Tuesday Open Thread: August 28 Stefon Diggs Jersey , 2018 Hello and a very merry Tuesday to you all!Hey, are you excited for the new season yet? Man, t, that’s how ugly I am. Ummmm, I’m as excited as a bag of hammers. No, that’s not right either, that’s how dumb I am. Well, anyway, I’m excited, and as a Vikings fan, I have every reason to be. This has the makings of a tremendous season for the purple and gold, as long as the injury plague that seems to have settled in on the team makes like a tree, and gets out of here.The Vikings, and every other team in the league, will play its final preseason game on Thursday. You will likely not see the starters on the field much, if at all, and with the way the injuries have been piling up, I’m glad they won’t be. I’d wrap them all in bubble wrap, carefully place them in heavily padded, bullet-and-bomb-proof limousines, like the ones they use for the presidential detail, then form a perimeter of heavily armed security guards around them. Then I’d dig a moat around the armed security guards and fill it with battery acid then another moat around that one with crocodiles and some walleye (in case someone needs to go fishing), then populate the area around the outside of that moat with rabid wolves, tarantulas, vipers, a full battery of surface-to-air missles, claymore mines, and lots of those little legos. Then, to top it off, I’d pipe in some really loud top 40 music (pipe the music away from the wolves, tarantulas, and vipers, we don’t want to be cruel). The top 40 music by itself should be enough to keep anyone far away, but it never hurts to add the additional measures, just in case. Oh, and don’t let the backup QB help anyone break into their limousine if they get locked out.Around the DN since our last open thread:Ted shares his thoughts on the Brett Jones trade. I keep calling him Brent Harrison Smith Jersey , I should ask him to change his name. That’s not an unreasonable request, IMO, it would save me some time with the backspacing and what-not.Eric highlights five game-changing plays from Friday’s Vikings-Seahawks matchup.Vikings news from other sources and news from around the rest of the league:From CBS Sports, here is Thursday’s slate of games for the grand finale of the 2018 NFL preseason. Let’s hope for no injuries and some standout showings for those who are battling for those final team roster spots.Over at Vikings.com, catch newest Viking, Brett Jones as he talked to reporters yesterday, hear what ST Coach Mike Priefer has to say about helping his young kicker through a rough showing on Friday, and there’s lots more to look through in the media vault.The Strib looks at the struggling Vikings specialists, as they get a final chance to gain some positive momentum to carry them into the regular season (I’m not a big believer in momentum, but if it helps them perform better, go with it).Odell Beckham Jr. should have no problem making ends meet, as he signed a five-year extension with the Giants, reportedly worth $95 million, per The USA Today. From The USA Today, Browns rookie, Denzel Ward, was injured because of ‘the stupid way he tackles’. That very eloquent and masterfully worded quote came from known psychopath, and Browns defensive coordinator, Gregggggggggggggg Williams. Wow, with such a brilliant, well spoken leader to guide him, I’m very shocked that a player would ‘tackle stupid’. I’d think he’d probably be quoting Shakespeare and doing advanced calculus in his head while tackling. Maybe finalizing that cure for cancer while he intercepts a pass. You’ll remember that Greggggggggggggggg is the same piece of...........redacted...... who thinks it’s okay to pay his players to intentionally injure opposing players on the field, lie about it, and just be an all-around waste of a human being. He should not be in the NFL, IMO. Oh, and he coaches stupid, also my opinion, but also a fact, in my opinion.We come to our media selection.Okay, I’m getting amped up for the sesaon, and when I’m amped up, there’s nothing better than a little AC/DC. THE gold standard for rock. Crank. It. Up.Again, we all know the rules, but in case someone is new:No discussion of politics or religionNo feeding of the trollsThis isn’t a male version of The View, so leave the gender hatred at the doorKeep the bad language to a minimum (using the spoiler tags, if you must)Speaking of which, if discussing a newer show or movie Dru Samia Minnesota Vikings Jerseys , please use spoiler tagsNo pictures that could get someone fired or in serious trouble with their employerIf you can’t disagree in a civil manner, feel free to go awayWhile navigating the open thread, just assume