Daily Norseman - Minnesota Vikings 2014 NFL Draft CentralThe Purple and Gold Standardhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48653/dailynorseman_fave.png2014-05-16T12:39:30-05:00http://www.dailynorseman.com/rss/stream/54581592014-05-16T12:39:30-05:002014-05-16T12:39:30-05:00Vikings Sign James, Price
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<figcaption>Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Minnesota Vikings</a> signed two more of their draft picks on Friday, announcing them at the same time they announced the signing of guard <span>David Yankey</span>.</p>
<p>The team announced the signings of cornerbacks Kendall James and Jabari Price. James was selected at #184 overall in the sixth round, while Price was the last of Minnesota's ten picks, being taken at #235 overall. No terms have been announced for either of those deals.</p>
<p>At this point, we're not sure how much is going to be expected of James or Price at this point. They will obviously compete for jobs in the secondary and on special teams, but having been drafted as late as they were, they're going to have an uphill battle ahead of them.</p>
<p>In any case, however, welcome to the National Football League, Kendall James and Jabari Price!</p>
<p>This means that three of the Vikings' ten draftees have been signed to contracts. Hopefully we will continue to sign these signings continue throughout the weekend and the team can get this taken care of early on.</p>
https://www.dailynorseman.com/2014/5/16/5724056/2014-nfl-draft-minnesota-vikings-sign-kendall-james-jabari-priceChristopher Gates2014-05-16T12:19:44-05:002014-05-16T12:19:44-05:002014 NFL Draft: Vikings Draftees Choose Numbers
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<figcaption>Picture courtesy of Arif Hasan's Twitter account (@ArifHasanNFL)</figcaption>
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<p>The players that were drafted last week by the <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Minnesota Vikings</a> are taking part in their first rookie camp starting today, and that means that they've chosen the numbers that they will be wearing as members of the team. Since folks are interested in that sort of thing, let's take a look at who picked which number, and a bit of the Vikings' history behind each one.</p>
<p>We'll do this in the order that they were drafted.</p>
<p><b>LB Anthony Barr - #55</b></p>
<p>This number has a long and illustrious history among Minnesota Vikings' linebackers. Scott Studwell wore the number for his entire 14-year career with the Vikings. Then it got a year off, and Jack Del Rio wore it in his four-year run with the team. It was most recently worn by <span>Kenny Onatolu</span> from 2009 to 2011, and by <span>Marvin Mitchell</span> during the past two seasons.</p>
<p><b>QB Teddy Bridgewater - #5</b></p>
<p>The history of this number. . .well, it depends on your perspective. The two most recent Vikings to wear it were punter <span>Chris Kluwe</span> and quarterback Donovan McNabb. Kluwe had the number from 2005 to 2010, and took it back in 2012 after giving it to McNabb for the 2011 season. <strike>Oh, and <span>Josh Freeman</span> wore it last season, for those of you that haven't erased that from your memory banks.</strike> (Never mind, no he didn't.)</p>
<p><b>DE Scott Crichton - #72</b></p>
<p>Not a whole lot of history behind this one for our favorite football team. The best player to wear the number was probably <span>James White</span>, a defensive tackle that spent his entire eight-year career (1976-1983) with the Vikings. Seth Olsen wore the number last year (prior to his injury) and <span>Chris DeGeare</span> wore it before him.</p>
<p><b>RB Jerick McKinnon - #31</b></p>
<p>The most success with the number 31 for the Vikings seems to belong to running backs, as it was worn by both Rick Fenney (who was awesome on Tecmo Bowl way back when) and Scottie Graham. Defensive backs have had significantly less success, as it was recently worn by <span>Marcus McCauley</span>, <span>Chris Cook</span> (for his first two seasons), and Bobby Felder. Good argument for keeping McKinnon at running back, I suppose.</p>
<p><b>G <span>David Yankey</span> - #66</b></p>
<p>The number 66 doesn't have a whole lot of history, either. It was most recently worn by John Gerak from 1993 to 1996 (with a couple of guys that didn't see any action for the Vikings wearing it in 2011). The best player to wear #66 in purple was probably Terry Tausch, who held down the right guard spot for the Vikings for several years in the early and mid-80s.</p>
