Grading the Vikings 2019 NFL Draft class after year one

Kris Boyd – CB (Pick No. 217)

Production: 

Kris Boyd occasionally got on the field as an emergency cornerback this season for the Vikings. He ended up accumulating 22 tackles and he was active for all 16 regular-season games. He also stood out on special teams and he was often the first man down the field making the tackle. His 22 tackles in 16 games are impressive for a seventh-round pick no matter how you shake it.

Grade: B+

Performance:

Boyd’s performance in the preseason and most of the regular season was pretty awful, at least when it comes to playing defense. He looked lost and he also struggled to make tackles when the man he was covering came down with the ball. Thankfully, he did improve as the year went on.

Boyd also improved as a special teamer throughout the season. He made some big plays, and as we stated earlier, he was often the first man down the field on punts or kickoffs. Boyd definitely earned a spot on this team and it was encouraging to see him slowly get better throughout the year.

Grade: C+

Dillon Mitchell – WR (Pick No. 239)

Production: 

Dillon Mitchell did nothing in his first season with the Vikings other than earn a spot on the practice squad.

Grade: F

Performance:

Of the two seventh-round rookies, this guy had the most buzz around him early in training camp. He fell behind and never really showed anything in the preseason. He’s a longshot to make the team in 2020.

Grade: F

Bisi Johnson – WR (Pick No. 247)

Production: 

Bisi Johnson worked his way into being Minnesota’s No. 3 wide receiver this year. He was active in all 16 games and he started in six of them. He finished the season with 31 receptions for 294 yards and three touchdowns. That kind of production from a late seventh-round pick is flat out robbery.

Grade: A+

Performance: 

Johnson was not only productive this year, but he played extremely well. While not overly big or fast, he made his money with fluid route running and sure hands. He hauled in the majority of the passes that came his way and he earned the trust of Kirk Cousins. If there weren’t so many weapons on the Vikings offense, Johnson’s numbers probably could’ve been even more impressive.

Grade: A

Austin Cutting – LS (Pick No. 250)

Production: 

Austin Cutting earned Minnesota’s long snapper’s job and played in all 16 regular season games.

Grade: A

Performance: 

There really weren’t many bad snaps all season long. When the long snapper isn’t mentioned during a game that is a good thing. Cutting did a very fine job and it showed with Dan Bailey‘s 93.1 field goal percentage mark this year.

Grade: A

Final Grade:

A

The Vikings had an extremely productive rookie class this season that played well overall. There were starters like Garrett Bradbury, Alexander Mattison, Irv Smith Jr., and Bisi Johnson. And there were also late-round guys who showed plenty of promise. Rick Spielman hit on picks all throughout the 2019 draft and the play of this class was key in Minnesota finishing the regular season with a 10-6 record.

Time will tell if this class will be able to sustain such a high mark. But there is no doubt that after year one, it is a very productive and impressive group of talented young football players.