NFL Draft: Minnesota Vikings Team Draft Retrospective

This article is part of a series that looks at each NFL team’s recent draft history, with the hope of extracting information about the way they think and the players they value. The analysis is limited to the past five drafts in the interest of relevance, and the first three rounds because that’s where most impact players are taken.

This entry will focus on the Minnesota Vikings.

DRAFT HISTORY

In the past five years, the Vikings have taken the following players in the early rounds. Their positions and the rounds in which they were drafted are listed next to their names.

2006:   Chad Greenway, LB (First)

           Cedric Griffin, CB (Second)

           Ryan Cook, C (Second)

           Tarvaris Jackson, QB (Second)

2007:   Adrian Peterson, RB (First)

           Sidney Rice, WR (Second)

           Marcus McCauley, CB (Third)

2008:   Tyrell Johnson, S (Second)

2009:   Percy Harvin, WR (First)

           Phil Loadholt, OT (Second)

           Asher Allen, CB (Third)

2010:   Chris Cook, CB (Second)

           Toby Gerhart, RB (Second)

BREAKDOWN BY POSITION

Here is the number of players the Vikings have drafted for each position:

Cornerback: Four

Running back: Two

Wide receiver: Two

Center: One

Linebacker: One

Offensive tackle: One

Quarterback: One

Safety: One

IMPACT

Chad Greenway is one of the best linebackers in the league. Cedric Griffin is a good starter, though injuries have plagued him lately. Adrian Peterson is arguably the league’s top running back. Sidney Rice is coming off of a year lost to a hip surgery, but if he can return to form, he should one of the best receivers in the game for years to come. Percy Harvin is an excellent wideout as well.

TRENDS

The Vikings have displayed a definite preference for the finesse side of the game, as defensive backs and offensive skill players make up nine of their 13 picks. Of particular interest to them has been the cornerback position, where they’ve drafted no less than four players.

Interestingly, they are one of a small handful of teams that have not invested in the defensive line over this span. However, this is due in large part to the fact that they had already assembled an elite defensive line through earlier drafts, trades, and free agency.

Less defensible has been their neglect of the offensive line. The decline of Steve Hutchinson and Bryant McKinnie has created a major liability in pass protection.

2011 OUTLOOK

The past two years have been a roller coaster ride for Minnesota, but the reality is this: Brett Favre is 41, and while I hesitate to predict he’ll finally retire for good, the Vikings need a quarterback of the future, as neither Tarvaris Jackson nor Joe Webb look like the answer. Cam Newton (Auburn) and Blaine Gabbert (Missouri) will almost certainly be gone in the top 10 picks, so the Vikings must decide if they like any of the next tier of quarterbacks. Jake Locker (Washington) and Ryan Mallett (Arkansas) should be there for the taking with the 12th pick. If Minnesota doesn’t like those options, it can go for a safer option with less upside in Round 2, like Andy Dalton (TCU), Colin Kaepernick (Nevada) or Christian Ponder (Florida State).

Both lines also need to be addressed. The aging of the Williams Wall and the free agency of Ray Edwards create several holes along the defensive front. Defensive end options include Aldon Smith (Missouri) and Da’Quan Bowers (Clemson), while Cameron Jordan (California) and J.J. Watt (Wisconsin) are the premier defensive tackles who could fall to Minnesota. The depth of this defensive line class could even enable the Vikings to trade down and accumulate later draft picks.

The offensive line also needs to be replenished, though given the team’s history, it is unclear if they’ll invest an early pick at the position or look to the later rounds, free agency, and trades.

As stated above, the team loves its offensive skill players, and given the possible departure of Sidney Rice in free agency, they could look for a receiver in this draft.