The Lass Word: Watson Could Haunt Vikings for Years to Come

The story behind the controversial second round trade.

It was just hours before day two of the 2022 NFL draft was to begin.  In the Minnesota Vikings war room, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was tense.  The 40 year old analytics expert was only about three months into his first general manager job, and this was the first draft for which he was in charge. 

He was already taking a lot of heat for the move he had made the previous day.  He had traded down 20 spots in the first round.  With a division rival no less.  He had given the Detroit Lions the number twelve overall selection and his own second round pick.  In return, the Vikes received Detroit's pick at 32, the final pick of the round, plus a second and third.  Adofo-Mensah liked the deal because the second rounder was number 34, so it was almost like another late first round selection.  The trade, however, was not popular with fans of the Purple.   

Now, as day two approached, another offer had come in.  This time it was the Green Bay Packers on the phone.  The hated Green Bay Packers.  The team Adofo-Mensah was hired to defeat.  The Packers wanted that number 34 pick, and they were offering both of their own second rounders in return.  The Vikings’ executive knew whom they were after.  Christian Watson was the only receiver with that kind of value left on the board, and Green Bay had not yet addressed their desperate need at the position. 

So what should he do?  Pull the trigger on the trade, giving his Vikings three picks in the second round?  Could he get away with trading down twice with division rivals?  Dare he facilitate providing the arch enemy Packers the chance to fill a glaring need?  The day before, Adofo-Mensah had phoned his predecessor, Rick Spielman to ask for advice.  Spielman, who ran Minnesota drafts for ten years, advised him to trade down, but what finally convinced Adofo-Mensah to make the deal was a stark realization. 

The Packers were going to trade up for Watson regardless, if not with the Vikings, then with somebody else.  “We talked to some people and we thought we had multiple opportunities (to trade up)” said Green Bay GM Brian Gutekunst afterward.  “We did feel as though we had to go up and get him if we wanted a chance at him.  We felt he would come off the board pretty quick.”  Adofo-Mensah figured, correctly, that if Green Bay was going to get Watson anyway, it might as well be his team that benefits from it. 

While that might make sense from a purely analytical point of view, the decision may buzz around the head of the Minnesota GM like a pesty fly you can’t swat away.  If Watson turns out to be a really good player, a player who torches the Vikings twice a year, Minnesota fans will no doubt hold the contention their own front office made it possible.  Gutekunst, for one, thinks Watson can do exactly that.  “We liked him a lot, obviously, traded two premium picks to get the guy” Gutey told the beat writers.  “He’s a big, fast physical receiver.  We think his best football is ahead of him.”  It would figure to sting Minnesota fans even more considering Watson was playing his college ball right in the Vikings backyard at North Dakota State. 

The second round swap has gotten mixed reviews.  "The Packers have been looking to move up for a WR all draft. I'm floored that the Vikings were the team to accommodate that, especially since they want to win the division this year," Chad Graff of The Athletic tweeted. "The Vikings helped their bitter rival get the position they've been lacking." 

However, Seth Walder wrote for ESPN that the trade by the Vikings was one of the five smartest moves of the draft:  “The numbers alone don't quite do Minnesota justice here, because they traded with a division rival.  Conjuring the No. 90 pick in the draft (the equivalent pick of the surplus value acquired) is good. Taking the No. 90 pick from a divisional opponent in exchange for nothing is better.”  Walder further wrote “Critics will say this is bad because Minnesota let the Packers fill a critical need with the selection of Christian Watson. This is faulty logic because that leaves out the context that Green Bay let Minnesota have two picks that were collectively worth more than what they used on Watson, plus the Packers might have traded up and gotten Watson from someone else anyway.  A willingness to deal with divisional opponents is a good trait for a team to have (though it can amplify an error, as it did for the Packers here).” 

Walder’s sentiments notwithstanding, it’s certainly not an error if Watson turns out to be the real deal.  “Really smart kid that we feel will fit our culture” says Gutekunst.  “He’s got really good tape.  His athletic ability is off the charts.  The more we got to know him as a person we just felt really good about him.” 

