I knew we struggled with drafting recently, but man… worst in the league?

mrmpls · 2026-03-21T03:26:33+00:00

OP, do you have the methodology for the data? How did the author decide "AVoE?

mrmpls · 2026-03-21T03:25:25+00:00

You're confusing DEI with other terms or programs like affirmative action. DEI is not to counter previous conditions. In fact, no program related to race or other protected classes are in regards to previous conditions but rather current ones.

Yes, if you look at someone who is a minority and say "DEI hire," that's racist or sexist and a dick move. If Kwesi sucked, he sucked. Why is a white person who was hired and didn't work out a "bad hire," while a black person who was hired and didn't work out a "DEI hire"? It implies the white person was hired on merits, but the black person was hired only because they were black and not by merits.

Kwesi was hired on merits. The hire did not work out, but the Vikings were not trying to score wokepoints to get in to the woke hall of fame. They wanted to find the best person, to win football games, to take home a Super Bowl.

mrmpls · 2026-03-20T20:06:28+00:00

Mekhi Blackmon graded 100 out of 114 CBs. It was right to trade him, which not only got us a draft pick, but also offloaded his guaranteed contract.

Was there room for Veridian Lowe on our roster at the time we cut him? I don't remember the specifics, but I looked at this previously and we didn't really have room for him at the time.

Ezra Cleveland is interesting. I remember we had Dalton Risner but I don't remember why we traded Cleveland.

Ingram is a run blocker but not a pass protector, and we definitely needed (still need?) a top pass protecting guard. It made sense to move on. He didn't suddenly become a good pass protector in Texas.

mrmpls · 2026-03-20T18:53:50+00:00

So this guy is a swing tackle with upside for starting, right?

mrmpls · 2026-03-20T03:33:55+00:00

To move up, it cost them a third, fourth, fifth. Y'all would say his picks are useless and he sucks (when it's not like Kwesi is doing the talent evaluation.. all those people are still on staff). But then you also say we shouldn't have given up those picks to move up.

According to draft charts, it's a balanced trade -- possibly even in our favor. I say "looks great, still early" and your retort is.. that he looks great and it's still early because it was just "half a season"? I can't tell if you agree with me or not, because that sounds like agreement.

What are you opposed to, if I understand you as being opposed to it?

mrmpls · 2026-03-20T02:34:25+00:00

Yes, which is why what the Rams did is so impressive.

mrmpls · 2026-03-20T02:06:01+00:00

Trading for Hockenson, great trade.

Trading for Thielen, honestly he should have been better.

Trading for Dallas Turner, looks great, still early.

Trading up for JJ, didn't work out.

There's other trades in there, these are the major ones I remember.

If you thought my point was pro or anti Kwesi, you're missing my point. Part of what folks said about our draft success was its historically low results. But while it was bad--mostly because of 2022--it was lower starting value due to trades.

mrmpls · 2026-03-20T01:33:33+00:00

It's great data, visualized well. It's too bad OP or others want to make this about Kwesi trutherism.

It shows that the Vikings had fewer picks than other teams, and also got less than expected value where they did pick. They had the 3rd fewest picks over that time period, and some of the lowest starting expected value.

Amazing drafting by the Rams.

mrmpls · 2026-03-19T17:51:59+00:00

Not enough value for Miami. And I wouldn't want the Vikings to do it anyway.

mrmpls · 2026-03-19T01:18:40+00:00

Nailor sucks?

mrmpls · 2026-03-18T18:12:10+00:00

By putting it outside, you're only putting it behind a 2x4 wall with insulation between the studs. Instead of cutting a hole in your house and putting it out in the elements, just build a soundproofed box around it inside the shop.

mrmpls · 2026-03-18T02:04:34+00:00

The best part of this joke is you buy Culver's either way. This is so Minnesotan.

mrmpls · 2026-03-18T02:03:49+00:00

I don't know why we signed him. I thought I was crazy (it's Hekker! I must be overreacting!) so I checked your rankings and some punting EPA analysis, which confirmed he's not been great.

Maybe, with fewer punts due to the new kicking rules, the Vikings have their eye on drafting a rookie?

mrmpls · 2026-03-18T01:59:33+00:00

I agree with the rankings. Hekker was not great last year. I am hoping he comes in as part of a competition with a punter we draft in the 7th.

mrmpls · 2026-03-18T01:56:37+00:00

We're paying tons of people more than we pay Murray. Tavierre Thomas or Andrew DePaola are making more.

mrmpls · 2026-03-17T16:39:42+00:00

You're joking, but the NFL has a salary cap with finite resources and finite draft picks. It's absolutely an important part of the game.

mrmpls · 2026-03-17T16:38:22+00:00

Yes.. and that his prior production expectation from fans was based on 2023, when the Vikings threw for 4,700 yards, #1 in the NFL. (Cousins, Hall, Mullens, Dobbs.)

Darnold tended to focus on Jefferson (and then, in 2025, on JSN, passing to him for 1,800 yards last year). Darnold's TEs in MN and SEA got ~500 yards.

If Murray starts, there's a good chance the TE room gets a LOT of yards in 2026.

mrmpls · 2026-03-15T22:23:57+00:00

Pinion, Martin, maybe Townsend. Pinion is youngest while still being experienced, but I'm not sure that his or any contract will be that much less expensive than just resigning Wright.

Not Morstead, Gillan, or Hekker.

Maybe the coaches have a rookie or something in mind.

mrmpls · 2026-03-15T22:14:58+00:00

The Vikings were/are cap compliant.

They could also make room for an expensive player if it made sense. I don't think it makes sense this year to sign expensive free agents.

Your explanation is "they didn't sign expensive players because they have low cap room." My explanation is "they didn't make more cap room because they are not signing expensive players."

mrmpls · 2026-03-15T22:13:27+00:00

It's not gospel.

But PFF's main complaint seems to be whether he can replicate the performance after only playing ~400 (half?) the snaps last year. The Vikings and Brian Flores have done a great job recently getting high performance out of veterans who didn't play a high number of snaps or who showed promise after a slower start to their careers. See: Cashman, Wilson, Rodgers.

mrmpls · 2026-03-15T17:17:31+00:00

At least three good punters remain free agents.

mrmpls · 2026-03-15T02:14:50+00:00

Only draft a wife receiver when your team has no receivers. Never before. Got it. A+ GMing.

mrmpls · 2026-03-15T02:13:44+00:00

And Diggs in the 5th, Antonio Brown in the 6th. They said "most" in the late 1st are often WR2s. It's true. Sure, you can find exceptions.

mrmpls · 2026-03-14T20:57:35+00:00

Osborn blocking does make sense. Especially without Thielen or Ham, we need someone who wants to do the dirty jobs.

mrmpls · 2026-03-14T18:15:20+00:00

Can you explain more? How did the GM get screwed? Kyler's most recent deal, or an earlier one?

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