It’s April 1 today, and the NFL draft is a little over a month away.
The NFL’s version of a poker game is fully underway. Answers from executives and coaches are always interesting at this time of year. Are teams giving honest answers on their assessments of prospects, or are they trying to use the media as a way to mislead other teams?
The answer is probably both … maybe.
Either way, draft speculation will run rampant for the next month.
So Tuesday’s speculation comes from NFL Draft insider Tony Pauline. He says the Vikings have interest in drafting University of Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack in the first round, then targeting LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger in the second.
Word from several sources; Minnesota Vikings heavily leaning towards Zach Mettenberger/QB/LSU in 2nd, looking for LB (Khalil Mack/UB) in 1st
— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) April 1, 2014
That’s assuming Mack, who ESPN’s Mel Kiper has rated as the NFL’s top prospect in the draft, lasts until the eighth pick. Fan Sided reports that Mack to the Vikings could be a good fit. Mack would bring a pass-rushing element to a team that lost Jared Allen to Chicago last week.
The report also notes Chad Greenway is the only consistent linebacker on the team, so drafting Mack could help to shore up the position for the foreseeable future.
The big key to this could be Mettenberger’s April 9 pro day.
ESPN’s Ron Jaworski rates Mettenberger as his No. 2 quarterback prospect in the upcoming NFL Draft, only behind Central Florida’s Blake Bortles.
Mettenberger stands 6 feet 5 inches. He threw for 3,082 yards and 22 touchdowns to just eight interceptions last year at LSU, but Mettenberger has been unable to work out for scouts, because he is recovering from knee surgery.
“When you watch him on tape, this guy has an NFL skill set,” Jaworski said of Mettenberger in revealing his list on Friday. “He’s being coached right now by Scott Brunner, by the way – Scott Brunner was the coach who worked with Joe Flacco when he came out of Delaware. Very similar traits in Zach Mettenberger as Joe Flacco.”
The report comes just one day after Vikings coach Mike Zimmer told a Texas radio station that “flags” were raised during their interview with Johnny Manziel last week.
The buzz about Manziel has been deafening since he wowed scouts, insiders and experts during his pro day workout last week, including some on the Vikings staff.
So are the Vikings leaking information regarding their draft plans for the eighth pick in the draft, or are they trying to mislead others heading into the draft so they have a shot to draft Manziel?
It’s hard to know, but then again it’s April 1.