When the Packers open the season in September against the Vikings, and Christian Watson trots out on to the field for the first time, you can bet one observer who won’t be pulling for him is Kwesi  Adofo-Mensah.  After all, Watson is the player who could haunt him for years to come. 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE.

__________________________

Ken Lass is a former Green Bay television sports anchor and 43 year media veteran, a lifelong Packers fan, and a shareholder.

__________________________

NFL Categories: 
9 points
 

Comments (57)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
NickPerry's picture

July 15, 2022 at 07:17 am

Funny thing, I watched the Vikings vs Saints 2009 season NFCCG, Joe Buck was yammering about what a great team the Vikings were because of Spielman and his great work. The Vikings were good that year for ONE reason...Brett Favre and his need to stick it to Ted and the Packers. Granted, they had some talent other places, but Brett Favre was the piece that put them in that game. Needless to say, the Vikings didn't win and it was all downhill from there.

Enter Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and a new era begins. He felt he NEEDED to make trades because it was obvious, that the Vikings weren't close to closing the gap between them and the Packers and he needed more picks to try and close the gap. I get WHY he made the trade and I must admit, it took some sack to do it.

Some feel Gute gave up too , personally, I was happy as hell he made the deal and believe this deal with HAUNT Adofo-Mensah until he's relieved of his duties one day down the road. I believe in Christian Watson and I believe he'll help the Packers not only win games this year, but many MANY games in years to come.

The Packers had a hell of a draft IMO this year. To get Walker, Wyatt, AND Watson, plus players like Ryhan and Doubs, STEALS like Tom, Enagbare, and Rasheed Walker, Christian Watson was just part of it. IF it haunts Vikings fans for years to come, that's just GRAVY on top!

14 points
14
0
dobber's picture

July 15, 2022 at 10:41 am

The Vikes have been no draft savants in recent years, and that's part of what doomed Spielman. They've been patching with vets the last few years, trying to milk a "lightning in a bottle" run out of an offense that revolves around Cousins, Cook, and Jefferson/Thielen, but has an OL that can't support them over the long haul.

One of the first things I heard from Vikes fans after the deal was that they should've never given the Packers access to a player they coveted (and needed) because Murphy's Law says that player would turn into a Viking killer.

"The Packers had a hell of a draft IMO this year. "

LIke last year, this draft feels like the Packers did a nice job of milking value, especially in the later rounds. A lot of guys from high-end programs who have played a lot of football. A high floor draft.

6 points
7
1
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou's picture

July 15, 2022 at 07:14 pm

Loving the optimism Nick!

0 points
0
0
stockholder's picture

July 15, 2022 at 07:51 am

The Vikings screwed up. Of Course they had a bad draft. I wouldn't have drafted any of them.

Round 1, Pick No. 32: Lewis Cine, S, Georgia
Round 2, Pick No. 42: Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson
Round 2, Pick No. 59: Ed Ingram, G, LSU
Round 3, Pick No. 66: Brian Asamoah, LB, Oklahoma
Round 4, Pick No. 118: Akayleb Evans, CB, Missouri
Round 5, Pick No. 165: Esezi Otomewo, EDGE, Minnesota
Round 5, Pick No. 169: Ty Chandler, RB, North Carolina
Round 6, Pick No. 184: Vederian Lowe, OT, Illinois
Round 6, Pick No. 191: Jalen Nailor, WR, Michigan State
Round 7, Pick No. 250: Nick Muse, TE, South Carolina

0 points
3
3
mrtundra's picture

July 15, 2022 at 08:49 am

As the pre draft talk said the Packers needed a Safety, I would have loved to have seen Cine in Green and Gold. Other than that, the viking's draft was pretty pedestrian, IMO.