it’s sarcasmWith that, the beer light is on and the bar is open. Belly up and tie one on. Don’t forget to tip your waitress, and try the blood sausage What a real Vikings draft may look like this year" for Leigh SteinbergThe NFL Draft is about three weeks out, and mock drafts are in full swing.But whenever I bother to look at mocks among the prominent sites, especially those longer than one round, I find them somewhere between uninformed and bizarre at best.Some mock guys the Vikings haven’t met with, are not good fits for their scheme, not position of priority/need, and/or seem way off in terms of round value.So, armed with a little more local knowledge than a national sports writer may have, I thought I’d do a more realistic mock draft for the Vikings.First, I’m going to limit my draft picks to guys the Vikings have actually met.Sure, the Vikings draft guys they didn’t meet during the pre-draft process - particularly in later rounds - but among day one and two picks those are the exceptions, not the rule.Secondly, I’m going with some sort of combination big board consensus that has actually worked in the automated mock draft engines as some measure of realism in terms of which players are available for each pick.Third, I’m considering team needs based on the number of prospects they’ve met with in those position groups, and where most of those prospects seem likely to be drafted.Lastly, and I don’t consider this realistic, I’m not making any trades.I would be surprisedif Rick Spielman did not make at least one trade during the draft, and most likely multiple if history is a guide.But that complicates matters and makes it more difficult to speculate on what other teams may be willing to trade up or down for in a given spot.So, with that in mind, here we go.Links to the prospect’s draft profile can be accessed by clicking on their name.First Round, #18Cody Ford, OL, OklahomaKevin Jairaj-USA TODAY SportsWhy it makes sense:offensive line is a top priority for the Vikings, and they’ve met with him twice - at the Combine and on a Top 30 visit.Ford could play either left guard or right tackle for the Vikings, depending on how they may want to shift Brian O’Neill and Riley Reiff - or not.He could also start at one of those positions this year, but play another in the future.He’s thought to be a good fit for the Vikings zone scheme as well.Ford is also generally thought to go somewhere between the early teens to early second round.I would be very surprised if he didn’t go in the first round, and there is some chance he’s taken ahead of the Vikings at #18, but as often as not he’s available to the Vikings.I suspect more QBs will go than thought - that’s what usually happens - and that helps Ford make it to #18.Plan B:The Vikings find Noah Fant still available, and decide to take him as their best player available.They take the OL BPA in the 3rd round instead.Second Round, #50Charles Omenihu, DL, Texasor Jeffrey Simmons, DT Minnesota Vikings Jerseys 2019 , Mississippi StateWhy it makes sense:Either of these two could be there at #50, both would be good additions to the Vikings defensive line.Simmons as a 3-tech or Omenihu as a base defensive end that can also move inside.The Vikings recently met with Simmons on a Top 30 visit, while they’ve met Omenihu at the Senior Bowl and Combine.Jerome Miron-USA TODAY SportsOmenihu seeems a consensus second-round pick who’s skill set is a fit more for a 4-3 front than a 3-4.Simmons is a top 5-10 talent that isn’t likely to go in the first round due to an ACL injury that could cut into his rookie season availability, and also has an off-field incident hitting a woman a couple years ago.It’s unclear at what point Simmons will get drafted, but sometime in the second- round seems very likely.If he’s there at #50, I would be surprised if the Vikings didn’t fill his name out on their card.Third Round, #81Jace Sternberger, TE, Texas A&M or Kahale Warring, TE, San Diego StateIt would be good fortune for the Vikings to have Sternberger or Warring available here, but there seems to be a divergence in evaluations of both players, which could effect their draft stock. It’s not unrealistic that one of them would be available here.Both TEs are not finished products, and will need to improve blocking skills and route running.Sternberger has better tape, but Warring perhaps the higher ceiling.Photo by Bob Levey/Getty ImagesThe Vikings have been looking for a more dynamic receiving threat from the TE spot for a couple years now.Tyler Conklin is a reflection of that, as was Bucky Hodges in 2017.Kyle Rudolph is on the last year of his contract, and while I could see the Vikings