Only time will tell how good the Vikings’ 2019 draft class will be. The organization hopes that first-round pick Garrett Bradbury (and Pat Elflein’s transition to guard) will help sew up a line that was one of the worst in the league.
And it doesn’t sound like too many experts or outlets are upset with Bradbury going 18th overall. Let’s assume the Vikings got that pick right, but at same time let’s play devil’s advocate on who the Vikings missed out in later rounds.
WR D.K. Metcalf, second round, No. 64
A lot of pundits had wide receiver D.K. Metcalf as their first receiver off the board in the draft, but he fell to the second round where he was selected by the Seahawks.
Judging by Metcalf’s Hulk-like figure, it’s easy to see why he could turn into an All-Pro. He’s listed at 6′ 3″ and 228 pounds and he ran a 4.33 40 at the NFL Combine. Just look at this human and tell me how you plan on stopping him?
The Seahawks just drafted an absolute unit at wide receiver in D.K. Metcalf 💪😱 pic.twitter.com/TGy7XBgyqS
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) April 27, 2019
He was the last pick of the second round, so he was available when the Vikings picked at 50, but they opted for tight end Irv Smith Jr. instead.
It seems everyone’s trying to find the next Travis Kelce or Rob Gronkowski. However, Kyle Rudolph is still a capable tight end who’s averaged 68 receptions per season since 2016.
Could you imagine trying to stop Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs and Metcalf, while still having Kyle Rudolph and Dalvin Cook in the fold? Good luck.
Hopefully Smith is as advertised and he turns out to be a impact player like Kelce, but Seattle might have the next Calvin Johnson on their team and that would be a bummer for the Vikings.
WR Hakeem Butler, third round, No. 82
The Vikings originally had the 81st pick by the time the third round came around, but Rick Spielman traded back a ton and the Vikings ended up picking at 102, where they selected running back Alexander Mattison.
It’s very likely Mattison will be the backup to Cook and featured heavily in goal-line situations with Minnesota losing Latavius Murray to free agency (Saints).
Another wide receiver who was on the board was Hakeem Butler. The Iowa State product – at least on paper – is even bigger than Metcalf at 6′ 5″ and 227 pounds.
Butler can stretch the field as he averaged 22 yards per reception in his senior year with the Cyclones. He would be an ideal player on the outside while Diggs or Thielen can still inflict havoc anywhere on the gridiron.
Earlier this week, it was reported that the Vikings won’t be picking up Laquon Treadwell’s 2020 option, but he’s currently under contract for 2019. Thor Nystrom of Rotoworld said he’s not even a lock to make the roster, which is a totally fair assessment.
Minnesota didn’t select a wide receiver until the seventh round when they selected Dillon Mitchell out of Oregon and Olabisi Johnson out of Colorado State. They also haven’t signed any other wideout in free agency.
It’s possible those two could push Treadwell for a starting job, but seventh-round picks are rarely locks to make a 53-man roster.
It’s fine to assume the Vikings probably wouldn’t have drafted both Butler and Metcalf, but just one of them would’ve been a welcome addition.
DE Jaylon Ferguson, third round, No. 85
Mike Zimmer had to be foaming from the mouth when he saw Jaylon Ferguson was still on the board in the third round.
Ferguson broke Terrell Suggs’ (who he’s ironically replacing in Baltimore) NCAA career sack record (45) at Louisiana Tech, including 17.5 this past season.
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com said he’s still a bit of work in progress, but clearly he has a nose for getting after quarterbacks.
Everson Griffen, who’s 31 years old, took a pay cut to stay with the Vikings after a down season on the field and it seems like his best years might be behind him. Time will tell.
Danielle Hunter is already one of the best pass rushers in the league. Now imagine Hunter and Ferguson on the same line. Aaron Rodgers’ collarbone should be penning a thank you note to the Vikings as we speak.
QB Easton Stick, fifth round, No. 166
Before you comment in Sponge Bob meme voice saying “ThE ViKiNGs DoNt NeEd a QuARTerBack, don’t. We’ve got you covered.
Stick would be the perfect quarterback to groom under Kirk Cousins, who instead could be the successor to Phillip Rivers in Los Angeles with the Chargers.
He was a proven winner at North Dakota State University and is a dual threat with his legs, rushing for 41 touchdowns in his four years with the Bison.
And let’s be honest, the current backups to Cousins are nothing but placeholders. Kyle Sloter, Sean Mannion and undrafted signee Jake Browning aren’t encouraging options for the future.
If Cousins doesn’t get the Vikings into the playoffs in 2019, he’ll be a lame-duck quarterback in the final year of his contract.
Then, one year from now, the Vikings are looking for answers at quarterback for the millionth time in this millennium. Meanwhile, if Stick continues can prove he can hang in the NFL, that would’ve been a nice contingency plan.
