Vikings draft - stage 4

We're a few minutes under 8 days to the draft. I've gone through the bottom six picks and finally have gotten to the second round.

That has been plenty of action by other teams but none yet by the Purple. Getting into the top of the draft there are more potential fits then guys who could be excluded. I've already repeatedly noted the areas which could use attention, and will do so again next Thursday pre draft before my make my prediction of the first round but I think now is the right time to firmly eliminate some positions.

Running back
With the Texan Terminator still at the top of the position I don't think a running back needs to be added at all during this draft and especially not in the top rounds. As others have already identified, running back is one, if not the only position where there are more capable players then there are starting positions in the league. So maybe bringing one in as an URFA would bare dividends for the team down the road but not with the 8 picks currently in possession.

Tight End
I'm still not a fan of the extension that Rudolph received. It was a contract on a whim and a prayer which I don't think will ever be justified. He's an ok tight end but not top five, yet was paid that way. His contract, in addition to the rest of the position group make it unnecessary to draft one this year. The year that Rudolph was drafted it wasn't a need then either, so anything is possible. The benefit of it would be that getting a top tight end would greatly assist in Teddy's development. Did I just speak out of the both sides of my mouth? Unintentionally if so, to be clear I don't think it will happen or should happen but wouldn't be the worst thing if it did.

Kicker
I know Blair had the last play of the season and it was terribly memorable but lets get beyond that. He had a good to great season and as long as he is able to bounce back mentally this is a position that doesn't need to be addressed at all.

Long Snapper
I don't even know if snappers get drafted but after going younger and cheaper this past year without any incidents that I know of, we don't need to make another change at it.

Of all the positions on the team, to only have four that could be considered untouchable is troubling but it also exemplifies how much more the team can improve off a division champion squad. It would be unrealistic to expect this draft to go as well for us as last years did but hopefully at least three more quality contributors come out of it.

Now, after all of it comes the pick.
With the 54th pick in the 2016 NFL draft, the Minnesota Vikings should select a Quarterback. IF one of the top five are still available. With the trades that have happened Goff and Wentz will go one/two. So if one of the next three best some how manages to fall all the way to the bottom of the second round it needs to happen. We don't need another T-jack or Ponder but to push him if Teddy plateaus having a young, high end back up to take over would be quite valuable and could always be traded in the future if TB keeps getting better. A-rodg was drafted years before Favre was done and it worked out well for them. Likewise with the 49ers and Patriots back in the day. Having a quality young QB in the background is always a good idea.

Back up options would be A) O-line & B) Receiver.

Well, we're now 7 days, 23 hours away from the draft commencing!