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We're back for the 40th pick of the 2014 Niners Nation Community Mock Draft. You can see previous picks below in the draft table. You can also follow the mock draft board through this story stream.
With the 40th pick of the 2014 NFL Draft, Hoopers Judge and the Minnesota Vikings select Jimmie Ward, S, Northern Illinois. He also considered wide receiver Davante Adams, and defensive linemen Ra'Shede Hageman and Stephon Tuitt. Here are his thoughts on the pick:
This was an easy selection after thinking it out. As of right now the Vikings starting safeties are Harrison Smith and Jamarca Sanford. Smith is a good starter drafted in the 1st round of the 2012 draft, while Sanford was a 7th round pick from the 2009 draft who was asked to take a pay cut this March.
Harrison Smith and Jimmie Ward are great complements to each other. Smith is 6'2", 214 lbs and plays the run and pass equally well and is an active defender close to the line of scrimmage. 5'11", 193 lbs Ward is a cover Safety who plays receivers well and isn't afraid to stop the run. He also can cover slot receivers. During his 2013 season with NIU he logged 7 INTs, 95 tackles, 10 passes defended, and 1 sack. As stated above, he's good in coverage, can play the run well enough to not be a liability, and he makes plays against the pass. His size has been brought in to question about whether he can survive the NFL. But frankly, playing a deep FS isn't going to require him to take much contact.
It also fits an NFC North where you have offenses based around the passing game commanded by QBs like Aaron Rodgers, Jay Cutler, and Matt Stafford throwing to guys like Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson, Calvin Johnson, Golden Tate, Martellus Bennett, Brandon Pettigrew, Joseph Fauria, Reggie Bush, and Matt Forte. The Vikings still need a CB but having 2 good Safeties can help make up for the deficiency.
I was hoping Kyle Van Noy or Marqise Lee would fall to me. But Ward is a great consolation prize. I considered Davante Adams to go with Cordarrelle Patterson and an aging Greg Jennings. I also considered Stephon Tuitt, what with Rick Spielman's fetish for Notre Dame players. But the Vikings have Brian Robison and Everson Griffen already and a #3 DE isn't really a round 2 priority. Hageman's fall could have ended here as well, but once again the possible upgrade from a Linval Joseph isn't as great as the upgrade from Jamarca Sanford. If this mock draft lasted till the 3rd or 4th round I'd target a Christian Kirksey, Carl Bradford, Jeremiah Attaochu, Jordan Tripp, Telvin Smith, or Jordan Zumwalt to play LB.
Trevor Woods: The Vikings still need help at many positions, but shoring up the Safety spot here with Ward is a nice choice. Ward is a good all around safety, with above average cover skills and a solid run defender. He's a bit undersized, but what he lacks in size he makes up for in strength, the guy hits hard and with authority.
Nick Chiamardas: After QB, the secondary might be the Vikings biggest weakness. Adding a versatile safety like Jimmie Ward is smart although I'm not sure he fits what Mike Zimmer wants to do on defense. Ward isn't your typical hard charging, big hitting strong safety. While he's certainly capable of making a big play, he's a hybrid-style safety capable of lining up at either safety spot or even in the slot. Ward is also an excellent tackler allowing him to play in the box when necessary. The Vikings added Captian Munnerlyn to man the slot corner so Ward with Harrison Smith would man the back end. Zimmer wouldl have plenty of options and personall groupings that would allow Ward to see the field a ton. I love Jimmie Ward and the way he plays the game. If put in the right position, Ward could make a name for himself early in his career.
Round 1
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1. |
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wiseguy545 |
Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina [Full Story] |
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2. |
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El Shorts | Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn [Full Story] |
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3. |
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9er4life22 | Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville [Full Story] |
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4. |
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Boss Clifford | Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson [Full Story] |
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5. |
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Mark Balliet | Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M [Full Story] |
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6. |
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CheekeeMunkee | Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo [Full Story] |
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7. |
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TopFlightSecurity | Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M [Full Story] |
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8. |
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Hoopers Judge | Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida [Full Story] |
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9. |
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jmart7 | Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina [Full Story] |
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10. |
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germinator | Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA [Full Story] |
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11. |
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49feelinfine | Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State [Full Story] |
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12. |
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superk0725 | Taylor Lewan, OL, Michigan [Full Story] |
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13. |
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El Shorts | Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama [Full Story] |
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14. |
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BryKno | Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh [Full Story] |
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15. |
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SigepPT49er | C.J. Mosley, ILB, Alabama [Full Story] |
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16. |
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Mira Loma Maulers | Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M [Full Story] |
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17. |
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JMichael39 | Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State [Full Story] |
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18. |
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Desert Dog Runner | Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State [Full Story] |
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19. |
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albert.55 | Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame [Full Story] |
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20. |
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MidnightSpecial | Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville [Full Story] |
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21. |
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Rowingdave | Ryan Shazier, OLB, Ohio State [Full Story] |
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22. |
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MisterEclectic | Jason Verrett, CB, TCU [Full Story] |
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23. |
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Rowingdave | Odell Beckham Jr., WR, LSU [Full Story] |
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24. |
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BearAKA | Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech [Full Story] |
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25. |
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CraigRED&GOLD | Louis Nix III, DT, Notre Dame [Full Story] |
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26. |
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Boss Clifford | Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State [Full Story] |
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27. |
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Roy_from_Israel | Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri [Full Story] |
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28. |
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dave.bocchino | Allen Robinson, WR, Penn State [Full Story] |
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29. |
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49ersCusefan | Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida State [Full Story] |
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30. |
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Tre9er | Dee Ford, DE/OLB, Auburn [Full Story] |
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31. |
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ak4niner | Xavier Su'a-Filo, OG, UCLA [Full Story] |
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32. |
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timmyg24 | Morgan Moses, OT, Virginia [Full Story] |
Round 2
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1. (33) |
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wiseguy545 | Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Eastern Illinois [Full Story] |
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2. (34) |
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THETONY#1 | Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama [Full Story] |
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3. (35) |
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Boss Clifford | Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State [Full Story] |
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4. (36) |
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Mark Balliett | Kyle Van Noy, OLB, BYU [Full State] |
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5. (37) |
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CheekeeMunkee |
Carlos Hyde, RB, Ohio State [Full State] |
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6. (38) |
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TopFlightSecurity | Marqise Lee, WR, USC [Full Story] |
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7. (39) |
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9er4life22 | Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech [Full Story] |
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8. (40) |
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Hoopers Judge | Jimmie Ward, S, Northern Illinois [Full Story] |
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9. (41) |
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jmart7 | |
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10. (42) |
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49feelinfine | |
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11. (43) |
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superk0725 | |
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12. (44) |
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El Shorts | |
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13. (45) |
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germinator | |
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14. (46) |
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SigepPT49er | |
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15. (47) |
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Mira Loma Maulers | |
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16. (48) |
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JMichael39 | |
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17. (49) |
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Desert Dog Runner | |
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18. (50) |
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albert.55 | |
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19. (51) |
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BryKno | |
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20. (52) |
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MidnightSpecial | |
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21. (53) |
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Rowingdave | |
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22. (54) |
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MisterEclectic | |
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23. (55) |
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BearAKA | |
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24. (56) |
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Tre9er | |
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25. (57) |
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CraigRED&GOLD | |
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26. (58) |
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Roy_from_Israel | |
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27. (59) |
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Cnnrvydt | |
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28. (60) |
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dave.bocchino | |
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29. (61) |
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Tre9er | |
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30. (62) |
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49ersCusefan | |
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31. (63) |
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ak4niner | |
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32. (64) |
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timmyg24 |
