The Minnesota Vikings had a whopping 15 draft picks in 2020. Not everyone made the team, but there were plenty who contributed.
The Minnesota Vikings have to be thrilled with their 2020 NFL Draft class. Spielman was wheeling and dealing throughout it and ended up with fifteen choices. He hit on many of those and didn’t just find starters with those picks, but found some potential stars.
The Vikings’ rookies saw more action this season than in most others. Some of that had to do with the plan the coaching staff and front office chose to go with, especially with the cornerback position, but injuries forced many of these young players on the field sooner than expected.
While their performances weren’t always great, these young purple warriors got some valuable experience that will only help this team out in the future.
Here is a pick by pick breakdown of every choice the Vikings made in the 2020 Draft, complete with their stats on the season. Also thrown in are a couple of undrafted free-agent rookies who produced a bit this year.
Justin Jefferson – WR (LSU)
2020 Stats:
- 88 catches
- 1,400 yards
- 7 touchdowns
Justin Jefferson was a huge surprise for the Minnesota Vikings this season. The team took him with the pick they landed from trading Stefon Diggs to the Bills, so expectations were high for this youngster coming in. He absolutely smashed those. Jefferson went on to have the best rookie receiving season in the history of the NFL since the merger back in 1970.
Jefferson is by no means a one-trick pony and can beat teams in so many ways. He has great top speed and can blow by a defender, and he is already an exceptional route runner who can create separation against veteran defensive backs. Jefferson can go up and high point a ball, catch it while being blanketed, and also plays with a ton of heart and passion and will fight and scrap for every extra yard he can get.
For whatever reason, the Vikings didn’t target Jefferson much early in the season. If they had, he would’ve smashed the records instead of just breaking them. It’s not often a team knows they found their number one anything in a draft following year one, but the Vikings realize they found their number one wide receiver for the foreseeable future.
Jeff Gladney – CB (TCU)
2020 Stats:
- 81 tackles (7 for a loss)
- 3 pass breakups
- 1 forced fumble
- 16 games played (15 starts)
Jeff Gladney was the Vikings‘ second first-round choice. After being chosen, the early thought was that he’d probably end up playing the nickel with Mike Hughes, and Holton Hill starting outside. Hughes suffered an injury early in the season, and Gladney soon saw himself as a starter.
His rookie season was full of growth, and with that growth came good moments and bad. His coverage was spotty at times, as he found himself out of position and allowed too much of a cushion to the man he was assigned to cover. He did, however, have moments where he looked outstanding and should have had a pick-six touchdown on his resume, but that was called back on a questionable P.I. call in a very questionably called game against the Bucs.
One thing that Gladney showed, and his 81 tackles support this, is that he’s a more than willing tackler. Gladney excels at coming up to the line of scrimmage to hit the ball carrier, and it doesn’t matter if that carrier has 50 pounds on him, he’ll lower his shoulder and deliver the blow.
Gladney should be much better in year two, with a full offseason at his disposal. The experienced he gained in 2020 will be huge for his development and he’ll head into 2021 as an unquestioned starter.
Ezra Cleveland – OL (Boise State)
2020 Stats:
- 13 games played (9 starts)
- 5 sacks allowed
- 1 penalty
The Vikings took Ezra Cleveland in the second round of last April’s draft and many pundits labeled that a steal as he was seen by many as a first-round talent. There was little expectation that he’d see the field much in 2020, as he had Riley Reiff ahead of him on the depth chart. The plan was that this would be a red-shirt kind of season for Cleveland and he’d maybe get in during a few games that were already decided.
During the preseason, the Vikings experimented with Cleveland at guard. The thought was he could potentially get some experience playing inside in 2020, acclimating him to the speed of the NFL before taking over at left tackle. Injuries and piss poor play from Pat Elflein and Dru Samia put Cleveland on the field by about mid-season, and he became the team’s starting right guard.
Cleveland’s play was spotty. He had some nice moments but had others where he whiffed on a block or was overpowered. That comes with playing a new position and being raw, so it wasn’t entirely unexpected. At this point, it’s unclear if the Vikings will move on from Reiff next season and insert Cleveland at left tackle or if he’ll remain the team’s right guard. Whatever happens, Cleveland will be better in year two, and the team already got a return from this second-round investment.
