Mock (YEAH) ing (YEAH) Drafts (YEAH)

[swede700]

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Many thanks to the 27 scribes who helped craft the first Bengals.com Media Mock Draft of 2023. Let's get to No. 28:

23.VIKINGS _ QB Will Levis, Kentucky; Mark Craig; Minneapolis Star-Tribune

With the run of cornerbacks seemingly done, the Vikes turn to an issue they have to face sooner or later with Kirk Cousins, as of now, in a contract year. With Levis surprisingly here, they do it now instead of later in this draft or next year

 

https://www.bengals.com/news/first-bengals-media-mock-nfl-draft-2023

[swede700]

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Three rounds. Multiple trades. An early run on offensive tackles. A top quarterback sliding. And an unusual landing spot for Hendon Hooker. Let’s get right into this three-round 2023 NFL mock draft.

23. MINNESOTA VIKINGS: WR JORDAN ADDISON, USC

The Vikings need a route winner across from Justin Jefferson who can make defenses pay when they put all their attention toward the star receiver. Addison is precisely that.

87. MINNESOTA VIKINGS: CB CORY TRICE JR., PURDUE

 

https://www.pff.com/news/draft-three-round-2023-nfl-mock-draft-colts-anthony-richardson-jets-calijah-kancey

The Rams traded up ahead of the Vikings to get Levis and the other oft-mentioned Vikings pick, Hooker, ends up going to Green Bay, of all places, in the 2nd rd.

[Kparty15]

45 minutes ago, swede700 said:

https://www.pff.com/news/draft-three-round-2023-nfl-mock-draft-colts-anthony-richardson-jets-calijah-kancey

The Rams traded up ahead of the Vikings to get Levis and the other oft-mentioned Vikings pick, Hooker, ends up going to Green Bay, of all places, in the 2nd rd.

I would love to see GB draft Hendon Hooker!

[vike daddy]

23. Minnesota Vikings: Maryland CB Deonte Banks

Deonte Banks has been a common selection for the Minnesota Vikings, and for good reason. Not only do the Vikings still need help at cornerback, but Banks is a good fit in a Brian Flores defense that relies on cornerbacks being able to press at a high level. Yes, Banks isn’t a perfect prospect and would serve to trust himself more in certain situations, but he would be an instant starter for the Vikings.

Selecting Banks would also allow the Vikings to move Byron Murphy, who they signed in free agency, to slot cornerback, which he has excelled at in the NFL. The Vikings certainly don’t need to select a cornerback, but the value makes sense for a prospect like Banks.

https://vikingswire.usatoday.com/lists/2023-nfl-mock-draft-cj-stroud-anthony-richardson-lamar-jackson-bryce-young-aaron-rodgers/?utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR1OMnXZ7gpvudiYbSoaEOWkTBEOQYr1Ls4x_MNMhOLfQcS0V69pieb1Hf4

[SteelKing728]

17 hours ago, swede700 said:

I don't have concerns about his accuracy, but I have significant concerns about how much upside he has already being 25 yrs old.  He was a man amongst boys and was in college for 6 yrs (he was a redshirt in 2017) and while never has thrown a lot of INTs, didn't really show significant progress until he got to Tennessee (after 4 yrs at WV).  I can't draft a guy in the 1st rd that age who is going to have to sit a year and will be 30 by his 5th yr option season.  If I'm going to have a guy sit a year, I'm going to draft someone younger with more upside.  That's just me, though. 

Don't tell this to the 2012 Cleveland Browns lol

To be quite honest, I'm not sure how Weeden was even draftable at 28.

[cconocool]

If I had the number one pick, Bryce Young would be the no brain answer. I am not impressed with Ohio State QBs whatsoever. 

[swede700]

11 minutes ago, cconocool said:

If I had the number one pick, Bryce Young would be the no brain answer. I am not impressed with Ohio State QBs whatsoever. 

I'm not impressed with Ohio State QBs either, but I can't get past Young's height.  The success of shorter QBs is mixed at best. 