extending Rudolph at the right price, they also need to look at finding his replacement.The Vikings met recently with Warring, and also had Sternberger for a private workout and aTop 30 visit.Fourth Round, #120Tytus Howard, OT, Alabama StateThe Vikings make another move to bolster their offensive line, adding another tackle. The Vikings had a private workout with Howard, and met with him on a Top 30 visit.Howard is seen as a guy with all the uncoachable things you want, but is in need of further development of technique and functional strength.Chuck Cook-USA TODAY SportsHoward could become the swing tackle for the Vikings if they’re able to develop him, and could eventually find a place as a starter down the road.Sixth Round, #190Jalen Hurd, WR, BaylorJerome Miron-USA TODAY SportsThe Vikings look to replace Laquon Treadwell with this pick, although he’s a much different type of receiver.First of all, he plays both tailback and wide receiver, and can move all over from the backfield, to the slot, to outside.At 6’5”, 226lbs., he’s a big body.He’s ran the 40 in 4.47” reportedly.That’s basically the same size and speed as Noah Fant, interestingly.However Infant Dru Samia Jersey , he had a knee scope procedure done in December, and didn’t run at the Combine as he was rehabbing.At his Pro Day, he ran the 40 for the first time since his knee surgery and came in at 4.66”.The Vikings had Hurd, along with another RB/WR prospect Jeff Smith from Boston College, in for a Top 30 visit. Hurd is the bigger of the two, Smith the faster with a 4.34” 40 time and is 6’0” 190lbs. Both are intriguing match-up prospects, and look to be the type of chess piece the Vikings want to be able to move around in Gary Kubiak’s offense.Hurd shows some good cuts and awareness in the open field, and can also stretch the field as a big outside receiver with some speed.Seventh Round, #209Devine Ozigbo, RB, NebraskaThe Vikings look to replace Latavius Murray with this pick, whom the Vikings have met three times during the pre-draft process - the East-West game, a private workout and a Top 30 visit.He’s the only running back the Vikings have met with.Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY SportsOzigbo didn’t do much at Nebraska until last season, which was a breakout year.He looks a little more like a Mark Ingram-style runner (even wore the same number) - a mix of some power and shiftiness with the skills to be a 3-down back in terms of receiving ability and pass protection, although some development is needed.Seventh Round, #247Lamont Gaillard, C/G, GeorgiaMatthew Emmons-USA TODAY SportsThe Vikings add one more offensive linemen, this time a center/interior linemen in Gaillard.He seems to be an underappreciated center prospect who held up well against Alabama in both the Championship game in January 2018 and the SEC Championship in December.Gaillard is a tough linemen with some tools to work with, but has starting level ability with some development. He also has three years of starting experience at center against top SEC competition.The Vikings met with Gaillard at the East-West game and the Combine, and he could provide some competition for Pat Elflein at center, should he continue to under-perform.Seventh Round, #250Terrill Hanks, LB, New Mexico StateChuck Cook-USA TODAY SportsThe Vikings met with Hanks at his Pro day and had a private workout with him.He looks to be more of a cover, WILL linebacker and special teamer who would fill a backup role. Not without potential, but unlikely to be a starter in the immediate future either.Hanks is a converted safety that could function in a hybrid role of safety/linebacker Cam Chancellor type guy in particular sub-packages if he makes a good transition to the NFL and is able to handle that role. Overall a good skill set to have at the linebacker position, and one that is somewhat lacking in that group at the moment for the Vikings. OverallOverall this draft would give the Vikings:A starting offensive lineman, and two others to compete in that group;A potential starting defensive tackle or a rotational guy along the defensive line that could become an eventual starter; A promising tight-end that could become a more dynamic receiving threat;An interesting flex-position player and versatile offensive weapon that could be a RB, WR, or even a TE;A solid, rotational 3-down running back to complement Dalvin Cook;A challenge to Pat Elflein at center;And a decent coverage linebacker who could also be a good special teamerThat haul would go a long way toward filling the holes in the Vikings roster, and hopefully adding some quality depth that can develop into future starters as well.