Christian Ponder
On April 28th, Roger Goodell will say the words “the Vikings are now on the clock.” Barring a trade, they will have the 12th pick of the 2022 NFL draft.
The Minnesota Vikings selected a player with the 12th overall pick twice in team history. In retrospect, the first of the picks became a famous Viking, while the other one became an infamous member of the franchise.
In 1973, General Manager Jim Finks chose a running back from the Miami Hurricanes: Chuck Foreman. He is one of the most decorated Vikings players in their long history. Among his honors and awards are the NFL Offensive Rookie of the year award, two first-team and two second-team All-Pro selections, and five Pro Bowl appearances. After his playing career, Forman was inducted into the Viking’s Ring of Honor. He played in three Super Bowls with the Vikings.
After the success story, General Manager Rick Spielman picked, just like his predecessor Finks in 1973, an offensive player in 2011 and hoped for similar results. He decided to draft Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder. Brett Favre just retired, and Spielman looked for his successor. First-round signal-callers can change franchises in a good and in a bad way. Sadly for fans of the storied organization, it turned out to be the last mentioned. Ponder had four underwhelming seasons, in which he was promoted from backup to starter and back multiple times. After drafting Teddy Bridgewater in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft, Rick Spielman moved on from his 2011 draft pick by not extending his contract. Christian Ponder never appeared in another NFL game after that.
In last year’s draft, the Dallas Cowboys picked at the 12th position, and they hit a home run. Their selection was defensive Rookie of the year, linebacker Micah Parsons. The versatile phenom received a spot on the all-pro first team, and he participated in the Pro Bowl. He instantly became one of the most feared defensive players in the NFL as a defensive end and linebacker.
When the Commissioner announced the 12th pick of the 2019 NFL draft, a division rival of the Vikings added a player to their team. The Green Bay Packers selected Michigan pass rusher Rashan Gary. He played a rotational role behind Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith in his first two seasons before establishing himself as one of the top players of the Packer’s good defensive unit.
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He finished the season with nine and a half sacks. Since he improved every year so far, it will be interesting to see if he can help his team in the attempt to defend the divisional crown after the departure of his former teammate and position-mate Za’Darius Smith.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted defensive tackle Vita Vea in 2018. The 2021 Pro Bowler and Super Bowl LV champion is the most important part of a dominant run-stopping Bucs defense. Vea is one of the most respected interior defensive line players in the NFL and a dominant force when he is on the field. The only thing to slow him down was a broken leg in 2020.
“With the 12th pick of the 2017 NFL draft, the Houston Texans select Deshaun Watson, quarterback, Clemson.”, to quote Roger Goodell. The franchise with the elite defense at the time was in desperate need of a good quarterback. And they certainly found one. His dynamic rookie year ended earlier than expected, with a torn ACL, but his comeback was impressive. In his next three seasons, Watson earned a trip to the pro bowl. He did not play in the 2021 season because of legal issues. In the current offseason, the quarterback was traded to the Cleveland Browns, where he hopes to continue his career after solving his off-the-field problems.
In 2014, the New York Giants drafted “OBJ,” who quickly became the face of the franchise. The former LSU receiver finished his rookie season with multiple records and was awarded the Rookie of the Year trophy. He was chosen to be part of three consecutive Pro Bowls before injuries started to slow him down. Beckham Jr. won the most recent Super Bowl with the Rams and scored a touchdown in that game before leaving the field with the second torn ACL in his career.
The Philadelphia Eagles selected defensive tackle Fletcher Cox in 2012. The six-time pro bowler is a crucial part of the franchise ever since. A first-team all-pro in 2018 and three-time second-team all-pro, who won the Super Bowl with his team at the end of the 2017 season. He will return to the Eagles for his eleventh season with the team in 2022.
The odds are good that the Vikings can land an excellent player when Commissioner Goodell announces the pick in April’s draft. New General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will undoubtedly be in a position to choose from multiple good options and fill a hole on the roster with his first career draft pick.
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