With a record 15 draft picks in a seven-round draft, the 2020 Minnesota Vikings left last weekend’s draft as winners by almost all draft experts. With a talented yet flawed roster that saw the departure of core players like Stefon Diggs, Linval Joseph, Trae Waynes, and Xavier Rhodes in the off-season, general manager Rick Spielman and head coach Mike Zimmer knew that they had to not only draft talented players but also fill glaring holes. While it will take several years to properly assess the 2020 class, the Vikings appear to be set up for success as they filled needs without reaching for players.
Looking at the 2020 Minnesota Vikings Draft Class
The First Round Set the Stage
Not many draft experts expected LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson to fall to the Vikings at the 22nd pick, so when he did the Vikings did not hesitate to pull the trigger on a player who they expect to fill the shoes of Diggs. With the ability to play on the outside and in the slot, the addition of Jefferson complements Adam Thielen on the other side of the field for Minnesota.
Even with 12 picks heading into the draft, it came as no surprise to fans when the Vikings traded back three picks later. Minnesota traded down six picks and grabbed the player they were targeting at 25 anyway, selecting cornerback Jeff Gladney out of TCU. The physical corner should be a day one starter and bring a confidence and swagger to a talented yet not-overly-boisterous group. The Vikings also added a fourth-round pick in the trade, so the first night was a slam dunk for the team.
Filling Needs While Sticking to the Draft Board
In the draft, some teams get so enamored with filling a need that they will over-draft a player who fits that specific need. Minnesota did that in 2016 when they selected Laquon Treadwell when there was a run in the first round of wide receivers and it blew up in their face and again in 2011 when they drafted Christian Ponder at quarterback. With rumors swirling that the team would acquire Redskins left tackle Trent Williams in a draft day trade, fans expected the Vikings to fill a huge need with an impact player. As the second day of the draft wore on and no trade was announced, Minnesota stood pat at pick 58 in the second round and landed offensive tackle Ezra Cleveland. Without panicking, the team got a player that is comparable to right tackle Brian O’Neill without trading away precious draft capital to do so.
This approach helped with not only the first three picks but also the fourth pick as well. With the 89th pick in the third round, the Vikings drafted yet another cornerback in Cameron Dantzler from Mississippi State. When the player they were looking for wasn’t available, Spielman wasn’t afraid to keep trading down, as he traded out of the third round with the team’s second pick of the round. They also finessed the Chicago Bears when they traded pick 155 in the fifth round for a 2021 fourth-round pick. Slick Rick was filling needs for 2020 with an eye towards the future as well.
Grooming a Young Quarterback
Maybe not the sexiest of moves came late in the draft as the Vikings took a flier on Iowa quarterback Nathan Stanley. The former Hawkeye had a successful but inconsistent collegiate career where he showed flashes of brilliance at times and moments of disaster at others. But with a skillset fit for what the Vikings run under offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, Spielman did something the Vikings haven’t done since 2008 when they drafted John David Booty and took a quarterback after round one. While Stanley’s success isn’t guaranteed at the next level, he brings an NFL-talented arm to the Vikings and can be groomed behind Kirk Cousins. If all goes well, he can be a capable backup who can shine in limited playing time and exchanged for higher draft picks in the future. While not ideal for 2020 at face value, the most successful teams in the NFL always have a backup plan at quarterback. If anything, that’s the one thing the Vikings have rarely done right.
Bottom Line on the 2020 Minnesota Vikings Draft Class
The Vikings set themselves up to not only be competitive yet again in 2020 but also for the future. A smart, patient draft approach filled many needs without sacrificing talent and draft picks to do so. If most of the class pans out, it could be a franchise-altering draft for Spielman and the Vikings.
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