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***OFFICIAL*** Minnesota Vikings 2015 Season Thread (2 Viewers)

From the Peterson thread:

Adrian Peterson - RB - Minnesota Vikings

Posted 4/4/15 6:24pm ET

Minnesota Vikings RB Adrian Peterson could be a target for the Cleveland Browns, in the opinion of ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler. The Browns have $30.96 million in salary cap space, so they could afford to make a trade for Peterson.

Huddle Up: If the Browns want to package one of their talented sophomore backs with a pick or two, the Vikings might be willing to listen. Or maybe Cleveland is just upping the ante, waiting for Jerry Jones and the Cowboys to get involved
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If this were to bear fruit the Browns have two first round picks that could potentially be in play.

If the Vikings were interested in one of the Browns RB would that be West? Or Crowell?

 
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Biabreakable said:
From the Peterson thread:

Adrian Peterson - RB - Minnesota Vikings

Posted 4/4/15 6:24pm ET

Minnesota Vikings RB Adrian Peterson could be a target for the Cleveland Browns, in the opinion of ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler. The Browns have $30.96 million in salary cap space, so they could afford to make a trade for Peterson.

Huddle Up: If the Browns want to package one of their talented sophomore backs with a pick or two, the Vikings might be willing to listen. Or maybe Cleveland is just upping the ante, waiting for Jerry Jones and the Cowboys to get involved
Click to expand...
If this were to bear fruit the Browns have two first round picks that could potentially be in play.

If the Vikings were interested in one of the Browns RB would that be West? Or Crowell?
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Crowell had over 20 teams contact his agent after last year's draft to express interest. Not sure if the Vikings were one of the teams.

Personally, I'd prefer Crowell - like most I would assume.

I wonder if Cleveland was one of the teams Adrian listed he was willing to play for? <sarcasm>

 
ol blues said:
Sorry, but a basic question: is there any reason to believe that Jeremy Fowler is a sentient being?
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Not really familiar with him. Here is his article that the huddle may be referring to.

CLEVELAND -- The Browns lack serious playmaking depth on offense, face questions at quarterback, want to run the ball 30-plus times a game as a result, have a ton of cap space and know the best running back of this generation is eager for a fresh start.

Why doesn’t Cleveland at least feel out the situation, maybe entertain a potential trade offer to the Minnesota Vikings for Adrian Peterson?

That’s a loaded question, and one that is irrelevant if Browns officials don't want the headaches associated with a player who sat nearly a full season and reached a plea deal in a child-abuse case. That position is understandable.

If you consider Peterson someone who made a mistake but isn’t a criminal, however, then maybe you would consider the on-field dynamics: an elite 30-year-old running back who is due $12.75 million next year with three years left on a blockbuster deal.

For the Browns, that number isn’t backbreaking. In fact, that number can be reworked. Everything can be reworked with flimsy NFL contracts. The team still has $30.96 million in cap space after finishing a series of short-term deals for aging starters. The Browns could cut a deal that provides flexibility after two years.

Giving up, say, a second-rounder for a Peterson trade wouldn’t cripple the franchise. The Browns have 10 picks this year, including six in the top 115.

A workhorse running back would complement young backs Isaiah Crowell andTerrance West, who are promising but erratic. It would give Crowell and West more time to develop. The suddenly impressive tailback depth would help Peterson, too.

Of course, there are a few major hurdles here:

1) The dip in running back production at age 30 is significant (a drop of 100-plus yards on average from age 30 to 32).

2) Peterson could veto a trade to a place such as Cleveland, which doesn’t have Dallas' cachet.

3) The Vikings might not trade him.

Those last two points are unavoidable.

As to No. 1, however: I believe Peterson is different. And knowing Peterson, he’s prepared to convert that violent running style into another take-my-name-back performance. A player aiming for an all-time spot had to sit a year in his prime. Yeah, he’s running angry.

Peterson values his place in NFL history. He would relish the photo ops with Jim Brown. You don’t think that would excite a fatalistic Browns fan base that sees more quarterbacks than George Whitfield?

