Making Sense of the Vikings’ Draft

It was a completely different draft cycle for the Minnesota Vikings compared to last year. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah had an all-in mindset a year ago when he moved heaven and earth to acquire firepower for a move in the draft. Ultimately, he left the three-day event with two high-profile players.

Making Sense of the Vikings’ Draft

This time, he used a more conservative approach and just selected the best player on his board. While he didn’t perform the expected trade-down in the first round, he also didn’t trade up once in the entire draft.

That change in philosophy is the first difference compared to last year. Of course, the fact that he entered the draft with only four picks didn’t allow him to make any big-time moves up the board.

With those few picks, he also changed his philosophy. Last year, he picked two highly talented players with the potential to be franchise changers. Both were only 21 years old and came from Michigan and Alabama, and therefore had played in big games in college. J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner surely possess a high ceiling due to their intriguing physical tools.

This year, Donovan Jackson was picked 24th overall. The one similarity is the big school. Jackson won a national title with Ohio State. However, he doesn’t have that type of ceiling and is viewed more as a steady, solid pick, rather than the upside-chasing moves last year. Unlike Turner and McCarthy, he should be an immediate impact player for the Vikings, but a guard can’t become the face of a franchise like a passer and a pass rusher can.

A year ago, Adofo-Mensah used his late-round picks to acquire older prospects with plenty of experience and production. Walter Rouse played 52 college games, Michael Jurgens 61, Will Reichard 60, and Levi Drake Rodriguez 50.

Besides Rodriguez, there weren’t any developmental guys, and he targeted already refined players who could provide immediate depth, but the athletic upside was limited.

This year, Adofo-Mensah selected younger and more athletic guys, regardless of their production in college. We’ve already covered that Adofo-Mensah’s fourth draft class is extremely athletic. Last year’s late-rounders were depth picks; this year’s seem to be upside picks. Linebacker Kobe King has already been called a future starter, and the physical potential of Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins has drawn praise.

Long story short, the Vikings went from targeting potential early and experience late to picking the solid and experienced player early and potential late.

The fun thing about the draft is that there’s no correct or incorrect way to do it. Ultimately, it comes down to whether a player or two from each class hits, and whether the remaining players can at least fit the system that’s being run and coached up a little to return the value of their draft pick.

One thing that has remained throughout the Vikings’ tenure of Adofo-Mensah calling the shots is the emphasis on the UDFA class. The executive is always paying a premium to get a few of the top undrafted players into the building.

Kwesi has changed his approach pretty much every year and has been unpredictable because of it. As always, it is a result-based business. If his draftees are good, he’s a good drafter. If they are bad, he isn’t, regardless of his strategy.