Don’t Forget Mike Zimmer’s Words from March
Dustin Baker
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Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer doesn’t want to be pigeonholed.
What the hell does that mean? Well, Zimmer would rather not have to draft a roster need when a “best player available” is staring the franchise in the face with the 14th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Zimmer even talked about this in late March, so it’s important to remember his words.
So — from the man’s mouth, Zimmer and partner Rick Spielman, the general manager, will not be hoodwinked into believing offensive line is a necessity. They’re either perfectly content with the current OL lineup (which would be odd) or they have best-laid plans for the draft itself and free agency thereafter. Whether or not that strategy is wise — is debatable.
This isn’t that mysterious. Spielman will not choose an offensive lineman at #14 just because his team needs it.
One of two things will happen if the pick is indeed an offensive lineman at all. First, a talent like Penei Sewell or Rashawn Slater falls to the Vikings organic spot, and Spielman pounces. Boom — problem solved. The Vikings address their direst roster need while coagulating the best player available approach to the selection.
Should the board get to #14 and it looks rosy for Spielman (with OL on his mind), well, that’s an easy, Spielmanian scenario there.
Trade back.
Let’s take Alijah Vera-Tucker, for example. In all likelihood, Spielman can trade back a few spots from #14, grab Vera-Tucker, and swipe a 2nd-Round pick from a different team. This accomplishes two tasks: A startable offensive lineman joins the franchise, and Spielman makes amends by reentering the draft’s 2nd Round.
The takeaway, however, is that the team will not take an offensive lineman at #14 just because. The value must add up. And that’s either best player available or trade back.
Otherwise, the alternative is to skip the trenches altogether. Nowhere is it written that Spielman must draft an EDGE rusher or offensive lineman in the 1st Round. It sure feels that way based on the dozens of mock drafts that send men of those positions to the North Star State. There are scenarios in which Top 10 prospects — unrelated to DL or OL — plunge to #14. Think men like DeVonta Smith, Micah Parsons, Trey Lance, or Patrick Surtain.
It is uncertain if the Vikings would actually pull the trigger on a [eventual] replacement quarterback of Kirk Cousins during this draft. Ergo, the Lance possibility is tricky to gauge. But Zimmer and Spielman probably cannot resist a Parsons or Surtain. Those men play defense, Zimmer is a defense-always head coach, and the Vikings have successively drafted Garrett Bradbury and Justin Jefferson with 1st-Round picks in 2019 and 2020. It might be time to drop defensive coins into the piggy bank.
It is not beyond the fray for Zimmer to blatantly lie to the press in late March about his draft plans. Other coaches routinely engage in draft perception. Yet, Zimmer offered a blueprint to the team’s draft plans, and it almost didn’t feel like it.
Don’t expect the team to reach for an “unknown” offensive or defensive lineman with their 1st-Round selection. It is a safer bet to wager on the best player available.