FanPost

Flip's Five: Draft Studs

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I have started posting on another website. I deeply love interacting with the community here, however, so I will continue to post a copy of my articles here as well. Hope y'all enjoy!

"We should have drafted Marcus Peters instead!"

"We should have drafted Michael Thomas instead!"

These are my two least favorite arguments among Vikings fans. Claiming that a drafted player was a mistake because he’s not the best player from that draft doesn’t make much sense to me. Furthermore, the argument can be reversed. There are several moments where Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman clearly did get the right guy.

I did a study by looking at each draft and each position group the Vikings drafted. When did they clearly get the best guy still on the board?

I’ve limited the discussion to players who are still on the Vikings, since that’s all I really care about. If you would like to discuss past draftees, like Percy Harvin, or Scott Crichton, I think it’s time to let go. I am also not looking at undrafted free agents. If no team drafted them, it’s hard to argue Rick should have.

Here are five studs that the Vikings have drafted:

Kyle Rudolph

The first name on this list is a close one! Drafted in 2011, Rudy was the first TE off the board that year. Kyle has battled injuries throughout his six-year career, and he has had some key drops that would quickly change the narrative on him if caught. Despite all that, he plays great (when he’s healthy) and just put together an awesome 83 catch, 840 yard, 7 TD season. Jordan Cameron and Julius Thomas were drafted behind Rudolph, but Slick Rick still made the right choice here.

Harrison Smith

A year after Rudolph, the Vikings GM went back to the draft to find another star in Harrison Smith. "Hitman" was the second safety off the board and he broke out immediately. Now, as the centerpiece as the defense, this pick deserves the highest praise for Rick. The next safeties off the board were Tavon Wilson, Brandon Taylor, and Brandon Hardin. Otherwise known as who, who, and who??? Justin Bethel and George Iloka came later. They’re great but they’re not Harrison Smith.

Xavier Rhodes

Another year, another stud. 2013 was a great CB class, and Rick still nailed the pick. To snag the best DB from a group made of Robert Alford, Micah Hyde, Tyrann Mathieu, Logan Ryan, and Darius Slay is impressive. It took Xavier a year to get his ducks in a row, but season 2 was a breakout, and being under Mike Zimmer certainly helped. Now Rhodes is ascending to get league-wide acclaim. I love it when this guy is in the spotlight, because he seems to shines even brighter in it.

Eric Kendricks

This one is pretty close. With fewer years on record, it becomes harder to assess quality players. Kendricks has put two great years together, but so has Kwon Alexander, who was drafted by Tampa Bay two rounds later. Outside of him, there isn’t much else. The jist of this LB draft is that there were very few pro-ready backers and the Vikings nabbed one of them while putting him next to his former college roommate. You can’t argue this selection.

I have to take a pause now and tell you a little more about Kwon Alexander. Danielle Hunter’s teammate at LSU had a monstrous 2016 campaign. Consider Eric Kendricks and the talent that he is, and then increase his tackle production by 33%. That’s what Kwon did, He was everywhere and he plays next to Lavonte David. It will be pass first when the Vikings play them in Week 3.

Danielle Hunter

Unlike ILB, there were a plethora of pass rushers taken in the 2015 NFL Draft. The Vikings didn’t necessarily need one, with two veterans manning the edges, but that allowed them to take the super raw freak athlete Hunter. He started flashing early and often in limited time behind Robison and Griffen. Now, Vikings fans excitedly await the Danielle Hunter breakout of 2017. I would not trade Hunter, nor the excitement he brings, for anything. Trey Flowers of New England is also poised for breakout and his production compared to Hunter is laughable.

In 2015, the Vikings first three picks were Trae Waynes, Kendricks and Hunter. So when someone is lamenting about Marcus Peters, ask them how they feel about picks #2 and #3. There’s no debate. When playing the "should have drafted" game, Vikings fans need to realize that Rick is great at that game. The above five studs prove it, and there are five more late round steals on the way next week.

This FanPost was created by a registered user of The Daily Norseman, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the site. However, since this is a community, that view is no less important.