<p><b>DB Antone Exum - #32</b></p>
<p>Like #31, most of the success that this number has seen in Vikings' history has come from the running back position. We know that 32 was most recently worn by <span>Toby Gerhart</span>, but it was also the number of Onterrio "Whizzinator" Smith and the underrated Amp Lee. On the other hand, defensive backs haven't had a lot of success with the #32. Hopefully Exum can change that.</p>
<p><b>CB Kendall James - #40</b></p>
<p>The #40 has a lot of sentimental value for many fans in recent history, as it was the number worn by tight end/fullback <span>Jim Kleinsasser</span> during his entire Minnesota tenure. It was also worn by a somewhat forgotten defensive back for the Vikings named Charlie West, who intercepted 15 passes in his Vikings' career, including seven in 1971. It's currently being worn by tight end/fullback <span>Rhett Ellison</span>.</p>
<p><b>DT Shamar Stephen - #76</b></p>
<p>While the big defensive tackle has chosen #76, the greatest success this number has seen in Vikings' history has been on the other side of the trenches. It was worn by future Hall of Fame guard <span>Steve Hutchinson</span>, as well as the outstanding Tim Irwin. And don't forget Chris Liwienski, a fixture on Minnesota's offensive line from 1998 to 2005. <span>Geoff Schwartz</span> also wore 76 in his one season in Minnesota.</p>
<p><b>LB Brandon Watts - #58</b></p>
<p>The number 58 has a pretty good history with Minnesota linebackers. It was worn by the late Wally Hilgenberg from 1968 to 1979, and then later on by Ed McDaniel from 1992 to 2001. <span>Napoleon Harris</span>, one of the pieces of the <span>Randy Moss</span> trade, also wore the number while he was a member of the Vikings.</p>
<p><b>CB Jabari Price - #39</b></p>
<p>Any defensive back wearing 39 in Minnesota has some pretty big shoes to fill, as that was the number worn by Carl Lee during his 11-season tenure in Minnesota. The number was also worn by <span>Husain Abdullah</span> recently, and early in Vikings' history by Hugh McElhenny and Bobby Walden.</p>
<p>And those are the uniform numbers for the Minnesota Vikings' 2014 draft class, and a look at the players that have worn the number before them. All of this data was provided by the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/uniform.cgi">uniform number locator at Pro Football Reference</a>.</p>
https://www.dailynorseman.com/2014/5/16/5723934/2014-nfl-draft-vikings-draftees-choose-numbersChristopher Gates2014-05-16T11:46:02-05:002014-05-16T11:46:02-05:00Vikings Sign David Yankey
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Minnesota Vikings</a> have, for the most part, been among the last teams to sign their draft picks. However, with the rookie slotting system now in place, most contracts don't require a whole lot of negotiating, and as a result the team starts getting things done early.</p>
<p>And, according to ESPN's Ben Goessling, the Vikings have done just that, signing fifth-round pick David Yankey to his first NFL contract on Friday. The details on the contract, according to Goessling. . .</p>
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<p>Per league source, <span>David Yankey's</span> contract is a standard deal for his draft spot ($206,900 bonus and $2,426,900 total over next 4 years).</p>
— Ben Goessling (@GoesslingESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/GoesslingESPN/statuses/467336388300374016">May 16, 2014</a>
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Yankey, a two-time All-American for the Cardinal (at two different positions, left tackle and left guard), was considered a second-day pick by most experts, but fell to the Vikings with the 148th overall selection. That was the pick they received from the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Cleveland Browns</a> for swapping first-round picks. He is expected to push incumbent <span>Charlie Johnson</span> for a starting spot on the Vikings' offensive line.</p>
<p>Congratulations to David Yankey on his first NFL contract, and welcome to the National Football League!</p>
https://www.dailynorseman.com/2014/5/16/5723872/david-yankey-signs-with-minnesota-vikingsChristopher Gates2014-05-15T16:26:16-05:002014-05-15T16:26:16-05:00Best And Worst Case For Each Vikings Draft Pick
