NFL Notes: Draft Boards, Falcons, Vikings

Draft Boards

Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio recently told reporters that their draft board is limited to 75 prospects. This seems fairly low, so Bucky Brooks of NFL.com asked around to gauge how many players others believe makes the most sense for their respective draft boards.

“I think it’s crazy that they only have 75 players on the board,” an AFC personnel executive tells Brooks. “I would like to see more guys on the board to make sure that we have a feel for what’s happening around the league. I want to make sure that we’ve talked about the guys being drafted. I guess I want to know what I don’t know. … That’s probably why I would want more names.”

Of the executives he surveyed, the general consensus that 150 is the perfect number with answers ranging from 120 – 175 players.

According to Brooks, most teams want to have around five rounds of players, so that they have plenty of options as the draft plays out.

Brooks adds that anyone taken in the final rounds must have one or two redeeming qualities that should be able to give them a  shot at cracking the team’s 53-man roster in the coming months.

Falcons

• D. Orlando Ledbetter reports that the Falcons do not have Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon on their draft board.
• Ledbetter mentions that the Falcons are looking to improve their pass rush, solidify the right guard position and improve their overall team speed in the upcoming draft.
• According to Ledbetter, Atlanta has “heavily scouted” Western Kentucky offensive lineman Forrest Lamp this year.

Vikings

• Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press writes that Oklahoma RB Samaje Perine could end up being a possible draft target for the Vikings this year, as they look to bolster their running back depth.
• Minnesota signed former Raiders RB Latavius Murray in free agency last month, but Tomasson says it remains to be seen whether he’ll be able to be a long-term replacement for Adrian Peterson.
• Tomasson considers it a “near certainty” that the Vikings will grab a running back during the draft and it’s possible they could use their first pick (No. 48 overall in round two) on the position. Although, considering how deep the position is this year, the Vikings could wait a few rounds before drafting a back.
• Other options that could be in play for the Vikings, according to Tomasson, include Oklahoma’s Joe Mixon, Tennessee’s Alvin Kamara, Toledo’s Kareem Hunt, South Florida’s Marlon Mack and Brigham Young’s Jamaal Williams.