I'm not a believer that the Minnesota Vikings' 2020 rookie class is doomed to failure in their initial season. This global pandemic has hacked up many things. One of the least important is the integration of rookie football players into NFL teams. But the league rumbles on. Everybody has to adjust to this situation and I think that the Vikings' coaches and their new football players will adjust. As one of the coaches said last week, the rookies have had more installs than in rookie class in history. Everybody will adjust and I expect several of the Vikings' rookies to make an impact in their initial season. They've done what they can and will do what they have to do to be ready for the season. There are 15 drafted rookies in Minnesota this year. It's the largest draft class in the NFL's seven-round draft era.
Draft Picks
1. Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
1. Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU
2. Ezra Cleveland, OT, Boise State
3. Cameron Dantzler, CB, Mississippi State
4. D.J. Wonnum, Edge, South Carolina
4. James Lynch, DT, Baylor
4. Troy Dye, LB, Oregon
5. Harrison Hand, CB, Temple
5. K.J. Osborn, WR, Miami (Fla)
6. Blake Brandel, OL, Oregon State
6. Josh Metellus, S, Michigan
7. Kenny Willekes, Edge, Michigan State
7. Nate Stanley, QB, Iowa
7. Brian Cole II, S, Mississippi State
7. Kyle Hinton, G, Washburn
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That's a big class. The bigger the class, the greater the chances that picks hit. Or so the math says. I'm often optimistic about things but I see quantity and quality among this big draft class. Without having seen any of the 15 rookies compete on a professional football field, I can still see the following making a significant impact for the Vikings as rookies. Perhaps even breaking out.
1. Justin Jefferson
There's a lot of pressure on Justin Jefferson to have success very early in his Vikings career. He's the team's first draft pick. He was selected with the first round pick obtained from the Buffalo Bills for Stefon Diggs. He's expected to step into Digg's play-making role as soon as the Vikings welcome the Green Bay Packers to US Bank Stadium. That's a lot of pressure. Jefferson is an interesting individual. He seems to be very relaxed and ultra-competitive at the same time. He's a confident football player. Perhaps that's from following his brothers to LSU. Despite being a lowly 2-star slappy of a recruit, Jefferson dominated against the best the SEC had to offer. In an uber-talented receiver draft class, he might be the most polished and NFL-ready. I believe that he will pair nicely with Adam Thielen and make a significant impact as a rookie.
2. Jeff Gladney
By the time the 2020 NFL Draft arrived, I'd fallen hard for Jeff Gladney. His feisty, aggressive play is reminiscent of Courtland Finnegan when he was at his annoying best. I think that Gladney will soon be a game-long chore for receivers. He might only measure 5'10" but he looks more like a player a few inches taller in his play. He handled bigger receivers in college. I think that he can handle bigger receivers in the NFL. Just as Xavier Rhodes before him, Gladney may get some flags early in his career as he adjusts to the NFL's contact rules. Hopefully, he's a quick study in that regard.
3. Ezra Cleveland
I was hoping that Ezra Cleveland would open the season as the Vikings' starting left tackle. He was drafted in the second round to be the team's future at the position. I was hoping that the future would start as soon as possible. Last week brought news that Cleveland was working at guard, right guard, in walk-throughs. Things can change over the weeks before the season starts. After all, the Vikings have yet to put on the pads. It doesn't sound like any potential changes along the offensive line will involve left tackle. Riley Reiff will be holding down that job for another season. If the coach's put the five best offensive linemen on the field, I believe that one of them will be Cleveland. Even if it's at right guard. Personally, I see left guard as his 2020 future.
It's easy to just go through the draft picks and tap the top picks as the impact/breakout candidates. It's a bit more bold to pick the mid- or late-round picks.
4. James Lynch
The Vikings have been looking for a pass rush presence on the interior of the defensive line since Kevin Williams. It's been a while since a Vikings' defensive tackle was routinely in the quarterback's face. One of the most interesting training camp battles in Eagan is at defensive tackle. Both starting spots are up for grabs and there are a variety of contenders. James Lynch might be the most intriguing pass rusher of the bunch. He was dynamite at the role at Baylor but he didn't always rush from the interior of the line. With his quickness and the teachings of Andre Patterson on his side, I expect Lynch to make an early and significant impact as a situational, interior pass rusher.
5. Troy Dye
As a Cal fan, Troy Dye was a four-year nuisance. I was thrilled to see him leave Oregon. I was even more thrilled to see him leave Oregon for the Vikings. As soon as he was picked, I thought that he could earn an immediate starting role in the three-linebacker base defense. Then I remembered that Eric Wilson had emerged in that role last season. I still believe that Dye could earn defensive time in some situational packages and I'm certain that he'll make a significant impact on special teams.
6. K.J. Osborn
The Vikings had a string of years in which their returners were among the league's best. Percy Harvin, Cordarrelle Patterson, and Marcus Sherels routinely had coverage units on their heels, on their backs, and in tears. K.J. Osborn is the most promising candidate to become the Vikings' next great returner. From his college deeds, it seems that he's best suited to return punts. Maybe he can return kicks as well. That's a little less important as the league's been legislating kick returns out of the game. I think that Osborn is going to make returns fun again in Minnesota.
Six of fifteen draft picks breaking out as rookies would be nice. While I didn't pick them for breakout rookie roles, many of the remaining nine could have bright Viking futures. I can easily see Cameron Dantzler, D.J. Wonnum, and even last pick Kyle Hinton earning starting roles before the rookie deals are done. One, or both, of Josh Metellus and Brian Cole II could be the starting heirs to Harrison Smith and Anthony Harris at safety. Maybe Nate Stanley eventually does for the Vikings what late-round pick Tom Brady did for the Patriots. Wouldn't that be sweet? Who knows? I do know that I really like the potential of this big, talented draft class.
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