Pancake Blocks Mock: Pick No. 22
Loyal Pancake Blocks reader/commenter Jesse steps up for Vikings GM Rick Spielman with the No. 22 pick.
Let's be quite clear about this: Josh Freeman is a prospect and has the potential to be a franchise quarterback in a few years but is not ready to play the part now. The Vikings have holes that need to be addressed: Cornerback (can be dealt with in the second round) and Right Tackle (likely selection if Freeman were gone) lead the way.
That said, the opportunity to draft a potential franchise quarterback is an opportunity that should not be passed on, and the ability to do so outside the top 10 selections is a (financial) blessing. Though I am not entirely sold on Freeman, most of his shortcomings can likely be corrected if given time to develop behind Sage Rosenfels (Tarvaris' contract is up this year).
If you don't have a franchise quarterback, don't pass up the opportunity to draft one.
The Vikings select Josh Freeman.
2009 Pancake Blocks Mock Draft
1. Detroit Lions (Sparty) - Jason Smith
2. St. Louis Rams (Evan) - Eugene Monroe
3. Kansas City Chiefs (Dude Abides) - Michael Crabtree
4. Seattle Seahawks (LunaticFringe) - Aaron Curry
5. Cleveland Browns (Thomas G.) - Aaron Maybin
6. Cincinnati Bengals (Wesseling) - Brian Orakpo
7. Oakland Raiders (Andrew W.) - Jeremy Maclin
8. Jacksonville Jaguars (Matt G.) - B.J. Raji
9. Green Bay Packers (Bob) - Michael Oher
10. San Francisco 49ers (Wes H.) - Everette Brown
11. Buffalo Bills (Mark P.) - Brandon Pettigrew
12. Denver Broncos (Michael R.) - Mark Sanchez
13. Washington Redskins (Ryan J.) - Andre Smith
14. New Orleans Saints (Scott K.) - Malcolm Jenkins
15. Houston Texans (Shyam) - Tyson Jackson
16. San Diego Chargers (Justin) - Rey Maualuga
17. New York Jets (Kirby) - Matthew Stafford
18. Denver Broncos (Steve C.) - Brian Cushing
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Reaper) - Vontae Davis
20. Detroit Lions (TC) - Peria Jerry
21. Philadelphia Eagles (Jack) - Knowshon Moreno
22. Minnesota Vikings (Jesse) - Josh Freeman
23. New England Patriots (Gregg R.) - On the clock.
Comments
Taking another QB project after the T-Jackson experiment would be unpopular at best. This team is a contender and taking a QB that wouldn't see the field until 2010-11 wouldn't seem to make much sense.
Right tackle is a major need and good players are available at the position. Britton would make more sense IMO.
Posted by: TC | April 20, 2009 02:32 PM
Oh, I don't disagree that it would be unpopular and there is no way this happens with Childress fighting for his job. The team may be a contender but if you want it to be a perenial contender you need to be able to address the quarterback long term. Tavaris's contract is up after this year and Sage can perhaps hold the fort, perhaps even succeed but I don't think it is a great idea to pass on a potential franchise quarterback when they fall to you. I absolutely would not trade up to select one in this position but if I were controlling the Vikings draft and this is the situation they were in, I would look long and hard at selecting Josh Freeman.
Further, taking Josh Freeman would (hopefully) enable the Vikings to stop taking a developmental quarterback each year that continues to not pan out (Booty).
Had Freeman not been here, Britton would have been the pick over Beatty because he appears to be a better run blocker than Beatty. It wasn't an easy pick, and it isn't what I think they would do in this position, mainly because of Childress, but I think it makes sense.
Posted by: Jesse | April 20, 2009 03:03 PM
ideally they would want oher here. we'll see if that happens. that would be the best line in football.
Posted by: scott c | April 20, 2009 05:03 PM
I don't think Oher falls past Buffalo at #11. And Philadelphia might have the best line in football right now, and after the draft.
Posted by: Jesse | April 20, 2009 05:12 PM
To put 'franchise QB' and Freeman in the same sentence is a reach. Even in a best case scenario.
Think Jason Campbell...
Posted by: Stephen | April 20, 2009 05:21 PM
i think phi still has a long way to go before their line is considered the best. their RT is still a glaring hole considering andrews injury history, and even after all the hype of peters lately, he still underperformed greatly last year. whos to say he'll stay motivated throughout his contract. the other players on the line are good but aged and the depth behind them - especially at takle is weak. the eagles continue to pride themselves on their lines and will continue to believe they will address them with high picks in this draft and future ones as well, over more skilled position players. we must remember the reaction of them selectin d.jackson so high last year was a little bit of a shock to all.
Posted by: scott c | April 20, 2009 05:27 PM
It's kind of interesting to see how the comments roll in on this mock draft. When a team takes a QB, the commenters discuss how the team has other needs more pressing and this year's QB's aren't that great anyway. Then if a mock drafter takes another tack, other commenters come on and tell them they should have taken a QB instead of the player chosen.
Kind of lets you see how thick the skin needs to be for Gregg, Evan and Silva on this site!
Posted by: arbee | April 20, 2009 06:27 PM