[Vikes22]

On 4/5/2023 at 2:17 PM, Kparty15 said:

So I’m assuming that you’re just looking at his numbers on paper and not actually watching him play.  Hendon Hooker should be a 3rd round pick.  He’s by far one of the oldest prospects in the draft, is a system QB, only reads half of the field on every play, only stares down one WR instead of going through his progressions, habitually over throws his WRs, and consistently had two top tier WRs in Hyatt and Tillman bailing him out on his inaccurate passes.  If you watched him in 2021 it was like watching Jay Cutler look good because he had Brandon Marshall (Cedric Tillman) making bringing in a lot of uncatchable passes.  He doesn’t really know how to hit a WR in stride.  Picking Jalin Hyatt had blazing speed and was able to adjust to the balls that were 10 yards too deep.  If Cedric Tillman didn’t get hurt this season he very likely could’ve been the top WR drafted.  The only reason that Hendon Hooker had 5 TDs against Alabama is because Jalin Hyatt had 5 TDs against Alabama.  Hyatt played lights out that game and the Alabama defense couldn’t keep up with his speed.   Elite WRs can make very pedestrian QBs look decent.  Amari Cooper did the same thing to AJ McCarron.

 

The fact that you think that Trey Lance isn’t a good player just makes you sound very ignorant when it comes to scouting QB talent.  He went #3 overall because many scouts, coaches, and GMs from multiple teams, that are all better scouts than you, all determined that he was worth getting drafted in the top 5.  There is a reason he got drafted higher than Justin Fields and Mac Jones.  He did play against weaker competition, but that doesn’t make him less of a prospect.  It is just something extra that you have to keep in mind when scouting him.  He played in a pro style offense in college; unlike Hooker.   He goes through progressions and doesn’t stare down his first read; unlike Hooker.  He can read the entire field on a play; unlike Hooker.  He has extremely good footwork in his pass sets; unlike Hooker.  If you watch the Trey Lance pro day workout on YouTube he is on par with guys like Trevor Lawrence as a passer.  Keep in mind pro days are only worth a grain of salt because they are scripted and in near perfect conditions, but you can still learn things about a player from watching them.  The only reason that Trey Lance didn’t start his rookie year was because the 49ers coaching staff wanted to let him develop a year since he missed an entire year of college football during the COVID pandemic.  Then when Trey Lance finally got a chance to start last season he played admirably in the, windy and pouring rain, monsoon conditions in Chicago. Chicago already has one of the toughest stadiums in the league to play at because it gets so windy by the Great Lakes, but the conditions in that game were even worse than normal.  The he broke his ankle in week 2 and only a few snaps.  The truth is that no one truly knows how high Trey Lance potential is, but it’s hard to argue with the fact that his trade value will likely never be lower than it is right now.  Trey Lance is 3 years younger than Hendon Hooker and could likely be acquired for less than a 1st round pick.  You see teams give up on talented players too early all the time.  The Chargers gave up on Drew Brees and the Falcons gave up on Brett Favre way too early.  This situation with Trey Lance isn’t really that different from either of those situations.  It’s at very least worth a flyer taking a chance on something that potentially has really high upside rather than making a huge reach on Hendon Hooker.

So, for 2 years his WR’s have been making him look good??  I don’t even know how to respond to this. LOL

All I see is people making up excuses on how good his numbers are against “REAL” opponents..

As for scouts. They hit and miss all the time. Russell, Leaf, RG3 and can go on and on. Now, Hurts, Farve, Brady and the list goes on and on…

And to bring the age factor is an even bigger joke. To say he played against kids. I hope Rogers takes it easy this year because he will be going against kids. Same with Cousins. 
 

And yes, there is a reason why SF is trying to trade Lance. 

[SemperFeist]

I have yet to see a credible source indicating that the 49ers are trying to trade Lance.

[Boda]

2 hours ago, Vikes22 said:

So, for 2 years his WR’s have been making him look good??  I don’t even know how to respond to this. LOL

All I see is people making up excuses on how good his numbers are against “REAL” opponents..