Browns general manager Ray Farmer seems to think you can win with just dudes on offense. The Dwayne Bowe and Brian Hartline signings were solid. Andrew Hawkins is a nice piece. But it’s not enough. The Browns ran out of gas late last season, and it'll happen again if they don't get more help. No starting tight ends are on this roster.

The Browns ran the ball 477 times last season. Only the Bengals, Jets, Cowboys, Seahawks and Texans had more. Four of those teams played with an elite back or one close to being one (Bengals running back Jeremy Hill).

If that’s your identity, if this offensive line is as good as most believe, affirm it with one of the last true workhorses of the modern era.

This isn’t to say the Browns should be willing to pay Peterson’s remaining $43.25 million contractual balance. Work out alternatives.

But at least make the phone call.

At least consider the possibilities.

Then ask Peterson and the Vikings if they will do the same.
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There is a recent history of the Browns and Vikings making draft day trades as well.

 
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Anyone else have a hard time believing that Adrian Peterson is the only missing ingredient keeping the Brown out of the post season. Seriously who writes this stuff?

 
If it's not painfully obvious why the Browns wouldn't want to trade for AP given the Gordon/Gilbert/Manziel fiasco, you should probably take up a different career.

 
Sorry you guys don't like the Browns speculation. I agree it does not make a whole lot of sense for them.

This is Browns though. When is the last time they did something that makes sense?

There is a connection between Spielman and the Browns front office. Many a deal has been made between these two teams in recent years.

Using any team as a potential trade partner helps the bidding war I think.

 
Perceived draft depth could help Vikings continue trading ways

The Minnesota Vikings sit at an intriguing spot with the No. 11 overall pick.

Driven by hype and/or actual scouting, this year's top-end draft prospects are stirring up a lot of excitement, whether we're discussing quarterbacks in Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota, receivers in Kevin White, Amari Cooper or DeVante Parker, edge rushers in Vic Beasley, Dante Fowler or Shane Ray as well as a few cornerback prospects in Trae Waynes and Marcus Peters and some offensive linemen like Brandon Scherff or La'el Collins.

The Vikings gave up a top-10 draft pick with their first NFC North win over the Chicago Bears in the regular season finale. Even though Minnesota didn't tank to gain draft ground, general manager Rick Spielman should be pleased with the assortment (and hype) of some premier prospects at key positions, which could help the Vikings to continue their trading ways.

While many NFL personnel types might not say the media has much to do at all with where prospects are drafted, Spielman revealed a little credence to the idea of hype (or cold water) onto a prospect's 'ceiling' or 'chance to succeed' in the NFL by thanking the media at the NFL scouting combine for helping quarterback Teddy Bridgewater fall into Minnesota's lap. Bridgewater went from an assumed top-10 pick after taking his pads off at Louisville for the final time to nearly falling out of the first round, in part, because of this four-month microanalysis of draft prospects after the games are played and before the first team is on the clock.

"I'm thankful the media did [bridgewater] a disservice, in my opinion," Spielman said in February. "Last year by judging him on his pro day.

"We spent six different occasions with Teddy last year," he added. "One thing that we try to do, our process, is that we...graded [prospects] purely off what we saw off tape or what we saw live as football players. All this other stuff that will accumulate here and over the next couple months will start to add into it, but it's not going to be a situation where a guy having a sixth-round [grade] goes all the way up to the first round because he comes out here and he runs fast in his shorts."

In the same vein, prospects can be overhyped and that matters when subterfuge from front offices shifts from spinning the media to spinning a fellow general manager on draft day. Spielman has taught a crash course in this process the last three years.

Since he took over title of general manager before the 2012 draft, the Vikings have made seven first-round selections (Matt Kalil, Harrison Smith, Sharrif Floyd, Xavier Rhodes, Cordarrelle Patterson, Anthony Barr and Teddy Bridgewater) through three drafts. The Vikings have made at least three draft-day trades in each of the three drafts under Spielman, the GM, and this year probably won't be any different.