Cameron Dantzler – CB (Mississippi State)
2020 Stats:
- 46 tackles (3 for a loss)
- 4 pass breakups
- 2 interceptions
- 11 games played (10 starts)
The Vikings landed Cameron Dantzler in the third round of last year’s draft and, by all means, appear to have a steal on their hands. Dantzler fell to round three after running a very slow 40-yard dash at the Combine. His play was another reason why tape is more important than a workout, and he outplayed his draft position by quite a bit in his rookie season.
Dantzler shone in the preseason and was the talk of Vikings’ training camp. He was sticking stride for stride with players like Adam Thielen and worked himself into a heavy role once the season kicked off. Like Gladney, Dantzler proved to be a willing and exceptional tackler, having no issue flying up and taking on the biggest of backs.
Dantzler‘s coverage really improved as the season went on. Late in the year, he graded out as one of the top corners in the league, and that was evident in the blowout against the Saints, as he was rarely targeted. Dantzler also showed some playmaking ability with his two interceptions on the season. The only knock on Dantzler in year one was his inability to stay healthy. He only appeared in 11 games and suffered numerous injuries throughout the year.
He will enter the 2021 season as the team’s number one cornerback. It’s exciting to see how much he’ll develop over the offseason and through next year’s preseason. If he can stay healthy, he has the potential to be one of the best young corners in the league.
D.J. Wonnum – DE (South Carolina)
2020 Stats:
- 24 tackles (5 for a loss)
- 3 sacks
- 1 forced fumble
- 1 pass breakup
- 14 games played (2 starts)
The Vikings chose Andre Patterson’s “Pet Cat” with their first fourth-round choice. A few in the media had D.J. Wonnum ranked lower, but Patterson pounded the table for this kid and got him in the fourth. Wonnum played more this season than expected with the loss of Danielle Hunter. By season’s end, he arguably was the team’s best pass rusher but finished the season with only 3 sacks.
Wonnum did give Vikings fans the moment of the season when he sacked Aaron Rodgers to end the game at Lambeau, forcing him to fumble the ball forward and seal the Vikings victory. While a little more production out of Wonnum would’ve been nice to see, he does have a ton of potential for year two and beyond.
James Lynch – DT (Baylor)
2020 Stats:
- 3 tackles (1 for a loss)
- 1 sack
- 9 games played
James Lynch was one of the more disappointing of the Vikings rookies. He was hardly used and was active for only nine games. He had one sack and three tackles in that span, and he couldn’t beat out Shamar Stephen or Jaleel Johnson for playing time. The Vikings still desperately need a three-technique defensive tackle, which Lynch is supposed to be. He’ll get a chance to compete for a starting job in 2021, though he’s a longshot at best.
Troy Dye – LB (Oregon)
2020 Stats:
- 28 tackles
- 2 pass breakups
- 11 games played (5 starts)
Troy Dye is another player who was disappointing as a rookie. The undersized but athletic linebacker was only supposed to be a special teams ace as a rookie, but injuries thrust him into the starting lineup.
Dye wasn’t horrible or anything, he just didn’t make many plays. He managed just 28 tackles on the season and broke up two passes. He didn’t have a single tackle for a loss, sack, or interception. With Eric Wilson’s future with the team in doubt, Dye could be looked to take on a bigger role next year. He’ll have to take a big step from year one to two to make that happen.
Harrison Hand – CB (Temple)
2020 Stats:
- 17 tackles
- 3 pass breakups
- 1 interception
- 14 games played (1 start)
The Vikings added their third cornerback of the draft with their first fifth-round choice. They took Harrison Hand from Temple and the initial thought was that he could switch to safety in the NFL. Hand ended up staying at cornerback, and over the course of the season, he saw intermittent duty. His coverage wasn’t always the greatest, but most of the catches made on him were contested, and that was encouraging to see. Hand did have an interception and showed enough this season to be considered for the number three corner role in 2021.
K.J. Osborn – KR/PR (Miami)
2020 Stats:
- 303 kick return yards
- 27 punt return yards
- 9 games played
K.J. Osborn was drafted about three rounds too early to be the Vikings’ sole return man. This was the guy Rick Spielman tabbed to solve the Vikings’ returning woes and be a returner that other teams fear and game plan to stop. Osborn failed miserably in this role and showed little burst, wiggle, or any knack for returning the football. He was inactive much of the season and the team went back to Chad Beebe and Ameer Abdullah. This was the Vikings’ worst pick of the entire 2020 Draft.
