Only one member of the Minnesota Vikings made SB Nation’s All Sophomore team.
It might not be the second-year Viking that you would expect either.
Cornerback Xavier Rhodes is the only Viking on the team. Neither of the other first round picks, defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd or more surprisingly wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson were named to the team.
Rhodes had some moments during his rookie season, but also some struggles. SB Nation expects he will progress under Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer.
Next season will be an interesting one for a few young corners, with Dee Milliner, Xavier Rhodes and D.J. Hayden attempting to play to a first-round standard. Rhodes is the closest to being a solid starter. He had some rough moments, but played well for much of 2013. Mike Zimmer continually gets the best from his corners and his tutelage should help Rhodes take the next step.
SB Nation did put three receivers on the team they were San Diego’s Keenan Allen, Dallas’ Terrence Williams and New Orleans’ Kenny Stills.
The Daily Norseman reacted to Patterson’s snub.
I know Allen had a monster year for the Chargers as a rookie, and probably should have been the rookie of the year. As far as the other two guys? Well, it might be my bias showing through a little bit, but I see no reason that Cordarrelle Patterson can’t be better than both of those guys if he continues to come on like he did at the end of last season.
Patterson caught 45 passes for 469 yards and 4 touchdowns. But it was the ways he impacted the game that made him special.
He became the first player to catch a touchdown, rush for a touchdown and return a kickoff for a touchdown during his rookie season. Patterson finished with 3 rushing touchdowns and returned two kickoffs for scores.
