Photo By Brian Curski
Written By Sam Ekstrom
The Minnesota Vikings entered the season with a number of veterans that were expected to put on an offensive show: Adrian Peterson, Greg Jennings, Cordarrelle Patterson and Kyle Rudolph. But through nine games, the most impactful offensive players have arguably been rookies. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and running back Jerick McKinnon have both taken on major roles in replacement of Matt Cassel and Peterson, respectively. Throw in outside linebacker Anthony Barr on the defensive side of the ball and Rick Spielman’s draft class is looking strong – at least the first three rounds of picks.
Head coach Mike Zimmer addressed this year’s draft class at his final press conference before the bye week.
“I think this is a good nucleus to build from,” said Zimmer of the nine 2014 draft picks that are still on the team. “The thing I like about it, maybe even moreso, is that they’re good kids where we’re trying to implement the kind of program that we want here, the kind of people that we want, the way they handle their business in the weight room, in the meeting room, out on the field. We’re trying to implement all those things, and I just feel like when you continually get guys and kind of teach them the right way, or at least the way that we’re doing things, it will continue to build from here.”
Beyond Barr, Bridgewater and McKinnon, the Vikings have gotten solid contributions on defense and special teams from several other late-round picks, while a couple mid-round picks appear to be lagging behind.
Below are capsules for each of the Vikings’ 10 draft picks, accompanied by player grades.
LB ANTHONY BARR, ROUND 1, PICK 9
GRADE: A
Zimmer doesn’t usually rave about players. He’s cautious and calculated with his words. Unless, it seems, when he gets to talk about Anthony Barr.
“My expectations for him are probably higher than they are for other guys,” said Zimmer back in July. “I’ve seen great things out of him. He doesn’t make mistakes. He’s got tremendous, tremendous physical abilities.”
Barr started from Day 1 and has become a defensive force. He leads the team in solo tackles (47), is third on the team in sacks (4.0) and has three fumble recoveries, one of which came after he stripped Austin Seferian-Jenkins in overtime at Tampa and returned it for a game-winning touchdown.
The Vikings lead the NFL in sacks with 30, and Barr’s presence is a big reason why.
“I think he gives us an advantage in a lot of things we’re doing against the offenses because of the things that we’re doing with him,” said Zimmer on Monday. “We’re not just sitting back rushing four guys all the time. Sometimes we’re dropping defensive ends and rushing him, sometimes we’re doing numerous things with these guys … It’s nice when a situation like [the Washington game] comes up and Greenway has a chance to get two sacks because you’re concentrating on Barr. Our sack totals are probably up a lot because our defensive line is, I think, rushing the correct way, and when you add Barr into the mix as a fifth rusher or a sixth rusher, it kind of helps.”
Barr has shown the ability to rush the quarterback, pursue the run, wrap up ball carriers in space and drop in pass coverage. He even earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors in Week 8. Barring injury, however, he’ll have his eyes on a bigger prize: NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
QB TEDDY BRIDGEWATER, ROUND 1, PICK 32
GRADE: C
Thrust into a permanent starting role midway through Minnesota’s Week 3 game in New Orleans, Teddy Bridgewater looked superb in his first six quarters of football. But as he led the Vikings to a game-winning drive against Atlanta in Week 4, he sprained an ankle, which set the rookie back. Bridgewater missed the next game at Green Bay and struggled to find a rhythm over his next three starts before regrouping in a nice win last Sunday over Washington.
The Vikings are 3-2 with Bridgewater as starter, though the offense has only clicked in two of those five games. In wins over Atlanta and Washington, Bridgewater threw for 317 yards and 268 yards, respectively. In both losses, Bridgewater’s Achilles heel was turnovers. He threw three interceptions in a 17-3 loss to Detroit and two more in a 17-16 loss to Buffalo. Otherwise, Bridgewater has stayed turnover-free.
One concern of late has been the rookie’s deep ball. Bridgewater woefully underthrew a pass in Tampa that was nearly intercepted, then overthrew several open receivers against Washington. Zimmer believes Bridgewater needs more reps in the downfield passing game.