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<figcaption>Anthony Barr leads a 2014 Vikings draft class that goes ten deep. What's the best (and worst) we could see from him? | Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Daily Norseman looks at all ten 2014 Vikings draft picks and evaluates the best and worst possible outcomes for each player.</p> <p>The dust has started to settle on another crazy <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">NFL Draft</a> cyclone that swept through the league last weekend. Once again, every single one of the 2.63 kajillion mock drafts posted online was incorrect. Once again, Rick Spielman dealt his way back into the tail end of the opening night of the draft for an additional first round pick. Once again, Spielman made trade after trade late in the draft to end up with a total amount of draft picks in the double digits.</p>
<p>And once again, now it's time for completely meaningless draft grades and 2015 mock drafts!</p>
<p>Just kidding. Hopefully you know my stance on mock drafts and immediately handing out draft grades by now. (Short answer: I'll leave the mocking to Mark, and the only grades I'll read about are the grades like <a href="http://www.dailynorseman.com/2014/5/11/5703916/vikings-draft-grades" target="_blank">CCNorseman posted on Sunday</a>--for drafts that happened at least three years ago). The NFL's "Silly Season" is still in full swing even after the draft since we're still months from actual football, but at least we have real live players to talk about now instead of endless speculation about who <i>might</i> be on the team.</p>
<p>Training Camp is still over two months away, but don't fret--<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Vikings</a> rookie mini-camp starts today! (The portion open to the media starts Friday.) Naturally everyone is excited to see what the new guys can do. From the big names at the top to the undrafted free agents signed after the draft, Vikings fans are hoping to get some big contributions from the new blood to reverse the fortunes of a dismal 2013 campaign.</p>
<p>But what can we <i>really</i> expect from the large 2014 Minnesota Vikings rookie class? After covering all three days of the NFL draft from Vikings headquarters at Winter Park and interacting with the beat writers, I can let you in on an NFL Insider secret:</p>
<p><i>Nobody knows what to expect</i>.</p>
<p>If there was a crystal ball for the NFL Draft we wouldn't have to look back and wonder what the hell the Vikings were thinking by drafting All-Pros like <span>Chris Cook</span>, <span>Marcus McCauley</span>, and...well, the entire 2005 draft class. The draft was, is, and always will be an imperfect science of educated guesses. So instead of guessing how all ten draft picks will pan out or predicting which rookies will have the most impact (mostly because Chris <a href="http://www.dailynorseman.com/2014/5/14/5717544/vikings-rookie-class-who-will-have-the-greatest-impact" target="_blank">already did that</a>), let's take a look at the best and worse case scenarios for each of the ten players the Vikings chose.</p>
<h4><span>Anthony Barr</span></h4>
<p><b>Best case:</b> The linebacker from UCLA lives up to his top-10 draft status and terrorizes opposing quarterbacks all year off the edge. His superior athleticism allows him to quickly accommodate to the strong side linebacker role in Mike Zimmer's defense and changes a position that was a major liability last year into an asset. His versatility keeps him on the field as a 3-down linebacker that can attack the pass and run from numerous places on the field.</p>
<p><b>Worst case:</b> Barr's lack of experience on the defensive side of the ball makes him too much a liability in coverage. His freakish athleticism can't cover his lack of technique and he's gobbled up by blockers with better hands. He can only take the field in obvious pass rushing situations, and linebacker remains a major weak point for the Vikings in 2014.</p>
<h4><span>Teddy Bridgewater</span></h4>
<p><b>Best case:</b> Teddy proves he's the player that was a consensus top pick most of last year. He proves the phrase "pro ready" isn't just a draft day buzzword. The Vikings cautiously bring Bridgewater along, making sure he has a firm grasp of Norv Turner's offense before throwing him to the wolves. But Bridgewater quickly shows that he can read and react at the high level he has shown throughout his career and the game never seems "too fast" for him. Bridgewater's pinpoint accuracy, especially in the face of pressure, has the Vikings constantly moving the sticks and opens up running lanes for <span>Adrian Peterson</span>. His college experience running a pro style offense allows him to easily transition into a bona fide NFL starting quarterback. Finally, after years and years of trying and failing, it looks like the Minnesota Vikings have their quarterback of the future. Stores can't seem to keep purple #5 jerseys in stock. Chris and Arif write articles with stats and anecdotes that politely say "I told you so" to all of Bridgewater's earlier detractors. Ted writes Stock Market Reports that have Bridgewater in the "Blue Chip" section every week. And finally, Kyle's gameday tweets from Florida are happy drunk, not sad drunk.</p>
