The 2015 draft is in the books and over the next few years the players selected will either become the superstars of the league or quietly slip into obscurity with memories of hearing their name called out to millions of people ringing in the distance. Last Word On Sports continues its offseason series with a review of each teams’ picks over draft weekend. The Minnesota Vikings are up next and they are a team that had a relatively quiet draft weekend for once.
The ten players selected by the Minnesota Vikings are listed below:
First Round (11th overall): CB Trae Waynes (Michigan State)
Second Round (45th overall): ILB Eric Kendricks (UCLA)
Third Round (88th overall): DE Danielle Hunter (LSU)
Fourth Round (110th overall): OT T.J. Clemmings (Pittsburgh)
Fifth Round (143rd overall): TE MyCole Pruitt (Southern Illinois)
Fifth Round (146th overall): WR Stefon Diggs (Maryland)
Sixth Round (185th overall): OT Tyrus Thompson (Oklahoma)
Sixth Round (193rd overall): DE B.J. Dubose (Louisville)
Seventh Round (228th overall): OT Austin Shepherd (Alabama)
Seventh Round (232nd overall): OLB Edmond Robinson (Newberry)
While this may not have been one of the sexiest drafts in recent Vikings history, it was a draft the team needed to make. Every major team need was addressed and some very talented if not raw players were added to the roster. The team went defense heavily early on, spending their top three picks on that side of the ball.
My Grade: 8.5/10
Minnesota Vikings 2015 NFL Draft Review
The Best Player: In an arms race there are two trains of thought: bigger guns or bigger walls. When Chicago selected wide receiver Kevin White with the 7th overall pick, Minnesota had only one course of action. They built the walls higher and choose Trae Waynes, a tall corner out of Michigan. Head coach Mike Zimmer is a defensive guru and as such, chose to reinforce his defense against the siege engines that are Calvin Johnson, Alshon Jeffery and Randal Cobb. Known for his ability to play press coverage, Waynes should fit right in opposite Xavier Rhodes. Zimmer’s goal was to create a defense that is formidable. He improved it from 32nd overall against the pass to 11th within a year, and the addition of Waynes will put this team into the top 10. In fact, they might even become one of the best teams against the pass in the league.
The Head-Scratcher: Going into draft weekend, tight end was one of the lowest priorities, as the Vikings are somewhat set at the position. Kyle Rudolph and Chase Ford have established themselves as the starting players, while Rhett Ellison filled in admirably during Rudolph’s absence due to injury last season. Spending a fifth-round pick on the position was a bit puzzling at first glance. However, it may be for this reason that MyCole Pruitt was drafted in the fifth round. Rudolph has missed 15 games over the last two seasons so increased depth will not harm the team. Pruitt was one of the strongest performers at his position during the combine and fits the bill as a developmental player coaching staffs love. He may be envisioned as an H-back or fullback hybrid, which adds depth at a position that lost stalwart Jerome Felton during free agency.
Most Surprising Pick: Eric Kendricks falling to the 45th overall pick surprised everyone, as he was listed by many as the top linebacker on day two. The former Lott Trophy and Butkus award winner has all the tools to be a playmaker in the NFL. He joins former teammate Anthony Barr and is projected to line up at middle linebacker, a position that has been in flux since E.J. Henderson retired in 2011 (ironically it was Henderson who announced Kendricks’ name). Concerns about his size (6’0″, 227 pounds) may be the reason he fell in the draft, but one thing is for sure: Barr was ecstatic about playing alongside his UCLA teammate again.
The Steal: T.J. Clemmings was considered a late first-round or early second-round pick by many analysts, but a stress fracture discovered in his foot during the combine caused him to fall to the fourth round. If injuries fail to hamper his career, this could be the steal of the draft. Clemmings is considered very raw but immensely talented for a tackle. He only played two years at the position in college and he was a defensive end before that. This pick screams Spielman: a fourth-round pick on a player with a history of injury. This unfortunately did not pan out for receiver Greg Childs but hopefully Clemmings will flourish in the NFL. When we reviewed the needs of this team before the draft, I noted that Minnesota might be tempted to draft a player who can start at guard and shift over to left tackle if Matt Kalil faltered. Clemmings is that type of player and he has a very high ceiling.
Most Likely to Turn Heads in Training Camp: Danielle Hunter, like many of the players taken by the Vikings, is considered a project who is unlikely to see the field outside of special teams in year one. He is the archetypal Mike Zimmer defensive end, as he has drawn comparisons to Michael Johnson. Ironically, Minnesota has chased Michael Johnson during the last two free agencies and could not obtain him, but now they drafted a similar player. Hunter will have to be coached heavily, as he only achieved 1.5 sacks during his final season at LSU despite his physical abilities. This sounds eerily familiar, as 2014 first-round pick Anthony Barr was considered a reach at 9. He was a raw talent who needed time to develop, but coaches were able to help him learn the defense quickly and he was in the running for rookie of the year before an injury cut his season short. If Hunter can develop quickly like Barr did, he could turn heads in camp and become the future cornerstone of the defensive line.
The Rest:
Stefon Diggs: Cordarrelle Patterson has been warned. While not as physically gifted as Patterson, Diggs is a polished route runner who is lethal after the catch. He is also known for his kick returning ability.
Tyrus Thompson: Thompson is a big, physical lineman, but he saw his draft stock fall due to a lack of consistency on the field. He is envisioned as a swing tackle by the coaching staff, as he can play in multiple roles along the offensive line.
B.J. Dubose: He will need time to develop his body and he is a little undersized to be a true defensive end. His strength lies in the ability to play across the defensive line, which is a trait coaches like in players.
Austin Shepherd: Shepherd is known for having good technique that allows him to outmaneuver more talented players. A hard worker like Shepherd could find time as a backup guard and that is a position the Vikings have allowed players time to develop.
Edmond Robinson: This is a pure developmental pick by the Vikings. Robinson is a very raw, tall, and athletic player who will need time to add mass to his frame. If he can impress during camp, expect him to be a practice squad candidate.
Bottom Line: This draft could go down as one of the best in team history or close to a bust. General manager Rick Spielman has entrusted coaches to develop raw but talented players who could become the future of the team. Outside of Waynes and Kendricks, much of this class is unlikely to see the field beyond special teams in year one. Players like Hunter and Clemmings could follow a career path that mirrors Brandon Fusco and Everson Griffen, who developed for several years before being installed as unquestioned starters. The team recognized injury concerns along the offensive and defensive lines, spending half of their total draft picks at these positions. This strategy was a wise course of action considering how depleted they became last season. Interestingly, no running back was taken by the team in the draft. This is a strong statement from Minnesota that they expect Adrian Peterson to fulfill his obligations with the organization.
Check out our other draft reviews here.
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