On a positive note, the 21 year old has been unflappable in late-game situations. In all three of his wins, Bridgewater engineered fourth quarter drives to either take the lead or tie the game.
“I think he’s a pretty composed individual, anyway,” said Zimmer. “He always has been around here. Nothing really flusters him.”
Bridgewater is currently 26th in completion percentage (60.4), which needs to improve. The Vikings are also 29th in the league in red zone opportunities, which may account for Bridgewater only having three touchdown passes.
But the rookie has shown strong mobility in, and out, of the pocket, accurate intermediate passing and a killer instinct in the fourth quarter. These are all very encouraging signs for the Vikings’ franchise quarterback.
“I want to be the guy for 10-plus years,” said Bridgewater. “I want to have longevity in my career.”
“Teddy Two Gloves” is here to stay.
DE SCOTT CRICHTON, ROUND 3, PICK 72
GRADE: Incomplete (with upside)
Getting drafted in the third round usually indicates the player will be an immediate contributor. Scott Crichton hasn’t been, but he’s also buried on the depth chart beneath veterans. Starting defensive ends Everson Griffen and Brian Robison and backup Corey Wootton all have established equity in the league, leaving Crichton to learn from the vets and wait his turn.
“The main thing is, I’m learning obviously from their strengths but also from their mistakes, too,” said Crichton. “It’s great to have veterans above you because every day is a learning experience, and I’ve just got to acknowledge that, soak it in and be patient until my time comes.”
Crichton has been deactivated for all but three games this year and has played very limited snaps. It didn’t help that he missed the bulk of OTAs last summer because of Pac-12 rules that required him to finish school before reporting to Winter Park. He also had to learn the art of special teams after not participating on those units at Oregon State.
While it’s easy to write off Crichton as a bust, it’s not fair to expect the rookie to be playing over the likes of Griffen and Robison on a defensive line that is playing at an elite level this season. Just as Griffen and Robison began their careers getting limited reps behind Jared Allen and Ray Edwards, Crichton will do the same.
RB JERICK McKINNON, ROUND 3, PICK 96
GRADE: B
Jerick McKinnon was a big question mark coming out of the draft. Could a college quarterback transition to a pro running back? Was he too small? Could he pass protect?
McKinnon has answered the bell in the stead of Adrian Peterson, splitting carries with Matt Asiata and currently sitting tied for fifth in the league amongst running backs at 5.0 yards per carry.
“I’ve been extremely impressed with him with everything,” said Zimmer. “His pass protection’s getting better … He’s doing some great things running the football. I think Jerick has a very bright future in everything he’s doing.”
McKinnon has two games of 100 yards or more and has shown he can catch the football with 20 receptions on the year. The Georgia Southern grad has a Percy Harvin-like, forward-leaning running style. He bounces off tacklers easily and has great acceleration after contact, though his open-field vision could still improve.
McKinnon’s pass protection, as Zimmer said, is improving but is still a work in progress. The rookie’s 5-foot-9 frame also prevents him from getting many carries in the red zone, which has kept him from scoring a touchdown thus far, though he’s been down to the 1-yard line on multiple occasions.
With Peterson’s future as a Viking in flux, McKinnon wants to prove that he can be a featured running back down the road.
“I think I can develop into an all-down kind of back,” McKinnon said.
OL DAVID YANKEY, ROUND 5, PICK 145
GRADE: Incomplete (with downside)
Unlike Scott Crichton, former Stanford Cardinal David Yankey has had ample opportunity to earn playing time due to major deficiencies on the offensive line. Yankey, who many considered to be an excellent value pick in the late rounds, has yet to be active in any of the Vikings’ nine games.
“As a competitor, everyone wants to play,” said Yankey after his seventh straight deactivation, “Everyone wants to help the team.”
Coach Zimmer said that Yankey needs to get stronger, according to a Pioneer Press report, if he wants to earn an activation.
