A Hell of a Player — But Jaelan Phillips Not Worth the Risk at No. 14
Dustin Baker
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The University of Miami’s Jaelan Phillips and Gregory Rousseau are two EDGE products that are frequently mock-drafted to the Minnesota Vikings and elsewhere during the 1st Round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Both men will end up with NFL teams — assuredly by the middle of the 2nd Round — and have a reasonable chance at starting in Week 1 of 2021.
It’s a ruthless phrase to type, but Miami’s Jaelan Phillips is not worth the gamble for the Vikings with the team’s 14th pick.
His scouting report is mouthwatering, invoking comparisons to the Vikings other defensive end, Danielle Hunter. Phillips seemingly has it all, evidenced in his scouting report from Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network:
“Explosive edge rusher who took his game to the next level and is coming off a sensational season. Breaks down well, plays with outstanding pad level, and gets leverage on opponents. Fluid moving in every direction and displays a tremendous first step off the snap. Flows well laterally and gets down the line of scrimmage to make plays in space. Fundamentally sound, displays solid technique with his hands, and covers a good amount of area on the field. Easily changes direction, bends off the edge, and shows great speed up the field. Agile, nicely redirects and plays tough, instinctive football.”
One reads that synopsis and rushes to the podium with hopes his name is scribbled on the #14 card. But the gamble is too bold. Why? Because Phillips has been hampered by injuries to the utmost in his young career.
His injury history went so far as to create this Bleacher Report headline from 2018:
Indeed, Phillips encountered a couple of sprained ankles, a nasty Moped accident, and three concussions. His resume of body maladies is simply too lengthy for Minnesota to spend 1st-Round draft capital. Phillips began his collegiate career at UCLA — a spot where general manager Rick Spielman likes to scour for talent (Anthony Barr, Eric Kendricks, Jeff Locke, etc). Yet, not even the UCLA fondness can reign supreme. The injury concerns are too plentiful.
Had the Vikings enacted a string of luck in the 1st-Round contrary to recent history, springing for Phillips at #14 is probably “worth it.” But make no mistake — Spielman has endured his swings-and-misses relating to 1st-Round injuries.
Sharrif Floyd was ultra-promising until a knee injury derailed his brief NFL career. His career lasted 24 games, and Floyd left the NFL after his age-24 season. Then it was Teddy Bridgewater. The Lousiville alumnus was so damn exciting, calm, and auspicious. His career was altered in the summer of 2016 because of — you guessed it — a knee injury. He would never start another game for the Minnesota Vikings following Blair Walsh’s 2015 playoff field goal shank in Minneapolis versus the Seattle Seahawks. Bridgewater is still in the league, but he’s heading to a QB2 role somewhere.
Most recently, the unfortunate culprit is Mike Hughes. Nobody knows if Hughes will play an entire season and realize his 1st-Round potential. The upcoming season will serve as a verdict on Hughes.
This list of three men (and even Matt Kalil to an extent — his career was punctuated prematurely due to injury) is too grave to electively wager on a high-risk prospect. Another team will sign on with Phillips, but it would be foolish for the Vikings to be that franchise.
The last example is a flashback to 2005 — the last time the Vikings selected a defensive end in the 1st Round. Erasmus James was plucked out of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Vikings with the 18th pick.
His career was cut short because of injuries.
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