3 points
3
0
Bure9620's picture

July 15, 2022 at 08:51 am

I tbought Lewis Cine was a good pick, likely the best Safety in the draft

2 points
3
1
stockholder's picture

July 15, 2022 at 10:34 am

I posted this for the picks and number. (per Reference)
But the Vikings number 1 need was CB. Which they took @42. Booth has body issues.
I would have went after Hill before Cine. Safety was rated a #4 need.
They also Needed a pass Rusher. Which was a strength in this draft.
And if you look at the #59. Guard was a mistake. Like the rest of their draft.
Was Cine the BPA.? Let's go back to their #4 Need. To answer that.

-1 points
2
3
dobber's picture

July 15, 2022 at 10:55 am

"But the Vikings number 1 need was CB. Which they took @42. Booth has body issues."

OL has always been a problem under Spielman in MN. He had terrible luck finding OL in the draft (which is as much a matter of coaching, too), and that has held them back. Now their defense is older and a more "patchwork" unit, too. They can't rely on it like they used to.

I don't know what "body issues" means. The main knock against Booth is that he hasn't played as much football as other top CBs in the draft, but that he has a pretty high ceiling. A very Josh Jackson kind of CB with a little higher floor who runs a little better.

They got their pass rusher by signing Z...they might bring Anthony Barr back, yet, too---but still patchwork.

0 points
1
1
stockholder's picture

July 15, 2022 at 11:05 am

Booth was diagnosed with Osgood-Schlatter Disease as a child, which causes pain and swelling in the area below the knee. He had tendinitis in his knee in high school and underwent surgery in January 2020 on his right patellar tendon. -- by Chad Reuter

2 points
2
0
dobber's picture

July 15, 2022 at 12:38 pm

...and yet, he played his best ball after all of that.

0 points
0
0
Coldworld's picture

July 15, 2022 at 02:26 pm

Osgood Schlatter is a condition found in child athletes/ active children. It is a condition that one grows out of as one leaves adolescence though it may leave a bone lump below the knee that can cause pain and require removal. I’d guess that’s what his procedure was. Unless there was a complication from the procedure or another source, that would suggest that it won’t be ongoing. It would not surprise me if a post op patient performed better after recovery.

0 points
0
0
jannes bjornson's picture

July 15, 2022 at 11:50 am

Gutedkunst gambled with the #22 pick which should have gone to Watson. Wyatt was still on the board after Belichick bailed out and he could also fill the #22 spot. Wyatt falling was the surprise of round one and solid at #28. If Watson was secured, I still feel Walker would have been there in the second round and kept a two pick. It all worked out at the end of the day, in any case.

-1 points
2
3
Gregorytb9's picture

July 15, 2022 at 09:12 pm

I think Patriots grab Walker at 29 if he is on the board.

0 points
0
0
jannes bjornson's picture

July 16, 2022 at 12:44 pm

They would have snagged him with the #21, if they were targeting him as many pundits speculated pre-draft.

0 points
0
0
Johnblood27's picture

July 15, 2022 at 08:01 am

It's great to hope for Christian Watson to have a meteoric rise to stardom in the NFL and to get to look back and rub the Viqueens noses in the fact that they facilitated the GB acquisition of Watson, but...

The other side of that coin is in who the queenies got in exchange for the value Gutey shipped to minny for Watson, and since minny traded pick 53 and others for pick 42 what they gave up to get their man Booth at 42.

With pick #59 minny selected Guard Ed Ingram from LSU.

Pick #53 was packaged with picks 77 and 192 to Indianapolis for pick #42 with which minny selected CB Andrew Booth from Clemson.

With picks 53, 77 and 192 Indy took WR Alec Pierce from Cincinnati, OT Bernhard Raimann from Central Michigan and TE Andrew Ogletree from Youngstown State respectively.

A quick and dirty comparison of Watson to Ingram and Booth is the easy way out, that will be interesting to watch as time goes by.

Another interesting comparison would be Watson versus Pierce as time goes by. If the Packers would have stood pat at 53 and if Pierce was still available, he was a shiny object for gutey I am sure and might have been the Packers pick there. If the Packers stood pat and got Pierce at 53, who would they have selected at 59? Certainly not INgram... Projections anyone? Maybe Drake Jackson, LB, USC, Bryan Cook, S, Cincinnati, Nik Bonitto, LB, Oklahoma, Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT, Ohio State, Abraham Lucas, OT, Washington State, Jelani Woods, TE, Virginia, all players selected between 59 and 73 and positions of need for the GBP since they did select an OL-Rhyan and WR-Doubs with their next two picks in the draft. They certainly could have used the extra pick to grab a safety-they are pretty thin there.