The Vikings currently sit with seven draft picks -- 11th, 45th, 76th, 110th, 137th (via BUF), 228th and 232nd (via MIA). Spielman likes to have 10 picks and hasn't selected fewer than nine for the Vikings since 2011.

In 3 1/2 weeks, the Vikings will be on the clock and given recent history, it's likely the Vikings will be picking elsewhere in the first round whether they keep the No. 11 pick or not. Like any team coming off a 7-9 season, coach Mike Zimmer's squad has many needs across the depth chart and after a relatively quiet free agency period, more picks will be beneficial for an organization that is already focused on building through the draft.

Philadelphia's Chip Kelly would be on speed dial should Mariota fall to the Vikings at No. 11, but that's unlikely given the handful of QB-needy teams and other trade possibilities in the top 10. But the perceived draft depth at some Vikings' positions of need -- OL, DL, WR, RB -- could make trading down easier while the hyped prospects at the top could cultivate trade suitors, not to mention the mega trade chip sitting on the roster in Adrian Peterson, who has indicated he wants out of Minnesota.

The stars have also aligned for the third time in four years as the Vikings pick one spot ahead of the Cleveland Browns (12th).

We'll see if the Browns have learned after the Vikings swindled them for four additional draft picks in two separate first-round trades (2012, 2014) so Cleveland could move up a combined two(!) spots to select Trent Richardson and Justin Gilbert.
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I agree with Silvas priority of needs part of the article for the most part.

Cornerback

Linebacker

Offensive Line

But I would prioritize positions as

Cornerback

Offensive Line

Defensive End

Linebacker

Running Back

I would still favor BPA over need. If a defensive end is the best player on the board you take that player over the corner or offensive linemen, even though it isn't as high of a need.

I don't like some of the fits. For example David Johnson. The Vikings are already working with raw skill players in McKinnon and Patterson. I know a lot of people like Johnson. Great receiving RB. I would likely feel more comfortable with David Cobb who can run between the tackles.

I have definitely warmed up to Byron Jones recently. He has some position versatility having played safety as well. Extremely athletic, which seems to be a theme in Vikings picks with Spielman. It is very good to have Zimmer and Gray to train these players. Pick 11 seems too high to consider him.

 
Biabreakable said:
I don't like some of the fits. For example David Johnson. The Vikings are already working with raw skill players in McKinnon and Patterson. I know a lot of people like Johnson. Great receiving RB. I would likely feel more comfortable with David Cobb who can run between the tackles.
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Agree 100%

 
A not-so-complete list of Vikings' pre-draft interest

Quarterback:

Devin Gardner, QB/WR, Michigan: East West Shrine Game meeting

Running back:

Jay Ajayi, RB, Boise State: Pro day meeting
David Cobb, RB, Minnesota: NFL combine meeting
David Johnson, RB, Northern Iowa: Winter Park visit
Zach Zenner, RB, South Dakota State: East West Shrine Game meeting

Wide receiver:

Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn: NFL combine meeting
Stefon Diggs, WR, Maryland: Pro day meeting
Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Missouri: Winter Park visit
Tyler Lockett, WR, Kansas State: Senior Bowl meeting
Devante Parker, WR, Louisville: NFL combine meeting
Devin Smith, WR, Ohio State: NFL combine meeting

Tight end:

Gerald Christian, TE, Louisville: NFL combine meeting
Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota: Winter Park visit

Offensive line:

Jamon Brown, OT, Louisville: East West Shrine Game meeting
T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh: Winter Park visit
Shaq Mason, G, Georgia Tech: Senior Bowl meeting
A.J. McCann, G, South Carolina: Winter Park visit
Terry Poole, OT, San Diego State: East West Shrine Game meeting

Defensive line:

Vic Beasley, DE, Clemson: NFL combine meeting
Bud Dupree, DE, Kentucky: NFL combine meeting and pro day meeting
Dante Fowler, DE, Florida: NFL combine meeting
Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska: Pro day meeting, Winter Park visit
Marcus Hardison, DT, Arizona State: Pro day meeting and Winter Park visit
Preston Smith, DE, Mississippi State: Winter Park visit
Za’Darius Smith, DE, Kentucky: East West Shrine Game meeting
Lynden Trail, DE, Norfolk State: Winter Park visit

