The Viking Age
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How the Vikings draft would’ve been different if Rick Spielman was still GM

By Nik Edlund

TALLAHASSEE, FL - SEPTEMBER 5: Safety Kyle Hamilton #14 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during warm-ups before the start of the game against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on September 5, 2021 in Tallahassee, Florida. The Fighting Irish defeated the Seminoles 41 to 38 OT. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL - SEPTEMBER 5: Safety Kyle Hamilton #14 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during warm-ups before the start of the game against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on September 5, 2021 in Tallahassee, Florida. The Fighting Irish defeated the Seminoles 41 to 38 OT. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) Rick Spielman - Minnesota Vikings
(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) Rick Spielman – Minnesota Vikings /

The Vikings would still have a fourth-round pick in 2023

This is probably the only instance where a lot of people wished Rick Spielman was still making the picks for the Vikings. Spielman loved to trade down and acquire future draft capital. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah showed a tendency to move up and down the board, and in round four decided there was one player he had to have.

Kwesi gave up a future fourth-round pick to move up and get cornerback Akayleb Evans. This was a guy he fell in love with watching tape in a “darkroom”. He apparently had a much higher grade on this kid than everyone else who universally saw him as a sixth-round talent at best. Kwesi didn’t care and now the Vikings will be without a fourth-round pick for the second year in a row as the 2023 draft season commences.

This doesn’t give Rick Spielman a pass. He’s pissed away draft picks on horrible veterans before,  just recently trading a fourth-round pick for tight-end Chris Herndon whose impact on the team last season didn’t warrant an undrafted free agent value. While that is true, it is a 100% guarantee that the Vikings would still have a 2023 fourth-round pick, but if it would remain until draft day would be up for debate.

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