<p><b>Worst case:</b> Uh oh. <i>This</i> was why he slid down the boards so much on draft day. His quiet demeanor proves that he isn't comfortable leading a professional team. His playing time is one of two extremes: a) the Vikings threw him out there too early and his ensuing struggles ruined his confidence, or b) his reps at practice have shown the coaches that he can't even beat out <span>Matt Cassel</span> or <span>Christian Ponder</span>. His lack of arm strength gets him into trouble and he's forcing throws that only certain quarterbacks should be making. His lack of prototypical size means he's constantly banged up and never 100% healthy. After years and years of trying, it looks like the Vikings have once again failed to find their quarterback of the future.</p>
<h4><span>Scott Crichton</span></h4>
<p><b>Best case:</b> Crichton proves that he was worthy of top-50 grade that many draft experts gave him and should have been selected much higher than the third round. He uses his explosive power and relentless motor to become an integral part of Zimmer's defensive line rotation. His inside moves and excellent anticipation stop countless draw plays and runs to his side. Not only can he give <span>Brian Robison</span> and <span>Everson Griffen</span> rest to keep them fresh, he can take meaningful snaps on the interior line in place of <span>Linval Joseph</span> and <span>Sharrif Floyd</span> to give them a quick break as well. Crichton does so well that he elevates the play of the entire defensive line and makes the Vikings' pass rush a headache for opposing quarterbacks all year.</p>
<p><b>Worst case:</b> Crichton struggles in camp and can't win snaps over the likes of <span>Fred Evans</span>, <span>Chase Baker</span>, and <span>Spencer Nealy</span>. He doesn't develop additional pass rush techniques and is scouted as a one-trick pony that can easily be ushered out of harm's way by opposing schemes. Instead of being an integral part of the rotation, he becomes just another body that's there in case one of the starters gets hurt.</p>
<h4><span>Jerick McKinnon</span></h4>
<p><b>Best case:</b> Two words: <span>Darren Sproles</span>. McKinnon's off-the-charts athleticism makes him a formidable change-of-pace back that's a threat to take it to the house every time he touches the ball. Norv Turner uses McKinnon in the same manner he used Sproles in San Diego, adding another dangerous dimension to Minnesota's offense. He can come in on third downs and be a reliable backup to Adrian Peterson, making sure that AP stays fresh throughout the season.</p>
<p><b>Worst case:</b> McKinnon's lack of experience playing running back makes him a liability in pass protection and hinders his field vision when reading blocks from the backfield. While an amazing athlete, he struggles to find a niche in Turner's offense and can't get past guys like <span>Matt Asiata</span> and <span>Joe Banyard</span> on the depth chart. McKinnon becomes the poor man's version of Joe Webb--an athlete that never really fit anywhere in the Vikings' scheme.</p>
<h4><span>David Yankey</span></h4>
<p><b>Best case:</b> Quite simply, he takes <span>Charlie Johnson</span>'s job. Yankey quickly proves that falling to the fifth round was a big mistake for the teams that passed on him. He uses his size, power, and intelligence to rocket up the Vikings depth chart and solidify the interior of the Vikings offensive line for years to come.</p>
<p><b>Worst case:</b> Yankey's inconsistent footwork and below-average foot speed get him into trouble. At Stanford he could simply out-muscle most people that lined up across from him; in the NFL defenders are simply running around him. Yankey becomes just another guy and doesn't play any significant snaps outside of filling in for injuries.</p>
<h4><span>Antone Exum</span></h4>
<p><b>Best case:</b> Exum proves why so many people were hoping the Vikings picked him up in the later rounds. He quickly makes a name for himself in Training Camp with thunderous hits and leapfrogs the likes of <span>Andrew Sendejo</span> and <span>Jamarca Sanford</span> on the depth chart at Strong Safety by the end of the season. He teams with <span>Harrison Smith</span> to become one of the more feared safety tandems in the league for wide receivers running routes across the middle of the field. He can even take snaps as a physical cornerback in a pinch.</p>