The more complicated comparison involves looking at the Indy players from the minny trade as a subtraction from the value provided by Booth/Ingram and comparing that overall value provided by Watson to the Packers.

It gets a bit complicated and team/teammate context being considered muddies the waters considerably, but it makes for some interesting scenarios to keep in mind as careers progress.

0 points
2
2
dobber's picture

July 15, 2022 at 11:03 am

" If the Packers would have stood pat at 53 and if Pierce was still available, he was a shiny object for gutey I am sure and might have been the Packers pick there."

I think you're right in that the Packers didn't see the next tier of WR as being players they coveted nearly as highly as Watson...which means that they might have gone WR-WR at 53 and 59 to cover their bases--or WR-TE. That said, I wasn't as bullish on Watson as others and didn't see him as being a first-round guy (I didn't see Jahan Dotson as a first round WR, either), but I did like his ceiling better than a lot of those next-group WR.

1 points
1
0
Coldworld's picture

July 15, 2022 at 02:34 pm

Watson is a guy with physical characteristics and capabilities that are beyond the bell curve. If he can harness them, there is a chance he could be truly elite in a way few are. That’s what we paid for, the rare combination of size and speed mismatch and hence upside that peaks at a true game changer. .

It’s similar to Gary and Nijman. I pick those because if their very different routes to the roster and to remind that one can both not be ready on arrival even with such potential and still beat (general) expectations over time. Something we need to consider in relation to Watson.

2 points
2
0
Bure9620's picture

July 15, 2022 at 08:48 am

Yes I hope he does haunt the Vikings, but man lets pump dem brakes. Christian Watson is intriging yes, but extremely raw. I frankly do not see Watson making a huge impact as a rookie, particulary with Player/GM and all of the nuances and checks at the LOS. In fact, Doubs is likely the more polished prospect at this point. I expect Watkins to be heavily involved, lots of 12 personnel, lots of Aaron Jones as a reciever, a lot a AJ Dillon and the TEs involved. Christian Watson will have some packages to try and utilize the size and athleticism but I would be surprised to see him play more than 30% of offensive snaps....and likely less than that early in the year.

7 points
9
2
mrtundra's picture

July 15, 2022 at 08:52 am

Whatever it takes to beat and frustrate the vikings, I'm all in! I agree that Watson is raw, but he has a lot of potential. That potential may not be unleashed in week one, though. GO PACK, GO!!!

2 points
2
0
Vforrest's picture

July 15, 2022 at 01:14 pm

If Watson is a slow student at the next level, everything written says he’s very smart, they could at least have him do the early MVS role. Run deep as fast as you can young man and stretch the defense. Not much thinking required but that stretch is needed to get a few of those gash plays. And you never know if AR let’s a few fly and gives him a chance we might get some easy points.

I agree with that 30% number as the low end if AR doesn’t trust him seeing the option route stuff early. But it drives me crazy what the national talking heads like Cowherd say…what’s AR going to do without a one or two but a bunch of JAGS? You really think AR is going to drop back and just take sacks because there’s no DA? He’s got to throw it somewhere and I hope he make all of the receivers into OMG!

3 points
3
0
murf7777's picture

July 15, 2022 at 08:53 am

I wasn’t as hyped up as some on this board about taking Watson so high in the draft. I was very concerned about his drops in college. He had one of the worst drop percentage. Can that be fixed, absolutely and many have done just that during their career.

After the Packers traded up for him, I spent more time on his tape and saw a rare athlete for his size. His agility is of a 6’ size player. That’s unusual abilities and in hindsight, I like the gamble, regardless of how he turns out. Fingers crossed he gets a connection with Rodgers and fixes his concentration on catching the ball. As we all know, if he drops the ball frequently Rodgers will quickly lose confidence in him. I really love this pick for his long term potential. He will have his moments in year 1, but I do feel it will take sometime for him to develop thou.