As for scouts. They hit and miss all the time. Russell, Leaf, RG3 and can go on and on. Now, Hurts, Farve, Brady and the list goes on and on…

And to bring the age factor is an even bigger joke. To say he played against kids. I hope Rogers takes it easy this year because he will be going against kids. Same with Cousins. 
 

And yes, there is a reason why SF is trying to trade Lance. 

Heres the difference:

Russell - 1st

Leaf - 2nd

RG3 - 2nd

-------

Hurts - 53rd

Favre - 33rd

Brady - 199

 

Hooker just simply isn't a 1st round QB,  Sure if Hooker is there at pick 87 you can take him & he wont get you fired or set back your franchise.  Taking him in the 1st & he busts simply sets the team back.   I just don't see how he's any better than Kirk because he wont be for atleast the next 3 years and probably never will be.  He's only 9yrs younger than Kirk so im not really sure you can ever consider him a Franchise QB unless he takes massive steps forward for the next 2 years.  So if you just don't want to pay the QB just say that.

Edited April 7, 2023 by Boda

[ArcticNorseman]

15 minutes ago, Boda said:

Heres the difference:

Russell - 1st

Leaf - 2nd

RG3 - 2nd

-------

Hurts - 53rd

Favre - 33rd

Brady - 199

 

Hooker just simply isn't a 1st round QB,  Sure if Hooker is there at pick 87 you can take him & he wont get you fired or set back your franchise.  Taking him in the 1st & he busts simply sets the team back.   I just don't see how he's any better than Kirk because he wont be for atleast the next 3 years and probably never will be.  He's only 9yrs younger than Kirk so im not really sure you can ever consider him a Franchise QB unless he takes massive steps forward for the next 2 years.  So if you just don't want to pay the QB just say that.

Good points.  Its truly a coin flip as to whether a 1st Rd QB busts or turns into a star . . . The other 20% are just mediocre.  

Picking Hooker needs to be a value pick, not a reach pick.  If he's picked 40 or later, he's probably fair value.  After 65, he's a great value.

[Captain Relax]

11 hours ago, Boda said:

Heres the difference:

Russell - 1st

Leaf - 2nd

RG3 - 2nd

-------

Hurts - 53rd

Favre - 33rd

Brady - 199

 

Hooker just simply isn't a 1st round QB,  Sure if Hooker is there at pick 87 you can take him & he wont get you fired or set back your franchise.  Taking him in the 1st & he busts simply sets the team back.   I just don't see how he's any better than Kirk because he wont be for atleast the next 3 years and probably never will be.  He's only 9yrs younger than Kirk so im not really sure you can ever consider him a Franchise QB unless he takes massive steps forward for the next 2 years.  So if you just don't want to pay the QB just say that.

Russell Wilson was drafted with the 75th pick in the 3rd round.  He wasn't drafted in the 1st round.

[JDBrocks]

33 minutes ago, Captain Relax said:

Russell Wilson was drafted with the 75th pick in the 3rd round.  He wasn't drafted in the 1st round.

He meant Jamarcus Russell

[swede700]

14 hours ago, Vikes22 said:

And to bring the age factor is an even bigger joke. To say he played against kids. I hope Rogers takes it easy this year because he will be going against kids. Same with Cousins.

There's a significant difference between 25 yr olds playing against 20 yr olds than there is 35 yr olds playing against 25 yr olds. 

[wcblack34]

29 minutes ago, swede700 said:

There's a significant difference between 25 yr olds playing against 20 yr olds than there is 35 yr olds playing against 25 yr olds. 

Yup. That's why Whedon and Weinke looked better than they were. 

I don't doubt that Hooker could become a decent starter in the NFL. But even that would require growth from him, and at 25 years old, he's peaked physically. So that means he's going to have to grow mentally. Stroud, Young, Richardson and Levis all have more time to grow mentally and have equal, or greater, physical gifts. 

This Hooker isn't attractive enough to justify the price.