The rookies have spoken.
Vikings first round picks Sharrif Floyd, Xavier Rhodes and Cordarrelle Patterson were introduced to the media at an afternoon news conference at Winter Park.
The trio were selected Thursday night in the first round of the NFL Draft, marking the first time since 1967 that Minnesota had three selections in the first round (Clint Jones, Gene Washington, Alan Page). Two years later, the Vikings were playing in their first Super Bowl.
Floyd, Rhodes and Patterson join a group that unexpectedly made the playoffs last year, as the team finished with a 10-6 record. So yes, they’re all uniformly excited to be here.
Here’s a quick look at what they said:
Sharrif Floyd (DT), Florida, who arguably fell from 3rd to 23rd in the draft:
“There’s a chip there, obviously. (But) … it’s out of my control, it’s what a ball club needs. I was calm. I knew at the end of the day, I’d end up somewhere. I ended up a Minnesota Viking, which is a great thing.”
Xavier Rhodes (CB), Florida State University, on playing the run as well as Antoine Winfield:
“I’m not afraid of contact at all … I completely love it. My thing is to just get better every day.”
Cordarrelle Patterson (WR) Tennessee, on Minnesota trading four draft picks to move back intot the first round:
“The Vikings … they believed in me … and they did what they had to do to come and get me.”
