The Viking Age
FanSided

Re-grading the Minnesota Vikings’ 2016 rookie class

By Nik Edlund

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 28: Laquon Treadwell of Ole Miss holds up a jersey with his daughter Madison and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being picked
CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 28: Laquon Treadwell of Ole Miss holds up a jersey with his daughter Madison and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being picked /
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(Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) Jayron Kearse
(Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) Jayron Kearse /

Round 7

Stephen Weatherly – DE (Vanderbilt)

Weatherly’s career with the Vikings didn’t exactly get off to a blazing start. He was just used in spot duty for Minnesota in his first two seasons, appearing in 17 games and only racking up four total tackles.

Some questioned if he’d make the team in 2018 or not, but he did much more than that. Weatherly got a chance to start for the Vikings last season when Everson Griffen needed to take some time away from the team during the early portion of the year.

Weatherly made the most of that opportunity. In his five starts for Minnesota last season, he had 18 tackles and three sacks. He was consistently in the face of opposing quarterbacks and he really dampened the pain of the Vikings not having Griffen for that stretch.

It was great to see Weatherly bust out last year and his future looks bright in Minnesota. But one decent stretch in three seasons still isn’t going to score a ton of points on this grading curve.

Grade: 1/0

Jayron Kearse – S (Clemson)

Kearse fell to the Vikings in the seventh round of the 2016 draft even though he was initially projected to be selected a few rounds earlier. Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer loved the long lanky defender and he was one of the few members of his rookie class to make even a minor impact in year one.

Kearse played in all 16 games as a rookie for the Vikings and he even started in one. He found a niche as a special teams demon for Minnesota, but he only had six tackles as a safety.

In 2017, Kearse continued to play well on the Vikings’ special teams. But again, he appeared sparingly on defense.

Last season, Kearse played in every game and he had his best season statistically, racking up 32 tackles, half a sack, and a couple of pass breakups.

He has appeared in every contest but one since he was drafted by Minnesota and his 51 career tackles are decent production for a seventh-rounder. Kearse may never be the other starting safety opposite Harrison Smith for the Vikings, but he has proven to be a solid, late-round value.

Grade: 1/0

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