A Draft Drought That Needs to End for Vikings
The last time the Vikings drafted an EDGE rusher in the 1st or 2nd Round of an NFL Draft was 2005.
Yes, 16 years ago. Some of you have kids that age.
Somehow, the Vikings have skated comeuppance during the timeframe. And they’ve done so marvelously. Since 2006, the official commencement of the EDGE rusher drought, the Vikings rank second in the NFL in sacks, trailing only the Pittsburgh Steelers — a team who actually uses high draft capital to find pass rushers.
This analysis by VikingsTerritory is not bellyaching about the topic. In fact, it’s rather amazing the franchise can get away with this dirty little habit. Minnesota found ways to sack quarterbacks in the last 16 seasons without spending a dime of high draft capital.
How did this happen? Two reasons. a) The Vikings traded for Jared Allen in 2008. He alone was a sack generator — it didn’t really matter who else was on the defensive line next to him. Minnesota spent a 1st-Rounder and two 3-Rounders to net Allen. It was worth it. b) Cover your eyes — Mike Zimmer. He doesn’t have a sterling reputation at the moment, but Zimmer absolutely deserves credit for the sack-steadiness of the Vikings from 2014 to present.
Jaren Allen and Mike Zimmer — those two men are the reason Minnesota’s pass rush never truly struggled despite never drafting EDGE rushers early on draft night.
Now, though, neither of those men is affiliated with the Vikings. Danielle Hunter is still under contract, but he is the only “sure thing” to generate a pass rush on the Vikings roster at the moment. Plus, Hunter’s missed 79% of all football games since the start of 2020.
In the 1st or 2nd Round of this April’s draft, the Vikings must select a pass rusher. They’ve gotten away with it for too long. The piper will be paid. The last EDGE guy selected in Rounds 1 or 2 was Erasmus James.
The team also has other roster needs — mostly on defense — so there is no sure bet for the Vikings to use their 12th overall pick on an EDGE rusher like David Ojabo. Arguably, cornerback is a direr need. Men like Ahmad Gardner and Derek Stingley Jr. keep trickling the internet for Vikings mock drafts — and it makes sense. For now, the only startable corner on Kevin O’Connell’s team is Cameron Dantzler. Therefore, the Vikings need corners. End of story.
Yet, the 2nd Round pick could reasonably be used on an EDGE rusher, someone like Myjai Sanders from Cincinnati. And, according to the Pioneers Press‘ Chris Tomasson, the Vikings might already be interested in Sanders.
This is beautiful because Minnesota could have cake and eat it, too. That is — draft the best player available in the 1st Round, like Gardner or Stingley Jr., while obtaining a fabulous football player in Sanders during Round 2. Sanders should be there in the 2nd Round if the Vikings indeed like him.
Overall, something’s gotta give. The pass-rusher drought was unique, and Minnesota avoided consequences as Allen, Hunter, Everson Griffen, and Brian Robison emerged from later rounds. But that is not the norm.
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The Vikings must invest in the trenches, particularly on defense. In varying degrees of success, they’ve spent tremendous draft capital on the offensive line since the 2018 draft. Now, it’s time for the defensive trenches as well.
Mike Zimmer and Andre Patterson aren’t around anymore to pull rabbits out of hats.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. His YouTube Channel, VikesNow, debuts in March 2022. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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