The #Vikings take 2014 Butkus Award Winner Eric Kendricks with the 45th overall selection. #VikingsDraft pic.twitter.com/dxHoXSvFZA
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) May 2, 2015
The Minnesota Vikings stuck with the defensive theme in the second round of the NFL draft – selecting UCLA linebacker Eric Kendricks with the 45th pick.
Kendricks was the winner of the 2014 Butkus Award, which goes to the nation’s top college linebacker. He broke a school record with 149 tackles last season and recorded 10 or more tackles in 11 games.
.@UCLAFootball‘s Eric Kendricks is headed to the @Vikings, the ELEVENTH @Pac12 player selected in the #NFLDraft. https://t.co/0cpI12nvg0
— Pac-12 Networks (@Pac12Networks) May 2, 2015
Kendricks isn’t the only Bruin in the Vikings linebacking corps.
https://twitter.com/GoesslingESPN/status/594293951181426688
Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks go from being roommates at UCLA to teammates (again) with the Vikings. Nice duo for Zimmer's D.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) May 2, 2015
Barr seemed excited about the news on Twitter.
wait are you serious?
— Anthony Barr (@AnthonyBarr) May 2, 2015
I feel like I just got drafted again lol
— Anthony Barr (@AnthonyBarr) May 2, 2015
The Pioneer Press expects Kendricks will battle holdover Audie Cole and free-agent Casey Matthews for the starting middle linebacker job.
Minnesota has a vacancy at that position, since Jasper Brinkley signed a two-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys as a free agent.
Vikings Add LSU defensive end in third round
.Take a look at the newest Viking, @DHunt94_TX –> http://t.co/fKidXRCNTV pic.twitter.com/ZC0DjQZLr4
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) May 2, 2015
After trading back twice in the third round, the Vikings drafted LSU defensive end Danielle Hunter with the 88th overall pick.
Minnesota was scheduled to pick at No. 76, but Spielman traded back twice before making his selection of Hunter.
CBS Sports notes that 6-foot-5, 252 pounds Hunter looks more like a tight end than a pass rusher, but makes big plays against the run and pass because of his combination of length, balance, awareness and agility, but the report notes that he can be slow to get off the ball.
NFL Draft Advisory Board told new #Vikings DE Danielle Hunter (LSU) to not come out. Good measurables. Numbers don't blow you away.
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) May 2, 2015
