With just over a month to go until the 2014 NFL Draft, there is no reason not to look at what the experts believe is going to happen with the No. 8 pick for the Minnesota Vikings. There is still this faction of people who believe that the team is going to take a quarterback with that pick. The names Johnny Manziel and Blake Bortles have been thrown around a lot. I have written this in the past that the team shouldn’t be considering a quarterback in the first round.
The team needs help on defense more than anything and especially in the secondary. There was one mock draft that had the Vikings taking Pittsburgh defensive tackle Aaron Donald with the No. 8 pick. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that Donald could be a game-changer but is he the player the team should be taking? The defensive line appears fairly set with Everson Griffen and Brian Robison at the end positions and Sharrif Floyd and Linval Joseph inside. A move to get Donald would likely ship Floyd out of town or into a reserve role and the team has already move a lot of moves on the defensive line this offseason.
The better move still appears to Oklahoma State cornerback Justin Gilbert. Many mock drafts have him falling to No. 10 and the division rival Detroit Lions. Minnesota can’t allow something like that to happen. The cornerback position has improved with Captain Munnerlyn’s arrival but bringing someone like Gilbert is solidifies the position. The other interesting possibility could be someone like Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack if he were to fall to the eighth pick. It isn’t likely to happen but an impact player like that wouldn’t hurt.
There are going to be a lot of discussions between and May 8 in deciding who exactly the Vikings are going to take. It is obvious that new Vikings coach Mike Zimmer isn’t a fan of Manziel and said after Manziel’s pro day that “it was a sideshow.” That likely takes him out of the equation. The Vikings will get a quarterback at some point but when is anyone’s guess. Gilbert, Donald or Mack would all be better options.
Personally, I'd be shocked if the Vikings took a QB with their first pick. It's hard to believe that Cassel was signed to that 2-year $10M deal to be a backup. As you stated, they really need defensive help and any other pick than a DB would really be a surprise. What say ya, @Aussie61 ?
I say if the Viks actually can find there franchise QB with the 8 pick then I say take them but if they don’t take defense I trust their scouts to make a good decision.
Aj McCarron in second round CJ Mosley or Good cornerback in first.
I would be more than shocked,I would be pissed if they took a QB #8. I think it will be either a Corner or Linebacker depending how the board falls.Safety is also a small possibility.The pick definitely must be defence,in fact the 2nd round pick should be Defence as well.As for QB,I think guys like Mettenberger,McCarron,Garropolo,Carr & Murray are all in the mix.
Draft Johnny Football Manziel with first pick, trade down and get him please .