SB Nation Writers Mock Draft: Round 1, Pick #22

by Mocking Dan on Apr 1, 2009 12:00 PM EDT in SB Nation Writers Mock Draft Comment 18 comments

No. 22

MINNESOTA
VIKINGS
Pick by Daily Norseman

Mark Sanchez
Quarterback
Southern California

Things keep chugging along here in the second week of the SB Nation mock draft. Gonzo from Daily Norseman gets the spotlight for now.

So in this re-done version of the SBNation Mock Draft, we know that Percy Harvin has had at least a couple of dances with Mary Jane. While he wouldn't be the first player in the history of the NFL to have this problem. . .and not even the first wide receiver that the Minnesota Vikings have drafted with this problem (see also: Moss, Randy), in this new era of accountability in Minnesota, I'm pretty sure that Harvin has dropped off of the Vikings' board at this point because of this revelation.

With that, our eyes do indeed turn to the quarterback position and Southern California's Mark Sanchez. With the Bears having paid through the nose to acquire their "franchise quarterback," it's dawned on me that the best way to have a guy develop to that sort of status is to draft one and develop him yourself. While the Vikings have had the tendency to try to develop quarterbacks after taking them a little later in the selection process. . .they have only selected two QBs in the first round in franchise history (Tommy Kramer in 1977 and Daunte Culpepper in 1999). . .they're in a position in this scenario to take a guy who, by all rights, should not be available at this spot.

Sanchez only started 16 games at USC, but is regarded by many as someone that will make a better pro quarterback than former Trojan Matt Leinart. Yes, I know this isn't saying much. But Sanchez is physically gifted, has very good presence in the pocket, and is very accurate. . .three attributes that will serve him well in Brad Childress' "Wet Toast" offense. Will he be able to come into Training Camp this year and win the starting job, as many folks are suggesting? I'm not sure if I'd go quite that far. . .and, yet, I wouldn't be entirely surprised to see it happen. With Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor behind him and a great defense to work with, all Sanchez would have to do on offense is, as Denny Green used to say, "drive the car." I think he's capable of doing it if asked, but I'd still be surprised if he was the Week 1 starter.

Four years after the fall of Daunte, and after watching the Brad Johnson/Tarvaris Jackson/Brooks Bollinger/Kelly Holcomb/Gus Frerotte horror show at quarterback during the Brad Childress era, it's time that the Vikings get their guy for the long-term.

MTD thoughts: Thus far in the revised selections, this is the smartest move. Sure, Sancehz hasn't played in a lot of games, but he's clearly more talented than any quarterback on Minnesota.

Mocking the Draft's Top Five Remaining Prospects - CB Vontae Davis, RB Chris Wells, DE Michael Johnson, WR Percy Harvin, RB LeSean McCoy

Note: This is an updated pick following the Jay Cutler trade.

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Comments

Yeah, I personally can’t agree with a WR for a team that’s pretty loaded with position players in the first place… I mean, Shiancoe, Kleinsasser, Berrian, Rice, Peterson, and Taylor give you 6 high quality position players already. Saying you’re bringing Harvin on your team to win now when you’ve got a corps of position players like that doesn’t make a lot of sense.

Given how bad Jackson and Rosenfels are, Sanchez would probably have been an immediate improvement.

by math_geek on Apr 1, 2009 12:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Agree

Here’s an interesting note from Gonzo:

Also, if Brad Childress doesn’t win this year, he’s going to be out of a job, and for that reason I think he would be loathe to take a player that’s not going to immediately contribute to the success of the Minnesota Vikings.

If that is the case (and it does have some truth to it), why take a WR? Rookie WRs traditionally do nothing their first year. The best rookie WR the last few years was Anthony Gonzalez, who totaled 37 catches for 576 yards and 3 TDs his rookie year. While those are good for a rookie, they are paltry for a team looking for an “immediate impact player.”

If an immediate impact is what they need, why not take Sanchez? If anything, rookie QBs have a more immediate impact of late than rookie WRs. Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco took bad teams and willed them into the playoffs last year as rookies.

If the Vikings needed an immediate impact player, QB, DE, or safety are the positions to look at for them.

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by BigBlueShoe on Apr 1, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

you're going to get jumped on for the Gonzalez comment anyway

so I’ll do it

2008 Eddie Royal 91 rec 980 yards 5 TDs
2008 DeSean Jackson 62 rec 912yards 2TDs
2007 Calvin Johnson 48 rec 756yards 4TDs
2007 Dwayne Bowe 70 rec 995 yards 5TDs

Gonzo came out great in the FO numbers though. I’m still checking on that, but since you cited totals you were/are going to get totals cited back at you.

I got Summer hatin' on me cuz I'm hotter than the sun. Spring hatin' on me cuz I ain't never sprung
Winter hatin' on me cuz I'm colder than Y'all. And I will never, I will never, I will never Fall.
-Lil Wayne, Mr. Carter

by shake n bake on Apr 1, 2009 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

FO numbers

2006 Colston beats Gonzo in total value.

07 Gonzalez was the best per play performance of any WR of the last 6 (since Dennis Northcut averaged 18 yards per reception while catching almost 80% of the balls thrown to him over 50 targets in 2002).

by shake n bake on Apr 1, 2009 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, all right

With Royal and Jackson, I concede defeat. But not Bowe. He is highly over-rated.

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by BigBlueShoe on Apr 1, 2009 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, and to add to that

Royal had Cutler throwing to him while Jackson had McNabb. Percy Harvin would have the Rosenchoppa.

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by BigBlueShoe on Apr 1, 2009 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey, I’m happy the Vikings got him, just because I can now make Rosencopter/Rosenchoppa jokes all the time. I love that nickname.