Linebacker:

Stephone Anthony, MLB, Clemson: Pro day meeting
Paul Dawson, MLB, TCU: Winter Park visit
Benardrick McKinney, MLB, Mississippi State: NFL combine meeting, Winter Park visit
Denzel Perryman, MLB, Miami: NFL combine meeting
Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington: NFL combine meeting and Winter Park visit

Defensive back:

Quandre Diggs, CB, Texas: NFL combine meeting
Anthony Harris, S, Virginia: Winter Park visit
Byron Jones, CB, Connecticut: Pro day meeting
Marcus Peters, CB, Washington: Winter Park visit
Damarious Randall, S, Arizona State: Winter Park visit
Josh Shaw, CB, USC: East West Shrine Game meeting
Cedric Thompson, S, Minnesota: Winter Park visit
Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State: Winter Park visit



Interesting that they met with 3 former Louisville offensive players.
 
Arif Hasan ‏@ArifHasanNFL

Participating in #RattyMock where I traded Pick #11 to Browns (@SamIngro) for Picks #19, #77 and #147. They get to pick twice now.

Arif Hasan ‏@ArifHasanNFL

In #RattyMock, I have also traded Adrian Peterson and Pick 137 to @RyanRattyNFL and the #Cowboys for Pick 60 and 91. Come at me.

Arif Hasan ‏@ArifHasanNFL

.@RyanRattyNFL With pick 19 in #RattyMock, I'll select Byron Jones, CB Connecticut for the #Vikings. @eaglescentral and the #Eagles are OTC
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Love to see Rick do something like this.

 
For the most part I like it. I have heard the 2015 draft has anywhere from 15 to 25 players with actual 1st round grades. I tend to think that number is closer to 25 than 15. Moving down if the Vikings can find a dance partner seems like the way to go.

Moving back up into the late first or early second round becomes much more feasible if Rick can get to 10 total picks, which he does in the trade scenarios mocked by Arif above.

Seems cheap for Peterson to me.

 
If the Vikings choose to pass on a corner early in the draft, here is a nice sleeper to keep an eye on. One of the biggest knocks on Roberts is his functional strength but his 23 reps would have ranked #2 in the bench press at the combine.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2015/04/17/brugler-32-combine-snubs-who-could-be-considered-cowboys

Darryl Roberts, Marshall (5-11, 187, 4.38)

While he needs a lot of work with his technique, awareness and functional strength, Roberts has enough of the base traits for the cornerback position that has grabbed the attention of NFL teams. And his outstanding workout at Marshall’s pro day (4.38 40-yard dash, 39-inch vertical, 6.66 3-cone drill) will put him on some team’s draft boards.
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Running indoors on Field Turf, cornerback Darryl Roberts clocked times of 4.39 and 4.36 in the 40-yard dash, including a 1.48 10-yard split. He also had a 39-inch vertical and 11-1 broad jump. He ran a 4.08 short shuttle and 6.66 3-cone drill, and had 23 bench-press reps. He had an excellent workout, and a number of teams will be bringing him in for interviews after his pro day. He could be a sixth- or seventh-round pick.
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Arif is not a big fan of Trae Waynes: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2432696-minnesota-vikings-draft-countdown-making-the-case-against-trae-waynes

I starting to believe that Byron Jones wouldn't be as much of a reach as I initially thought. People talk about the amazing jumps but he is not just a linear athlete. He also put up some impressive the 3-cone & shuttle times. Then you add in Jone's high character, the work ethic and leadership and his floor is better than most other first round prospects. I would be shocked if he makes it out of round one. I can't see him getting past New England. After all they made a similar evaluation when they took Chandler Jones. As a junior at Syracuse in 2011, Chandler Jones played in only seven games due to injury and then entered the draft.

