Minnesota Vikings 2016 Draft

The 2016 NFL Draft is in the books. Here's a look at the football players selected by the Minnesota Vikings.

1. Laquon Teadwell, WR, Mississippi
2. Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson
4. Willie Beavers, T, Western Michigan
5. Kentrell Brothers, LB, Missouri
6. Moritz Boehringer, WR, GFL-Swabish Hall Unicorns
6. David Morgan II, TE, Texas-San Antonio
7. Stephen Weatherly, DE, Vanderbilt
7. Jayron Kearse, S, Clemson


The Vikings 2016 Draft is probably highlighted by the receivers that they selected. Both of them. Laquon Treadwell is expected to be a difference-maker immediately but it was their first selection in the sixth round that got the most attention. Moritz Boehringer. The German receiver from the Swabisch Hill Unicorns. He discovered American football by watching YouTube highlights of Adrian Peterson. He became a Vikings fan on the other side of the Atlantic because of the manner in which Peterson plays the game. It's a pretty cool story that turned into the dominant story on NFL Network's draft telecast when he visited the set not long before the Vikings made the pick. He was the first German-born player ever drafted. The Vikings hope that this becomes much more than a cool story. Boehringer has ridiculous measurables. 6'4" 227 lbs. 4.4 40-yard dash. 39 inch vertical. He's obviously a raw prospect as the game is so new to him but he has some physical traits that simply can't be taught. The addition of Treadwell and Boehringer also make for a crowded and interesting receiver group in Minnesota. But that's for another day. Perhaps tomorrow.

Mackensie Alexander was a surprise gift in the second. Early in the draft evaluation process he was a top-15 pick. For some reason he dropped to the bottom third of the second round. Why that happened is puzzling. Could it be his zero interceptions in his two years as a starting corner. Well, quarterbacks avoided him because they completed less than a quarter of their passes to his man. Alexander is a feisty, chatty, talented corner. He claimed to be the most talented corner in the draft. He might be right. If so, the Vikings got very lucky. Captain Munnerlyn is the current nickel corner. He was very good last year but is in the last year of his contract. Alexander is likely the Vikings future at the position. The Munnerlyn-Alexander battle might be one of the most entertaining and interesting position battles in training camp.

The Vikings offensive line had to be improved this offseason. With that in mind it was a mild surprise that Willie Beavers was the only offensive lineman selected. They did add a couple linemen in free agency. Beavers played tackle at Western Michigan but he's being moved to guard. At least he is initially being moved there. He has skills but is probably a year or two away from really competing for a starting spot. It sounds like Beavers was targeted by new offensive line coach Tony Sparano. That's good enough for me.

Kentrell Brothers was a highly productive middle linebacker at Missouri. He simply gets to the ball carrier on a regular basis. Coaches love players with a high football IQ. Brothers is one of those players. He should contribute immediately on special teams. He had a knack for blocking kicks in college. Always a fine skill. The Vikings now have a very crowded linebacker group. His immediate special teams play should land him a roster spot. His instincts, ability to get the ball carrier to the ground, and high football IQ could get him the Vikings middle linebacker spot in the near future.

David Morgan II was one of the best blocking tight ends in football. The Vikings have had a fondness for those players since Jim Kleinsasser was putting defenders on their backs. Rhett Ellison has been excellent in that spot but he's recovering from a torn patellar tendon. An injury doesn't always end well. The Vikings traded up in the draft to select Morgan so they see something that they like.

Stephen Weatherly is a different sort of football player. He plays six musical instruments. He went to Vanderbilt. Math is an interest. An interest! Like a hobby! He played outside linebacker in college but he'll move to defensive end. He's a pass rushing project like last year's 3rd-round pick Danielle Hunter. Hunter was a quick study and became a defensive force by the end of the season. Perhaps Weatherly can follow a similar path.

Jayron Kearse caught my attention last fall. He's hard to miss at 6'4" and about 215 lbs. He was a giant at the back of a talented Clemson defense. He also moves more like a smaller player. His athleticism was obvious but he missed a lot of tackles. He left some plays on the football field. That's probably a big reason for his being a 7th-round pick rather than an early round pick. He's the nephew of former pass rushing dynamo Jevon Kearse so he has an NFL pedigree. He just has to put it all together. Hopefully head coach Mike Zimmer and secondary coach Jerry Gray can help him become the player that he has the talent to be.

This is an interesting draft. The Vikings have added a lot of high level talent to the roster in recent years. Having seven first round picks from 2012-14 will help do that. They have a talented roster without a lot of holes. They aren't in the position where they need immediate returns on a majority of their draft picks. Laquon Treadwell is probably the only new addition that will be expected to contribute immediately. Mackensie Alexander and Kentrell Brothers will certainly have prominent roles on special teams but they have the talent to make significant contributions on defense. How soon that happens is up to them. Willie Beavers, Moritz Boehringer, and Stephen Weatherly could have very bright futures but it might take a little longer. David Morgan's future with the Vikings might depend as much on Rhett Ellison's recovery from injury as it does on his performance. If Jayron Kearse's play can match his talent he could become a dynamite football player.

Eight new players. And the Vikings added 3rd- and 4th-round picks to their draft next year when they traded out of the third round.