Let’s Debate!
By: Ross Blilie
04-06-2023
Living in Grand Forks, ND has its perks. Nice people, lots of bars, and a winning college hockey team. It also has its drawbacks as well. This winter my community has gotten more snow than in recent seasons. It's April and we just had a snowstorm that dumped twelve plus inches of fresh snow. Yuck. This winter seems like it will never end. I know it will, but this should have been long gone a while ago.
I digress; let's talk pro football instead.
With the 2023 Draft coming up soon, the Vikings have the twenty-third overall pick. Who do you think they will take? Another quarterback for Cousins to mentor? Or maybe another running back to back up Alexander Mattison? That would only happen if Dalvin Cook gets traded. Or maybe they will take a wide receiver to replace Adam Thielen? For what it's worth, I'm not so sure that anyone knows what KAM is going to do.
In recent memory, the Vikings have seemed to draft Defense first. I know that a few seasons ago, they drafted Justin Jefferson, but not that long ago, they drafted Anthony Barr and Everson Griffen, Eric Kendricks, Ben Giddeon, Akayleb Evans, Lewis Cine, and Harrison Smith on defense within the first few rounds. On offense, they drafted Teddy Bridgewater, Dalvin Cook, Alexander Mattison, Garrett Bradbury, and a few other Offensive linemen, but I think the least drafted position is the Offensive Lineman.
Now, some have stuck around, some have gotten hurt, and some have gotten themselves into legal troubles; but where is the actual improvement in the standings?
To me, the NFL draft is just another couple days in the offseason giving way to excuses to watch something happening with pro football. Honestly for me though, I don't really care that much about the draft. I mean, it's cool to see who goes number one overall and who the Vikings get, but honestly, I really don't care. I just like to watch the football games on TV and talk about them with my friends and family.
In addition, I enjoy participating in fantasy football. In recent years I have gotten so involved, that my wife has said I need to quit participating because I get so stressed out from how players are or are not performing well. I did take a year off and then started a new league with her in it. Now we're having lots of fun competing against each other!
Ross Blilie is an avid NFL fan of the Minnesota Vikings since the 1990’s. He loves to talk about the NFL and the Vikings every chance he gets. His hobbies also include bowling with his wife and friends, narrating audiobooks, fishing, and even sitting by a campfire with family at Lake Blackduck in Minnesota. You can find Ross on twitter & Instagram @Rossthenarrator.