 
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FunkyPlutos said:
West Coast late Monday night game to kick off the season?? Someone is upset with this franchise!! Plus an early bye...
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Not a horrible draw at all... west coast is always a challenge but it is a good game to face a SF team that has huge personnel/coaching turnover heading into 2015.

 
The good news is their bye week follows their trip to Denver, maybe they can spend a couple of days there to relax

 
Biabreakable said:
Sorry you guys don't like the Browns speculation. I agree it does not make a whole lot of sense for them.

This is Browns though. When is the last time they did something that makes sense?

There is a connection between Spielman and the Browns front office. Many a deal has been made between these two teams in recent years.

Using any team as a potential trade partner helps the bidding war I think.
Click to expand...
Pick Joe Thomas is about it, but that was a while ago.

Curious what you guys think about what they will do at WR in the draft.

 
cr8f said:
Biabreakable said:
Sorry you guys don't like the Browns speculation. I agree it does not make a whole lot of sense for them.

This is Browns though. When is the last time they did something that makes sense?

There is a connection between Spielman and the Browns front office. Many a deal has been made between these two teams in recent years.

Using any team as a potential trade partner helps the bidding war I think.
Click to expand...
Pick Joe Thomas is about it, but that was a while ago.

Curious what you guys think about what they will do at WR in the draft.
Click to expand...
The heavy favorite for the Vikings is to select Parker at 11. Almost every mock you see with them taking a WR in the 1st is Parker. Both Rapport and Kiper have MN taking him.

Of course, no one knows if they will go that route or Waynes or another route.

If they pass on WR in the 1st, there have been talks of possibly Nelson Agholor with the 45th pick.

 
Johnny Bing said:
cr8f said:
Biabreakable said:
Sorry you guys don't like the Browns speculation. I agree it does not make a whole lot of sense for them.

This is Browns though. When is the last time they did something that makes sense?

There is a connection between Spielman and the Browns front office. Many a deal has been made between these two teams in recent years.

Using any team as a potential trade partner helps the bidding war I think.
Click to expand...
Pick Joe Thomas is about it, but that was a while ago.

Curious what you guys think about what they will do at WR in the draft.
Click to expand...
The heavy favorite for the Vikings is to select Parker at 11. Almost every mock you see with them taking a WR in the 1st is Parker. Both Rapport and Kiper have MN taking him.

Of course, no one knows if they will go that route or Waynes or another route.

If they pass on WR in the 1st, there have been talks of possibly Nelson Agholor with the 45th pick.
Click to expand...
I'd be pretty surprised if they went with a WR in the first. They just acquired Wallace, after all. If they stick with #11 pick and Waynes is available I'd be shocked if they didn't take him. IMO they'll move down and/or trade Peterson in order to gain some additional picks. Trader Rick needs to get up to his magic number of 10, after all.

 
cr8f said:
Biabreakable said:
Sorry you guys don't like the Browns speculation. I agree it does not make a whole lot of sense for them.

This is Browns though. When is the last time they did something that makes sense?

There is a connection between Spielman and the Browns front office. Many a deal has been made between these two teams in recent years.

Using any team as a potential trade partner helps the bidding war I think.
Click to expand...
Pick Joe Thomas is about it, but that was a while ago.

Curious what you guys think about what they will do at WR in the draft.
Click to expand...
There have been multiple times the Vikings and Browns have traded draft picks in recent years.

2012

Browns receive:

First-round pick (No. 3)
Trent Richardson


Vikings receive:

First-round pick (No. 4):
Matt Kalil

Fourth-round pick (No. 118):
Jarius Wright

Fifth-round pick (No. 139):
Robert Blanton

Seventh-round pick (No. 211):
Traded to Titans

2014

Browns receive:

First-round pick (No. 8)
Justin Gilbert


Vikings receive:

First-round pick (No. 9):
Anthony Barr

Fifth-round pick (No. 145):
David Yankey

There may be some others recently I am forgetting.
As far as WR is concerned I don't think the Vikings need a WR at all. Mike Williams, Charles Johnson, Jarius Wright, Cordarralle Patterson, Adam Thielen are all decent WR options.

