A Vikings Drought Could End This Week in the Draft
In the last 15 years, the Minnesota Vikings have drafted 33 men from Rounds 1 and 2 of the NFL Draft.
These are the players by position:
- 9 DBs
- 7 OL
- 5 WRs
- 3 RBs
- 3 QBs
- 3 LBs
- 2 TEs
- 1 iDL
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Notice anything missing? You should.
Minnesota has drafted zero EDGE rushers in the first two rounds of the draft since the start of 2006. None.
This is not a scathing indictment of the organization — not at all, in fact — but a mere calculus of priority. Former general manager Rick Spielman joined the club after the 2006 NFL Draft, and almost to the moment marking his arrival, the Vikings ceased drafting pass rushers.
The pain was eased — like, substantially — by Minnesota’s discovery of players like Jared Allen, Everson Griffen, Danielle Hunter, and Brian Robison. Those men are fantastic football players, so Spielman didn’t need to invest high-round draft capital in defensive trenchmen.
But the last time the Vikings spent a 1st or 2nd-Rounder on a defensive end was 2005, choosing Erasmus James in the 1st Round. It was the same night Minnesota welcome Troy Williamson into the fold to replace Randy Moss — so it wasn’t a good night for the purple team.
James flamed out of Minnesota after 23 games and was out of the league by age 26. Williamson, too, was kaput at the same age.
Well, all of this EDGE malarkey could end this week. The Vikings have the 12th and 46th picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, and the franchise could also trade back, possibly adding another 1st or 2nd-Round pick into the mix. In any event, new general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could be “the guy” to put an end to the drought.
At #12, EDGE rushers like Jermaine Johnson II — an Eden Prarie alumnus — and George Karlaftis could reasonably be the choice. Otherwise, in Round 2, Nik Bonitto, Arnold Ebeketie, Drake Jackson, Boye Mafe, or David Ojabo should be available.
The Vikings currently showcase a marvelous and gruesome twosome on the edges with Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith. However, those men have missed 64% of football games combined since the start of 2020. Getting more affluent in the defensive trenches for the long-term is not a silly idea.
And the organization is long overdue for it. Escaping comeuppance for not drafting EDGE rushers in 15 years with high-round draft capital is an outlier. While undoubtedly commendable, Minnesota must “do it the conventional way,” conforming to the times and drafting some men who rush the passer.
The drought is likely to end in a few days.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. 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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