4 points
4
0
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou's picture

July 15, 2022 at 07:19 pm

So...not much different than Love then?

0 points
0
0
Coldworld's picture

July 15, 2022 at 10:00 am

It’s ridiculously early to evaluate the Vikings or any other draft as a basis for gloating. It’s also ridiculously early to anoint Watson who represents the epitome of a boom or bust pick. Yes, it’s possible that the Vikings do rue the day, but it’s also possible that the opposite becomes true. We gambled on upside (real). Let’s not get ahead of ourselves though and let’s not overlook the scale of the learning curve Watson faces to unleash his potential and the time that may take.

2 points
5
3
stockholder's picture

July 15, 2022 at 10:38 am

You hated the Watson pick. Upside means nothing to Rodgers. You can't compare every WR to Devante Adams.

2 points
3
1
Coldworld's picture

July 15, 2022 at 11:03 am

I hated the Watson pick that early if we were keeping Rodgers particularly. It seemed to make no sense for the reason you suggest: potential over now. I loved Watson before the combine as a later round pick. I still think he can be a star, but it’s no given. Even if he is, eventually, both the coaches and Rodgers are going to have to adapt to get him the ball. Adams is, as far as I am concerned, irrelevant to the success or otherwise of this draft or the young receivers, as a comparative or for anything else.

5 points
5
0
LLCHESTY's picture

July 15, 2022 at 02:41 pm

I think it's very important they hit him on a couple deep routes early in the season or things could get congested around the LOS. Doubs looks faster than he timed to me and can handle some deep routes too but I think he's more of a deep post and out guy than a straight go route runner.

Basically they need Watson to handle the MVS role right off the bat. If he catches a couple deep balls early in the season maybe they can use him for some quick hitting stuff. I'm not as sold on that, as his agility numbers were about the same as MVS'(6.96 3-cone vs 6.85 for MVS, SS about equal) and he wasn't going up against NFL players. When I watched his reverses and sweeps I saw one were he made a sharp cut and others were he rounded them off and they probably would get stopped for a loss or minimal gain in the NFL. Doubs was a RB in high school and it shows so maybe he gets a chance with the Jets and reverses and he looked good moving through traffic on WR screens. Hiding him behind Lazard and Watkins seems like it could be productive.

2 points
2
0
Coldworld's picture

July 15, 2022 at 02:50 pm

To be fair, Watson is a beefier guy and less of a long strider. He’s actually got ability to run with the ball. He’d be a different proposition to take on and bring down as a defender after the catch. Your comment on route running is very relevant though. Watson has an awful lot to learn. Rodgers seems to have been implying that specifically in his comments after mini camp.

It would not shock me if the first deep shot to a rookie goes to Doubs. He’s not as big but he’s faster than his post injury timing and tracks the ball well. Doubs was clocked at 21.25 mph during the Rose Bowl, on a deep route down the sidelines, the fastest if any WR timed. He had over a thousand yards on passes going one on one deep in the last couple of years.

2 points
2
0
LLCHESTY's picture

July 15, 2022 at 11:57 pm

He definitely has more instant acceleration and more hops than MVS. That acceleration might turn some quick passes into long gainers if CBs are forced to play off of him.

2 points
2
0
Bure9620's picture

July 15, 2022 at 10:29 pm

Me too, lots of draft capital to give a rival

0 points
1
1
Coldworld's picture

July 15, 2022 at 11:21 am

Duplicate

0 points
0
0
LambeauPlain's picture

July 15, 2022 at 11:45 am

Jordy had 33, then 22 receptions his first two years (2 TDs each year) as a Packer. I see a lot of similarities between Jordy and Christian.

Both super athletic, have great size and speed, and own high IQs with strong work ethics. I am not proclaiming Christian Jordy 2.0 yet. I am stating I am as excited as I was when Jordy was drafted. My boss was a K State alum and he called me after the draft and said "you Packer fans are going to love Jordy!"

