In a first round that saw far less action and drama than any draft in recent memory (and going back to the missed pick snafu a few years back less drama may not be a bad thing), the Vikings addressed one of a few areas that many figured they would. In trading up to land safety Tyrell Johnson they got a player whom some thought was slated to go another ten picks or so earlier. With Darren Sharper still playing at a high level and Madieu Williams signing for four years as a free agent, it’s obvious that Johnson fills a need down the road more so than an immediate one—and that’s my only problem with the pick.
The Vikings got a guy they obviously coveted, or else they would not have traded up to get him. They addressed a position that was a need—but a need I figured they should fill later in the draft. I was hoping for an offensive lineman, but admittedly the cream of the crop as it related to “sure things,” had already left the board. The team could have picked a player who could have started immediately at tackle. I like the spot they got Johnson, so don’t get me wrong: it’s not that I dislike the pick, only there were other needs I thought they could address.
Johnson is known as a hard hitter and should have an opportunity to contribute on special teams. Coming out of Arkansas State in the Sun Belt Conference, the learning curve is likely to be a bit steeper than a player coming out of a larger conference, so he’ll have time to learn from one of the best safeties the game has seen in the last 25 years (Sharper).
Relatively speaking, the team’s needs this year—once they filled the most glaring need of a pass rusher through the Jared Allen trade—were far fewer and less prominent than most years past. The pick was not a surprising one and was neither a stretch nor a talent that fell far below where was slated to go. Look for the Vikings to add a receiver, offensive lineman and possibly a quarterback on day two.
While I understand the “slotting” pay system that top picks typically work within, the pay that young players receive in relation to what proven veterans are making is quite disparaging…the amount of picks it takes to move up in the draft is astronomical. What would it have taken to get in position to select Chris Long? Far more than what it took to get a proven commodity in Allen…on that note, what the Jaguars gave away to land the pick they used to select Derrick Harvey was strikingly similar to what the Vikings did. We traded a first and two thirds. Jacksonville traded a first (albeit 26th as opposed to the Vikings 17th), two thirds, and had to toss in a fourth. Who would you rather have? Harvey or Allen?...the new ten-minute time limit in round one is a glorious thing…Matt Ryan to Atlanta was the biggest non-surprise of the day…Felix Jones could be a lot like Brian Westbrook, but why did the Cowboys let Julius Jones go and then add Felix Jones? They obviously were not worried about their other positions of need…the same could be said for the Panthers, who used their first round pick on Jonathan Stewart after the departure of DeShaun Foster…I knew someone was going to say it; I was just waiting to see how long it would take. Kirk Herbstreit commented along the lines that if football fans were surprised and had fun watching Adrian Peterson last year just wait ‘til they get a look at Darren McFadden. C’mon, Kirk…McFadden was another obvious pick. Atlanta needed a franchise quarterback and the Raiders are always looking to make a splash…on the topic of the Raiders, I’m excited to see Michael Bush’s season…I thought it was funny that all of the pundits pointed to Vernon Gholston’s inexperience as being a factor that would suggest he has a larger upside than some. They said he had only been playing football since tenth grade. So, basically, what they were saying is that they have a very high opinion of seventh-ninth grade football coaches?!...Ryan Clady and Chris Williams being selected ahead of Branden Albert surprised me quite a bit…I was happy to see division rival Detroit select Gosder Cherilus over Rashard Mendenhall….Joe Flacco could be the best quarterback in the draft when we look back five years down the road…Keyshawn Johnson’s wardrobe was atrocious. Polka dots with stripes?!