone, even himself - he knows he's not a physical specimen. But he also knows the opportunity ahead of himself in Minnesota. Vikings left tackle Charles Seay is still a franchise left tackle, and is signed through 2024. But stopgap RT Steve Kozel only received a 1-year deal in FA, and behind them, the Vikings only carry 2022 UDFA's Ricky Gonzalez and Gary Albers. Over the next two seasons, there is going to be plenty of competition for a potential starting bookend role, and Greene intends to win one of those spots. DEFENSIVE TACKLE BRENT LOPEZ Clemson Round 6, Pick #169 2022 1st-Team All-ACC It was Brent Lopez - not 2023 1st overall pick Alejandro Rua - who was named 1st-Team All-ACC. Of course, we all know why Rua went #1, and Lopez fell to the 6th round in a very DT-rich draft class, and perhaps it was an oversight by ACC selection members, but Lopez is still riding that high. Lopez posted 38.5 tackles, 20 of them for a loss, and added 5.5 sacks, in his senior season. He had 56 tackles, 16 TFL, and 4.0 sacks in 2021, and has just consistently been a matchup nightmare for ACC foes. Minnesota, of course, already added DT Marcus Sirles in the 2023 draft, and their other starter, Neil Henry, is locked in. The Vikings also signed DT Marvin Scott in FA, and of course, traded for Michael Fumagalli. For the first time, the Vikings have actual depth at defensive tackle. Scott, Fumagalli, and Lopez are all due to battle it out for the rotationary roles, but Lopez - at 6'5", 298 - is certainly the biggest of those projected to make the Vikings 55. CENTER CESAR BARNES Indiana Round 6, Pick #189 Though Cesar Barnes didn't earn any post-season honors in the loaded Big Ten, he stood out as a leader of the Indiana trenches. "You can't teach heart," quipped Vikings GM @Bundy. Barnes, at 6'4", 293, fits the exact mold the Vikings want their interior offensive linemen to have, and it would be no surprise if the Vikings came into the regular season with Barnes on the active roster, possibly rotating in at any of the 3 interior spots as needed. Barnes didn't get invited to Indianapolis, which stung the Hoosier-state hero, but he did get invited to the Big Ten Pro Day, where he threw up 40 bench reps, which if it were at Indy, would have tied Noah Prater for natural centers. Minnesota has Quiterrius Pearson waiting in the wings for Darren Willard, who himself is signed for the next 3 seasons. But given the unknown about the guard spots, it wouldn't be a shock to see Barnes competing for a starting role within his rookie deal. QUARTERBACK DERRICK MARSHALL Penn State Round 7, Pick #194 Overshadowed by others in the midwest-centered Big Ten spotlight, Derrick Marshall quietly counted stats. When people watched Penn State highlights at a national level, it was always a clip of Richie Igwebuike hauling in a rainbow, but the clips always started with the ball effortlessly floating through the air. As a junior, Marshall passed for only just over 2600 yards, but notched 15 TDs to just 3 INT. During his senior season, he absolutely blew up, tallying 5124 yards in just 13 games, throwing 37 TDs to only 8 INT, and completing over 70% of his passes. Marshall didn't have the ESPN-known name like Theo Scribner, nor even the Big Ten Network-caliber of Wayne Murray, but he caught the eye of one team, who invited him to Eagan, Minnesota as one of their only five private workout players. Marshall is by no means ready to start NFL games, but his ability to meticulously place the football has the Vikings fired up over, yes, a 7th round QB. Christian Sinnock is well-cemented into being the starter, he's just 26 years old and already massively improving from where he was a season ago. But the Vikings backups - 2022 UDFAs Austin Bishop (started the season finale) and John Saffold (was primarily on the practice squad as the Vikings carried just 2 QBs for most of the season) left much to be desired. Minnesota lands their long-term backup, and quite frankly, one of their favorite players in the draft. DEFENSIVE END ERIC KIESHNICK Minnesota Round 7, Pick #204 2022 1st-Team All-American 2022 3rd-Team All-Big Ten Kieschnick, a run stopper by trade, tallied 10.5 sacks in 2022. He had 28 TFL in his senior season, and finished his career with 13.5 and 46, respectively. His Golden Gophers had the 7th-ranked rushing defense, and the 7th-ranked pass rushing defense, in 2022. At 6'3", 288, Big Key is hard for offensive tackles to move around. He slots in behind Mitch Rivers for now in depth chart hierarchy, though with time, could potentially push for a starting gig. DEFENSIVEBACK LaDARIUS LOCKETT Ohio State Round 7, Pick #214 2021 2nd-Team All-Big Ten LaDarius Lockett had 3 INT and 3 PD in 2022, which was down from his hype-worthy, exciting 5 INT junior season. Surprisingly strong for a corner, he had 22 bench reps at the combine. The Vikings lack a true scheme fit at backup free safety, and while Lockett will certainly get reps to compete for a nickel or dime role at corner, some Vikings insiders are reporting the team will look to try him at FS as well. KICKER JORDAN TRIPUCKA Virginia Tech Round 7, Pick #217 Minnesota struggled at kicking field goals all of 2022, cycling through 3 kickers in the offseason before signing UDFA Robin Reynolds, who manned the spot for the regular season. Reynolds finished the year going 24/34, just 70.58%, and missed 4 of his 36 XP attempts. Tripucka doesn't have any longer of leg than Reynolds (both hitting longs of 48 last year), but in the college game Tripucka hit 18 of 22 FGs and only missed one XP. The Vikings could have looked the UDFA route again, and its possible Tripucka would have fallen out of the draft to UDFA, but by drafting him, the message from the FO is clear: if Reynolds wants to win the job, he has to significantly outperform the rookie. Tripucka won't just be handed the job, Reynolds will stay with the team into the preseason at least, but the Vikings wanted to make clear to their special teams unit, and to any prospective FA, that everything is going to be competed for. With the Draft season now in the books for another year, the Vikings turn to minicamps and offseason workouts ahead of the preseason. The Vikings managed to draft four 1st-Team All-Americans, which I didn't realize until I decided to add accolades to the post after initially writing up the blurbs.

LV: 214, 2024 5th MIN: 145 (from Pats)