Who will you be watching?
The NFL Combine is getting underway today.
Today they have the medicaLs, team interviews, and pre-exam for the defensive linemen, linebackers, and dudes that put their foot on the ball.
Here is a list of the invites …
NFL combine: Full list of draft prospects invited to 2025 scouting event
Here are a few players that I really liked this year from what I saw …
Warren Brinson, Georgia, DL
Alfred Collins, Texas, DL
Derrick Harmon, Oregon, DL
Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech, DL
JJ Pegues, Mississippi, DL
Ty Robinson, Nebraska, DL
Tyleik Williams, Ohio State, DL
.
Carson Bruener, Washington, LB
Francisco Mauigoa, Miami, LB
Chris Paul Jr., Mississippi, LB
.
Jahdae Barron, Texas, DB
Mello Dotson, Kansas, DB
Jordan Hancock, Ohio State, DB
Andrew Mukuba, Texas, DB
Jaylin Smith, USC, DB
Xavier Watts, Notre Dame, DB
Hunter Wohler, Wisconsin, DB
.
Donovan Jackson, Ohio State, OG
Jake Majors, Texas, OC
Jonah Monheim, USC, OC
Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona, OG
.
Cam Skattebo, Arizona State, RB
Devin Neal, Kansas, RB
Jordan James, Oregon, RB
Ashton Jeanty, Boise State, RB
Omarion Hampton, North Carolina, RB
Xavier Restrepo, Miami, WR, RB
.
Mason Taylor, LSU, TE
Gunnar Helm, Texas, TE
.
Who will you be checking out?
Minnesota Vikings News and Links
The Minnesota Vikings have everything on Jevon Holland’s wish list
Appearing on the Breakin’ House Rules podcast, Holland revealed what he wants in a new home.
“I actually wrote down, in the best way I could sum up what I’m looking for: Detailed and experienced coaching and a player-supportive ownership,” Holland began, reading a note on his phone.
“Just, honest, culture-setting—and men-leading head coach with a goal and standard that he holds everybody to. A team that wants to win and has players with like-mindedness about the team’s goals and standards. Leaders that want to lead and set examples by action, not by their word. So, I think that in itself is what I’m really looking for.”
Need a great head coach who is a leader of men? We’re pretty sure the 2024 NFL Coach of the Year, Kevin O’Connell, fits that description.
Ownership that supports players? Check. Zygi and Mark Wilf haven’t failed to spend what it takes to build first class facilities while surveys have revealed elite experiences both on and off the field for Vikings players.
Like-mindedness in the locker room? There’s no question that Minnesota had a tight bond in the locker room. Veteran safety Harrison Smith was in tears after the season ended guys were so close.
“It’s been one of the most fun teams I’ve ever played on in any level. There’s a lot to be said about this group and I really just wish I had a couple more weeks with them to be honest,” Smith said.
3 Vikings extensions Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could sign to set up the 2025 season for success
When general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah took over for Rick Spielman, he inherited quite a mess. There were multiple bad contracts on the books with a lot of potential dead money when they were released. Guys like Adam Thielen, Kirk Cousins and Dalvin Cook hit hard on the dead money for over $50 million, but that is all done and the Vikings currently have approximately $64 million in salary cap space.
The Vikings could look to cut players for salary cap space or do some restructures, but extensions can also create salary cap space.
O’Neill is a great extension candidate. He is about to enter his age 30 season and has no more guaranteed money left on his contract. It would be wise for him to sign an extension so he can receive more guaranteed money.
One of the more intriguing players on the roster in terms of salary cap is Oliver. He is the second tight end but his presence as a blocker is really impressive. When Oliver is in the game, he acts as a third tackle being able to handle edge rushers in the run game and sometimes in pass protection.
Van Ginkel has one year left on his contract as well as four void years. They are set up to sign him to an extension. Even if Turner becomes the player the Vikings want him to be, the Vikings still had four edge rushers play over 452 snaps and Turner played 310 as edge five.
Note: This seems very familiar to me. Oh wait … it has already been in some of the plans I have done. I am not saying I am the only one who could, would, or should have thought of this but good to see others thinking along the same lines.
Vikings NFL combine preview: Sam Darnold’s future and other key storylines
It’s NFL combine week.
This is the week on the league’s calendar that truly sets the stage for the madness of the offseason that’s right around the corner. Yes, it’s about testing numbers and interviews for hundreds of this year’s draft prospects, but it’s also about so much more than that. With all of the NFL’s top executives, coaches, scouts, and agents descending upon Indianapolis, this is when conversations are had that will shape free agency and all kinds of possible trades. It’s a critically important week for all 32 teams.
Good news, everyone: We’re just a couple weeks (or so) away from finding out what happens with Sam Darnold this offseason. Since the season ended, it’s been an endless stream of rumors and vague insider reports and coach-speak comments from O’Connell when asked about Darnold’s future. Thankfully, that all ends soon.
In my personal opinion, the most likely outcome has been clear all along. Darnold will go to free agency, he’ll get an offer from another team that is much bigger than what the Vikings put on the table, and the stage will be set for J.J. McCarthy to be Minnesota’s starting quarterback this year.
Conversations must be had around the futures of guys like Byron Murphy Jr., Camryn Bynum, Aaron Jones, Daniel Jones, and many others. The Vikings may want to keep Murphy, but he could have a big market after a Pro Bowl season. Bynum is another interesting one who could potentially still sign a new deal with the Vikings before hitting the market. Both Joneses are sneaky important pieces who will draw interest elsewhere.
Then there are the conversations the Vikings will have with the agents of key free agents from other teams. Minnesota has big holes to address in the trenches (guard, defensive tackle) and in the secondary (pending what happens with their starters) in a couple weeks, not to mention several other positions.
Unlike cap space, draft capital is not a plentiful resource for the Vikings. Quite the opposite, in fact. They’ve got the weakest group of draft picks in the league, which is one reason why trading down from 24 in April feels almost inevitable. Adofo-Mensah will not be content making just four selections in this year’s draft, so he’ll be exploring a variety of ways to add picks. Maybe that involves something creative like a Darnold tag-and-trade. More simply, it could be about discussing the frameworks of potential trades with teams picking anywhere in the 25-50 range. When deals like that happen on draft night, the groundwork has almost always been laid far earlier than that.
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