Blake Brandel – OL (Oregon State)
2020 Stats:
- 0 games played
Blake Brandel wasn’t expected to do much, and in that, he succeeded. He was signed to the practice squad, where he remains to this day. He will have to fight and progress quite a bit to make the final roster in 2021.
Josh Metellus – S (Michigan)
2020 Stats:
- 9 tackles
- 2 fumble recoveries
- 15 games played
Metellus didn’t see a ton of action at safety but was a core special teamer. He somehow had two fumbles on the season and nine tackles. If he makes the team in 2021, his role will likely remain the same unless his coverage skills vastly improve.
Kenny Willekes – DE (Michigan State)
2020 Stats:
- 0 games played
Willekes was a late-round pick many fans were excited about. This is a guy who was a walk-on at Michigan State and worked his way to a scholarship. He isn’t athletically gifted but makes up for it with a non-stop motor and an unmatched drive. Willekes was having an up and down preseason but then blew out his ACL in the scrimmage. That injury put him on injured reserve and may have saved his spot on the team, and he’ll be back fighting for a roster spot again in 2021. The Minnesota Vikings desperately need another pass rusher and hope that Willekes can carve out a role.
Nate Stanley – QB (Iowa)
2020 Stats:
- 0 games played
Not much was expected from this big-armed quarterback from Iowa. He was signed to the practice squad, and there’s a good chance he’ll be on it again next season.
Brian Cole – S (Mississippi State)
2020 Stats:
- 0 games played
Cole was cut very early and is now on the Dolphins practice squad. This was pretty much a wasted pick.
Kyle Hinton – OG (Washburn)
2020 Stats:
- 0 games played
Hinton was a raw prospect from a small school who was seen as a project. He was signed to the active roster late in the season but was inactive on game day. He will be in the mix at one of the guard spots in 2021.
Blake Lynch – LB (Baylor)
2020 Stats:
- 12 tackles
- 1 pass breakup
- 4 games played (1 start)
The Vikings signed a handful of players after the 2020 NFL Draft concluded and one of them was this linebacker out of Baylor, Blake Lynch. Not much was expected from this signing because, when he was brought on to the team, the Vikings’ linebacking corps was one of their deepest units. They were set at all three starting positions with decent depth backing them up. It was hard-pressed to see fourth-round linebacker Troy Dye getting much playing time, let alone an undrafted rookie.
Injuries to the starters and then to the backups and then to the backups of the backups forced Lynch on the field late in the season. In his one start, he fared pretty well, racking up 10 total tackles against the Saints. Lynch isn’t going to contend for starting time next season, but he is a guy who could prove worth keeping around for special teams and inserting in the lineup in a pinch.
Dan Chisena – WR (Penn State)
2020 Stats:
- 6 tackles
- 1 fumble recovery
Dan Chisena was the biggest surprise on cut day. The former walk-on at Penn State was facing similar odds of making the Vikings in 2020. His speed and special teams’ prowess were enough for the team to keep him over a more polished and experienced receiver like Alexander Hollins.
Chisena had a bit of an up and down season playing on the Vikings’ maligned special teams unit. He routinely overshot the return man, having to use his blazing speed to chase him down after they picked up about twenty yards. Chisena did finish with 6 tackles on the season and a fumble recovery, but after seeing how bad the Vikings’ special teams were this season, perhaps the team would’ve been better off just keeping Hollins instead.
Final Takeaways
The Minnesota Vikings got a ton of production out of their 2020 draft class. They landed a star with their first pick Justin Jefferson. He should be the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year and will be the team’s number one target next season and beyond.
They also landed their starting corners of the future in Jeff Gladney and Cameron Dantzler. Ezra Cleveland will be a fixture on their offensive line. The question is whether or not he’ll be playing guard or left tackle in the future.
4 Vikings players that we can now safely call busts
After the way this year has gone, it's now clear we can label some of the Minnesota Vikings recent draft selections as busts.
The Minnesota Vikings also landed key role players like D.J. Wonnum, Troy Dye, and Harrison Hand. Rick Spielman needs to be given a ton of credit for the choices he made in this draft, and while he didn’t address every single need, he brought it more talent in this one class than some teams do in three drafts.