Need vs. Value Will Define the Vikings’ Draft Plan

Tim Heitman We’re two weeks away from the NFL Draft on April 23-25, and this is a hectic time for GMs, player personnel execs, scouts, and coaches as the focus has shifted from free agency as the priority to now the draft taking center stage. At this point in the offseason, free-agent signings trickle in, as teams generally want to see who they draft, then hit the next phase of free agency to fill any perceived holes on the roster heading into upcoming OTAs and minicamps. The draft room is now the epicenter of activity in NFL team facilities, including for the Vikings in Eagan.

I’ve sat in these pre-draft meetings that seemingly go non-stop as the draft approaches. Teams are poring over video from the past two college football seasons, as well as the Senior Bowl, other all-star games, the Combine, and Pro Days. This is the time when draft boards are being finalized, and teams are doing their own mock drafts to have a better idea of who may be available for a team such as the Vikings at No.

18 in the first round. Round 1 Could Test the Vikings’ Draft Philosophy All NFL teams are juggling draft meetings while hosting up to 30 non-local draft-eligible players at team facilities for additional interviews and physical rechecks. There is no restriction on how many local players can do these visits.

For the Vikings and other teams, one of the biggest decisions they’ll make as the draft approaches is how they prioritize their selection process. Will they look at need first and foremost or the proverbial “best player available? ” I learned early in my front office career with the Vikings from our outstanding player personnel department leaders in Jerry Reichow and Frank Gilliam that they never wanted to pass up a potentially great player at a position that was not necessarily an immediate team need to pick a lower rated player at a position of need, especially in the first three rounds (unless we had a franchise quarterback in his prime years in which case we would not take that QB even if he were the highest rated player at the time of our pick).