0 points
0
0
jont's picture

July 15, 2022 at 01:59 pm

Jordy was one of my all time faves, and only time will tell if Watson grows to match him. True cheeseheads hope.

But I expect he'll put up better numbers than Jordy in his first year or two.

In 2008 and 2009 Jordy was competing with Driver, Jennings, and Jones for playing time. This season Watson will out there from day one, he'll see a lot of balls coming his way, and he's got the skills to make a few plays.

1 points
1
0
LLCHESTY's picture

July 16, 2022 at 12:07 am

Jordy Nelson definitely wasn't super athletic. His 5.26 RAS was 515th out of 1085 WRs tested between 1987 and 2008. The broad jump was his best metric, his 31" vertical was terrible.

0 points
0
0
dobber's picture

July 15, 2022 at 02:24 pm

Apparently it's "Packer Haiku" time again.

0 points
0
0
jont's picture

July 15, 2022 at 06:42 pm

time will answer these
big, open summer questions--
a super bowl win

3 points
3
0
dobber's picture

July 15, 2022 at 11:11 am

^^THIS^^

The Packers are in a win-now kind of mode, which means that Watson will need to earn his time on the field. Throwing excessive snaps at a player who's behind others wastes what's left of ARod's window...and makes his resigning look like idiocy.

0 points
2
2
pantz_bURp's picture

July 15, 2022 at 12:06 pm

I am intrigued by Watson and give both teams kudos for having the moxy to get the deal done. I hope Watson is a "Sherlock" for the Packer and also the NFL HOF...... someday, many moons from now.

Hopefully, Watson will be our "Randy Moss" to the Vikes. I have a dream...

Burp is howling at the moon

2 points
2
0
PatrickGB's picture

July 15, 2022 at 09:46 am

I think that the article above will be referred to in the future. If GB got a great WR then this draft will stand out as a big fail on The Vikings. And if not then it will be compared to the pick for Love. I can’t know the future but I like it. We unloaded a great player who did not want to be here and would be a huge hit on the cap and got good players in the first and second rounds. Draft value be dammed. It’s all a bit of a crap shoot anyway so go for it!

2 points
2
0
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou's picture

July 19, 2022 at 09:34 am

As much as I liked Adam's trading away a 30 year old for a player (say...8-9 years younger) with a whole lot of potential I'd do it over and over.

How great Watson will be we can not possibly know at this point, but I think to say he will be at minimum a GOOD WR is a safe bet. Getting even a GOOD WR who is that much younger than Adam's is still a win.

0 points
0
0
Leatherhead's picture

July 15, 2022 at 10:29 am

I think the Packers should have a guy whose entire job is to find ways to bone our division opponents. Essentially, every time Watson catches a pass on Booth, it will be a reminder. They also got a starting guard.

I think we won this trade, and we might have won it by a lot. If Watson develops into a top tier receiver, then Booth is going to need a similar trajectory.

If it were me, I’d get Watson on Booth early in the opener and go for the bomb. More than once.

2 points
3
1
BradHTX's picture

July 15, 2022 at 10:45 am

“I think the Packers should have a guy whose entire job is to find ways to bone our division opponents.”

See Rodgers, Aaron Charles.

1 points
1
0
pantz_bURp's picture

July 15, 2022 at 03:31 pm

Hey barkeep, please pass the beer nutz down here and get me a shot of 151...

-2 points
0
2
LLCHESTY's picture

July 16, 2022 at 12:19 am

They don't make 151 anymore, but if you have a bathtub......

0 points
0
0
Thegreatreynoldo's picture

July 17, 2022 at 12:35 am

I really like Cine and Booth, and think both went about where they should have. I believe both have excellent upside. I also like Asomoah quite a bit. With his off the field issues (which are largely unknown since the charges for aggravated sexual assault were dismissed) and his up and down play, I would have thought third round for him.