The Vikings have dealt with, not only injuries, but generally poor play on the offensive line. Right guard Brandon Fusco is out for the year, and his backup Vladimir Ducasse missed time with a knee injury. Meanwhile, left tackle Matt Kalil has been ranked by Pro Football Focus as the worst pass-blocking left tackle in football at several points during the season.
If Yankey hasn’t been able to put his name in the mix yet, he must have a long way to go.
S ANTONE EXUM, ROUND 6, PICK 182
GRADE: C-
Antone Exum turned some heads when he earned a roster spot out of training camp, beating out the likes of Chris Crocker and Kurt Coleman. He’s played very limited reps at safety but was a regular on special teams until last Sunday.
Exum was deactivated in a decision that may have been encouraged by special teams coordinator Mike Priefer, who was frustrated with special teams penalties. Exum committed three penalties in the previous four games, including a blindside block that earned him a fine, and was in street clothes during the Vikings win over Washington.
Indications coming out of college were that Exum could be talented if his knee recovered fully in light of a 2013 ACL tear. It’s hard to say how Exum will pan out as a safety, but if he doesn’t take advantage of his chances on special teams, we may never get the chance to witness his progression. There’s also a possibility Exum has been acting out behind the scenes.
“Kinda got to keep your thumb on him a little bit,” said Zimmer on Oct. 10.
CB KENDALL JAMES, ROUND 6, PICK 184
CUT
Kendall James is the lone member of the 10-man draft class that didn’t make it to Week 1. He was cut from the practice squad on Sept. 2 and has since bounced around to practice squads in Houston and San Diego.
DT SHAMAR STEPHEN, ROUND 7, PICK 220
GRADE: B
Though it’s difficult to quantify in terms of stats, Shamar Stephen has been a pleasant surprise out of the seventh round. The most telling aspect has been Stephen’s inclusion in the defensive tackle rotation from Week 1, as well as Zimmer’s willingness to lump him in with other defensive standouts.
Though Stephen does not have any sacks personally, his D-tackle counterparts have 11.5 combined.
“I think we’re playing pretty well together,” said Stephen. “We’re playing our assignments. Once you start doing the right thing and just doing what you have to do, good things are going to happen, so it’s going to be more productive.”
Stephen gets good push toward the backfield. At 6-foot-5, he is the tallest defensive tackle on the roster, and his strength complements the speed of Sharrif Floyd and Tom Johnson. Stephen’s presence gives the defensive line much-needed depth.
LB BRANDON WATTS, ROUND 7, PICK 223
GRADE: Incomplete
Watts has yet to be activated for a game this year after missing some time with an early-season knee injury. With all linebackers currently healthy, it’s unlikely Watts will see much of the field this season.
The big moments for Watts will come throughout next summer and into training camp. With Chad Greenway growing older, the Vikings will have their eye out for his successor. Watts’ goal will be to keep his name in the conversation.
CB JABARI PRICE, ROUND 7, PICK 225
GRADE: C-
Another late-round pick used to bolster the secondary, Price has gotten most of his reps in special teams. Similar to fellow rookie Antone Exum, Price was benched last Sunday because of special teams penalties in recent weeks.
Price proved to be a serviceable cover corner in training camp but hasn’t seen the field much, especially with the Vikings’ pass defense playing as well as it has.
Being the team’s final pick of the draft, nobody expected to get much out of Price, so the fact that he’s contributed at all makes him valuable. Price feels blessed to be in the position he’s in, and while he’s not using his draft status as an excuse, he is frustrated that he temporarily lost his special teams role.
“I feel that I have to be more consistent and more reliable,” Price said. “I just have to be ready when my number is called and put myself in a better position to make a better decision when that time comes.
“It was something I worked for all offseason,” Price continued, speaking about earning his role on the team, “and it’s something that millions and millions of people wish they could be in my shoes. Not a day goes by where I take it for granted. I’m playing hard. I’ve just got to play smarter.”
Sam Ekstrom is a staff writer for Cold Omaha at 105 The Ticket. He has previously served as a play-by-play broadcaster in Iowa and South Dakota and has covered Minnesota sports since 2012. Follow him on Twitter @SamEkstrom for further insights.