In AP I trust

by FarvaForTheVikings on Apr 1, 2009 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dan, you're a Browns fan

WTF was up with Northcut’s 2002 season?

by shake n bake on Apr 1, 2009 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So...

because two rookies QB did it last year, that means all rookie QBs should be able to do it? Please, they are the exception to the rule and both of those guys had at least twice as many starts as Sanchez.

by vikingfuture8816 on Apr 1, 2009 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Did you seriously just list Kleinsasser as a offensive weapon? Good luck trying to find the kind of stats to back that up. His value is as a blocker. Sure he can catch the ball, but you can’t list him as a reason not to get Harvin. And outside of Peterson on your list, not one is a threat to take it to the house every time they touch the ball which is what they get with Harvin. Unlike those other guys, when Harvin lines up, defenses would have to take notice of where he is and makes it easier for every one else on the field.

by vikingfuture8816 on Apr 1, 2009 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's a skill position player

That is absolutely excellent at blocking. This is not a bad thing. I’d like to have him on the Ravens. However, he won’t be blocking if he’s not on the field. I named 6 skill position players that I consider to be average-to above average and valuable parts of an offense, and none of them were a fullback btw, which the Vikes will have to begin the year. Add a fullback and that’s 7 players when you can only put 5 skill position players on the field. Percy Harvin can do a lot of things, but none of them extremely well, especially as a rookie. You’ve got a lot of that production on your team already.

However, your QBs suck

by math_geek on Apr 1, 2009 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Never said the QBs were great, but by how much does Sanchez really improve them? Whats wrong with having to decide which of your best 5 players are out of 7? People get moved on and off the field almost every play, its all about having match-ups and Harvin gives a lot of match-up problems to the defense. The Vikings can still run if Kleinsasser isn’t in the game (And I do enjoy having Kleinsasser on the team), but you can probably guess what they are doing when he is on the field. Put Harvin in instead, and now the defense has to pay a little more attention. Same with a full back, which they don’t use as often as people think. Our QBs are what they are and a rookie isn’t going to fare any better or worse, so it makes more sense to get weapons around the QB and if the QBs still don’t get it, then next years class is looking mighty fine.

by vikingfuture8816 on Apr 2, 2009 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't like this reasoning at all.

Neither Rosenfels nor Tavaris are any good. Why take a chance with one of them? Sanchez could and should be a safe bet for the Vikes.

I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!

by R_Adragna on Apr 1, 2009 1:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Harvin is the better choice

I love it. People who aren’t even fans of the Vikings know what is best for them : ) LOL. Gonzo’s reasoning is actually quite sound. Harvin is more than just a WR and he can create an impact on more than just the Offense. The guy has shown that even with defenses keying on him, he can take a hand off or catch a pass and create big plays. The only other guy who can really do that is Peterson (Berrian is a deep threat, but he is no speedster). Defenses would need to find a way to stop him as well has have 8-9 guys in the box to stop Peterson. That would open things up more for Berrian, Taylor, Shiancoe, and Rice. He could also do what Hester did for the Bears. Hester didn’t have a true position coming out of college, but he was fast and elusive, just like Harvin. Hester carried the Bears when they went to the Super Bowl and Harvin could have that same impact, only the Vikings don’t necessarily need him to carry them, just produce on Special teams since no one has been able to recently.
Now on to Sanchez. I understand people looking at the Vikings and saying they need a QB. Hell, anytime a QB becomes available they are usually the first team named, but to think that any QB could step in and win is ridiculous. No QB, especially not a rookie QB with only 16 college starts, is going to step into the Vikings offense and start throwing for 300 yards a game. Only New Orleans threw for over 300 yards a game last year and they did that by attempting almost 40 pass att/g. Scroll down on that link a little more and you can see that the Vikings

by vikingfuture8816 on Apr 1, 2009 3:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

sorry, it got cut off

only average 28 pass att/g. The league average for pass att/g was around 32. That is just the kind of Offense the Vikings run. It is about being able to run the ball, and when you have Adrian Peterson, you don’t attempt a lot of passes.
Lets not forget, the Vikings went 10-6 with a Division Championship with Freotte and Jackson as the QBs. They don’t need to find a super star QB now. If anything, they need to get an offensive play maker (Harvin) and a RT to help protect whoever the QB is. Next years QB class has much more to offer than this years {Sanchez might not even be the 4th best QB to come out next year, wonder why he came out this year? ;)} and the Vikings, wheter they fail this year and have a high draft pick or do awesome and don’t have big needs, will be in position to take or trade around the 1st round to get a guy that has more experience, talent and would be ready to step in right away because this year, the Vikings got the pieces in the draft to help him succeed right away (ie a playmaker, RT and defensive depth).
In summation (because I know its a lot to read), a rookie QB is not going to help the Vikings win right away, and Harvin can make an immediate impact on the offense and special teams. Regardless of what you think of the Vikings QB situation, they have shown they can win with the kind of guys they have there now and would be better served to get pieces to help them preform better.

by vikingfuture8816 on Apr 1, 2009 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What about Cutler?

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on Apr 1, 2009 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Unlikely. The front office doesn’t seem interested.

In AP I trust

by FarvaForTheVikings on Apr 1, 2009 11:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hold on...

We won’t even be picking at #22! I see a trade down with a team trying to pick before NE. Probably Miami or Baltimore or even Tenn. If not, I’ll say we opt for Nicks instead. He is a more polished route runner & has good hands. Plus, @ 6’1.5" he’s a better redzone threat which is a more pressing need. Sage will be our starter & Sanchez won’t last past 12, a moot point. Personally, I’d prefer a RT like E Britton or a CB like V Davis. In rd 2, I say D Robinson or P Loadholt from OU, either or.

SKOL! Dawgs

by WarriorViking on Apr 8, 2009 4:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs