The Minnesota Vikings had a successful haul of selections at the 2017 NFL Draft and undrafted free agents according to an expert on the NFL.com website.
The NFL Draft and free agent period following the event is a time that can make or break a franchise. For a team like the Minnesota Vikings, choosing the wrong prospect can set an organization back for years while the right pick can take steps toward the Super Bowl.
Recently, Jeremy Bergman at NFL.com analyzed the picks and moves made by the Vikings at the draft last year as well as in free agency and decided that the franchise earned a grade of B+ for addressing their needs and finding quality players.
Here is a list of the players selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2017 NFL Draft according to NFL.com:
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- Round 2: (41) Dalvin Cook, RB
- Round 3: (70) Pat Elflein, C
- Round 4: (109) Jaleel Johnson, DT
- Round 4: (120) Ben Gedeon, LB
- Round 5: (170) Rodney Adams, WR
- Round 5: (180) Danny Isidora, OG
- Round 6: (201) Bucky Hodges, TE
- Round 7: (219) Stacy Coley, WR
- Round 7: (220) Ifeadi Odenigbo, DL
- Round 7: (232) Elijah Lee, LB
- Round 7: (245) Jack Tocho, CB
When you look up and down the list, the names seem like a lot more misses than hits. However, the Vikings found starters with their second, third, and fourth round selections and Bergman really likes what he has seen from Dalvin Cook.
"“Minnesota shored up its sieve of an offensive line in free agency and then acquired a centerpiece in Elflein, who made the PFWA All-Rookie Team. If not for his season-ending ACL injury in Week 4, Cook very well might have been the top rookie back in a class that featured Kareem Hunt and Alvin Kamara.” Berman wrote, later adding “Gedeon proved to be a capable plug-and-play starter.”"
To find three starters in a rookie class is pretty darned good! Minnesota may have found long-term answers at running back and center in the process and got players to continue evaluating and developing in Jaleel Johnson, Danny Isadora, and others.
Bergman also mentioned Kyle Sloter as being part of the rookie class even though the Vikings picked him up as a free agent after being released by the Denver Broncos. He is the only quarterback who is under contract heading into the 2018 NFL season, making him at least notable for now.
Next: Vikings Mid-February 2018 Mock Draft roundup
What kind of grade would you give the Minnesota Vikings for their 2017 rookie class? Do you feel a B+ is a fair grade or is it too high or low? Let us know how you would evaluate the rookies in the comments section below.