Minnesota Vikings full 2016 NFL Draft class
By Adam Carlson
Round 7: DE Stephen Weatherly, Vanderbilt
Listed as a linebacker, Weatherly will likely be a defensive end in the Minnesota Vikings 4-3 defense. This isn’t a huge surprise, as head coach Mike Zimmer loves stockpiling talent when it comes to pass rushers and isn’t afraid to put in the work to develop these players.
Unlike many of the other Zimmer picks of the past, Weatherly isn’t the freakish athlete that a guy like Danielle Hunter or even Scott Crichton possesses. Instead, it will likely be work in the gym for flexibility and speed that will be the Vikings priority, as he lacks that big punch that defensive end requires in today’s NFL.
Finding a player with the intelligence of Weatherly at this point is great though. He can play multiple instruments including flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, tuba, baritone, sax, steel drums and piano. He can evaluate situations in front of him and make quick decisions on what angle to take and is rarely fooled by misdirection.
"“Weatherly has the size and overall length to intrigue NFL teams as a developmental prospect, but he will need additional work to become a more competitive pass rusher off the edge.” – NFL.com"
Next: The Vikings finally pick a safety