If they were going to draft a WR I think it would be a later round pick just because there are so many good WR prospects in this draft class.

 
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Don't care how they do it but I hope the Vikings land one of these corners: Waynes, Jones or Johnson...I know Waynes is the "lead dog" among mock draftniks but I really like what I have seen from the other two as well!

 
Draft preview: Receivers

Kramer has done RB and safeties as well.

As far as the corners I like Kevin Johnson quite a bit. I think he would fit in pretty well with what the Vikings do. He is a stronger zone coverage guy than a press man, but he can do both. I think he will be available later than pick 11 however. So one of many guys to consider if the Vikings were able to trade down.

 
I liked what I saw out of Hodges last season. Good in coverage most of the time. I don't really consider LB to be a pressing need as I think Barr/Hodges are a good enough combination in nickle packages. Cole/Greenway ok for when the Vikings do play 3 LB.

 
If one of the top 3 WR are there hope we take one.....otherwise, hope we trade down 3-6 spots and add picks and take best available to build depth. Plenty of needs, but imo none so pressing that have to have a specific need filled if value doesn't warrant

 
I still think Vikings will wheel and deal and trade out of the 11th spot, if not trade down A FEW times in first round, and maybe trade out of the first round. It's supposed to be a weak draft so why not if that's true? I'd love to see us go for someone who can play every down on defense like a CB like Trae Waynes at 11 or a Shaq Thompson late in first if we trade down

 
Is there any chance they take Gurley?? Nobody has mocked him to the Vikings at all, but if they would happen to have some sort of deal in place where they are trading Peterson, it could be possible...

 
I have heard some say that this QB class is weak. I have not spent as much time evaluating QB of the 2015 draft class as I did for 2014. But I think there are some quality QB such as Hundley, Grayson, Petty and perhaps Mannion all being drafted by the fourth round.

I don't know enough about the other QB prospects to target one in the later rounds who has starting potential in Norv Turners offense. Perhaps some other folks have some QB in that range that they think would be good backup developmental prospects?

I think it would be a good thing to do if a prospect is there in the later rounds. I just don't know who that QB might be right now.

As far as the Vikings considering Gurley at pick 11. If that is the best player available at pick 11 I think they should take him. Obviously they would need to be fully comfortable with his recovery from his injury. This would also mean they are trading Peterson. Although I could see Peterson still being a bridge RB if they don't I guess. I would still like to see McKinnon get an opportunity to be the featured RB. He and Asiata could certainly start the season if Gurley needed more time to recover at the beginning of the season.

Based on how the front office recently handled cutting Greg Jennings after adding Mike Wallace, if they did draft Gurley or Gordon then Peterson is most likely not going to be on the team. There may already be scenarios for the Vikings where if Gurley falls to pick 11 they take the best trade offer for Peterson they have and execute the deal once they are on the clock.

I have read a few people suggest Gurley as an option for the Vikings but not much. The lack of speculation about that may mean the Vikings have no interest or that they are keeping any such interest a closely guarded secret.

 
Keeping AP + use of 1.11 at other position(s) of need >>>>> drafting RB @ 1.11 and releasing AP, or trading him for a bag of chips

As much as I despise AP at this point, good teams don't release or give away game-changing players and then use early draft picks to backfill that position.

 
In the age of the salary cap and win now attitude, your top pick(s) HAVE to fill a need. Head coaches and GM's have their jobs on the line. Besides QB, which is very hard to actually figure out if some hot shot college kid can play the pro style game of the NFL right away or in 2-3-4 years, I can't see many teams taking a player, especially high in the draft, just because he's their top player on their board. Green Bay won't draft a QB if he is their top player on their board when they have some other holes to fill and they still have a fairly young Aaron Rodgers. The top pick has to be someone on the top of their draft board THAT fills a need.

Now did I just hear something on NFL Network that Spielman announced to the world that they want to trade down from the 11th spot? Oh I hope that is true. I know he likes to have about 10 picks per draft and we have, what seven now??

 
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