Sid: Vikings GM Rick Spielman finds talent throughout NFL draft
Jefferson figures to be a star. He was the most explosive wideout in college football last season and had one of the greatest bowl games in history when he caught 14 passes for 227 yards and four touchdowns against Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl.
Gladney, meanwhile, was a hard-nosed corner who scouts said has no fear. He was named second-team All-America by the Football Writers Association of America and should be ready for the NFL after playing in Gary Patterson’s scheme for the Horned Frogs.
But first-round picks are not the only way Spielman has made his reputation. His tenure as GM is all about stockpiling picks to bring in as much talent as possible.
That’s why he picked Jefferson and then followed it up with the move to add even more picks.
The Vikings’ first-round selections over Spielman’s tenure have not always panned out, and that just goes to show how random the draft can be.
Since taking over as GM in 2012, Spielman has selected the following first-round picks: Matt Kalil, Harrison Smith, Sharrif Floyd, Xavier Rhodes, Cordarrelle Patterson, Anthony Barr, Teddy Bridgewater, Trae Waynes, Laquon Treadwell, Mike Hughes and Garrett Bradbury.
Only Smith (No. 29 overall, 2012), Barr (No. 9, 2014), Hughes (No. 30, 2018) and Bradbury (No. 18, 2019) are still on the roster.
The fact is a first-round pick is not guaranteed to be more successful than a second-, fourth- or seventh-rounder. The 2019 Vikings squad had nine first-rounders on the roster and eight from the seventh round.
How random can the draft be?
According to Pro Football Focus, the highest-graded defensive players on the Vikings last season were all from the 2015 draft class. Safety Anthony Harris (91.1 grade) went undrafted, linebacker Eric Kendricks (90.1 grade) was taken No. 45 in the second round and defensive end Danielle Hunter (89.0 grade) was taken No. 88 in the third round.
The Vikings’ first-round pick that season was
Waynes, who the team let leave in free agency this offseason.
Vikings GM often trades down to acquire more picks without losing out on desired players.
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Skol Vikes!!