0 points
0
0
splitpea1's picture

July 15, 2022 at 12:22 pm

Why are we trying to psychoanalyze the Vikings' draft process, anyway?

For what it's worth, most analysts gave the Vikings fairly high marks on their most recent draft. One of the few naysayers cited the Watson transaction as a major reason for his opinion. However, this person appears to be an idiot because he also flatly stated that our two first-round selections will turn out to be wasted picks.

I, for one, am looking very much forward to Walker and Wyatt haunting the Vikings by helping to collapse the pocket for Cousins and nip Cook in the bud.

7 points
7
0
PatrickGB's picture

July 15, 2022 at 01:05 pm

The Packers could have got Watson with one of the two first rounders. But then he would have been overdrafted. Instead we got two good players in the first and only gave up one second rounder for a player who (before the combine) was considered a possible first round pick. I get that teams hardly ever make draft trades in their division. But, come on, it’s the Vikings! They are seldom known for making great draft decisions. Didn’t they once forget to get a draft pick in on time? And didn’t they pass on Rodgers…twice?

2 points
4
2
splitpea1's picture

July 15, 2022 at 02:59 pm

The Vikings don't have a spectacular history of drafting and developing QBs, that's for sure.

0 points
0
0
Johnblood27's picture

July 15, 2022 at 05:03 pm

Brad Johnson? - same number of SB as AR...

Dante Culpepper? - he was pretty good for a while...

I agree, not exactly a who's who of NFL QB.

1 points
1
0
splitpea1's picture

July 15, 2022 at 05:55 pm

I always liked Johnson. The Vikings should have kept him around, but opted to trade him in favor of starting Cunningham.

The main thing I remember about Culpepper was that he was so tough for defenders to bring down because of his size--he was almost like a huge linebacker playing QB.

0 points
0
0
relleum61's picture

July 15, 2022 at 05:42 pm

Johnson...a long time ago and a SB with another team...this argument does not work when we are discussing the Vikings.

Dante...yea...a little better than average only because he had Moss and Carter. When they went away, so did he...

1 points
1
0
LLCHESTY's picture

July 15, 2022 at 02:20 pm

From a value standpoint the trade with Detroit for the 12th pick was as bad as the trade with Green Bay was good for the Vikings. You just don't give high picks for that little value.

2 points
2
0
splitpea1's picture

July 15, 2022 at 03:18 pm

That was definitely an issue for some. I don't know, as long as everyone got the player(s) they wanted....We just have to wait a couple years to make comparisons. In the Vikings case, (passing on) Hamilton vs. Cine; for the Packers, Watson vs. a couple of the receivers that would have been available later in the second round. The Packers obviously felt they couldn't afford to wait any longer before addressing the WR position.

0 points
0
0
LLCHESTY's picture

July 16, 2022 at 12:32 am

Cine is a stud, I would have liked Wyatt and Cine as much as Walker and Wyatt. Especially given the contract situations with Amos and Savage.

0 points
1
1
LLCHESTY's picture

July 15, 2022 at 02:43 pm

Good news on Watkins from his offseason trainer.

"That guy is going to be good for the Packers. He started working with us like seven weeks ago, and he said he wanted to be ‘college Sammy.’ Sammy is going to have a big year. He told me, ‘I want to be Clemson Sammy Watkins.’ And I was like, ‘OK, let’s do it.’ He’s just up there squatting 405 for eight right now like it’s nothing. He started around 218, and he’s at 225 right now, too. He’s going to go be a No. 1 in Green Bay."

https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-wide-receivers-bigger-roles-2022-gabriel-da...

3 points
4
1
Coldworld's picture

July 15, 2022 at 04:01 pm

Fingers crossed. If Watkins has a renaissance year, it could well be the missing piece between potential and achievement.

1 points
1
0
PhantomII's picture

July 15, 2022 at 08:31 pm

What haunts me is Gute NOT moving up to #20 for Jefferson.

1 points
1
0
Starrbrite's picture

July 16, 2022 at 09:39 pm

I hope he pulls a “Randy Moss” on them—“You Got Mossed”.

1 points
1
0