Former Vikings GM Adores 2023 Draft Prospect
The Minnesota Vikings hired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in January 2022 for fresh perspective and an analytics approach to the sport.
But if the ‘other guy’ were still in charge, Minnesota might end up with the top running back from the 2023 NFL Draft.
Former Vikings GM Adores 2023 Draft Prospect
That’s Rick Spielman, and he left the organization about 16 months ago, landing on his feet as an analyst for The 33rd Team. There, Spielman provides analysis and a behind-the-scenes perspective on the NFL, particularly the draft.
Well, with the draft kicking off Thursday night, Spielman loves running back Bijan Robinson, so much so that Robinson could’ve become a Viking if Spielman never departed.
33rd Team founder Mike Tannebaum and Spielman published a mock draft this week, and Robinson tumbled all the way to the Los Angeles Chargers, two spots before Minnesota. Spielman took ownership of the Chargers pick, selecting Robinson and implying the end of Austin Ekeler’s reign in Los Angeles.
“I wouldn’t be able to run this card up fast enough. Robinson is a top-10 talent being devalued for his position. He has excellent footwork, vision and is a workhorse-type back,” Spielman wrote about Robinson to Chargers.
Spielman continued, “He does a great job catching the ball out of the backfield and can block in pass protection. The Los Angeles Chargers have Austin Ekeler, who wants to be traded. This gives the Chargers another offensive weapon for Justin Herbert.”
And Robinson actually makes sense for Los Angeles, especially after Ekeler asked for a trade this offseason. As Keenan Allen begins to wind down his illustrious career, Robinson would indeed take the do-everything pressure off Herbert, who, so far in the NFL, has conducted a Matthew Stafford-like resume from the Detroit days.
Robinson is the most curious draft creature this year — for one reason. Running backs’ value is at a historic low point, and general managers increasingly believe, “I’ll just find one in later rounds of the draft.” Then, that halfback is used for four years, his contract often not extended, and then onto the next team.
For Robinson’s skillset, though, he’s more than just a dude running the football. He’s dynamic, can catch the football, and has been compared to a mixture of Edgerrin James and Adrian Peterson, two marvelous Hall of Fame playmakers.
The Vikings currently employ Dalvin Cook, Alexander Mattison, Ty Chandler, and Kene Nwangwu at running back, so the long-term roster need for Robinson is close to nil. However, if Spielman was in the team’s front office, Cook could be on the way out — with Robinson on the way in.
Our 2023 Draft Endorsement for Vikings
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 Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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