<p><b>Worst case:</b> Exum is a "tweener" that doesn't really fit at safety or corner. His slow closing speed causes him to get burned in the preseason and buried in the depth chart. His knees, which were a question mark coming into the draft, act up again and he doesn't make an impact on defense or special teams.</p>
<h4>Kendall James</h4>
<p><b>Best case:</b> James uses his athleticism to make waves on defense and special teams from the get-go. His instincts against the pass prove to give the Vikings some valuable depth in an area they desperately need it.</p>
<p><b>Worst case:</b> His questionable tackling ability and below average size prevents him from catching on with defensive teams, and he doesn't do enough on defense to merit a spot on the final 53-man roster.</p>
<h4><span>Shamar Stephen</span></h4>
<p><b>Best case:</b> The rich get richer--the Vikings defensive line adds another rotational piece that can play meaningful snaps and keep the starters fresh. He uses his formidable size and strength to earn a roster spot as a nose tackle.</p>
<p><b>Worst case:</b> He doesn't fit into a unit that's becoming more and more crowded after free agency and the draft. He's a better fit as a 3-4 defensive end and needs to look for an NFL job elsewhere.</p>
<h4>Brandon Watts</h4>
<p><b>Best case:</b> Watts uses his top-notch speed and fluid movement to his advantage to surprise people at camp. He becomes a remix of Larry Dean--a versatile linebacker that can shine on special teams and provide depth in an area that desperately needs it. Allows fans like me to use the phrase "TURN DOWN FOR WATTS!" on Twitter every time he makes a play.</p>
<p><b>Worst case:</b> He's a <i>bad </i>remix of Larry Dean--an undersized linebacker that doesn't make it on the special teams unit or out of training camp.</p>
<h4>Jabari Price</h4>
<p><b>Best case:</b> The obviously emphasis the Vikings put on speed and athleticism pays off--the late-round pick Price is able to stick around by using his athleticism to his advantage on special teams. It might be at the expense of fellow draftees like Exum and James, but Price makes the squad to give both the special teams and secondary a nice bump in depth.</p>
<p><b>Worst case: </b>He proves why he was a 7th round pick and the last of ten players drafted by the Vikings this year. He didn't do anything especially great in college, and that didn't change in the pros. Cut.</p>
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<p>Of course most of what actually happens for each player the Vikings drafted will fall somewhere in between, but let's hope that everyone's first paragraph is a better description of how their NFL careers turn out. What do you expect from each player the Vikings drafted? Can some expectations go even higher or lower than what I projected? Let us know in the comments.</p>
https://www.dailynorseman.com/2014/5/15/5720398/minnesota-vikings-2014-nfl-draft-picks-best-and-worst-case-scenariosEric Thompson2014-05-14T14:24:14-05:002014-05-14T14:24:14-05:00How Far Have The Vikings' Rookies Come?
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<p>Some of the SB Nation NFL sites have been taking a look back to see how their current rookie classes were perceived in their high school years. How many "stars" did some of their players have as recruits? Where did they rank? Well, let's take a look at our own rookie class in the same light, shall we?</p>
<p>This information is going to come from Rivals.com. Rivals is one of the premiere services for high school recruiting and generally tend to do a pretty good job with these sorts of things.</p>
<p>As you might expect, quarterback <span>Teddy Bridgewater</span> was the most ballyhooed prospect in this <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Minnesota Vikings</a> draft class. The ones that were drafted, at least. A <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/ucf/football/recruiting/player-Teddy-Bridgewater-87781" target="_blank">four-star recruit</a> out of Northwestern High School in Miami, Florida, the 6'3", 185-pound Bridgewater was rated as the <a href="https://rivals.yahoo.com/ucf/football/recruiting/rankings/rank-2648/0" target="_blank">#6 "dual threat" quarterback</a> in the nation for the Class of 2011. He was also #113 on Rivals' ranking of the <a href="https://rivals.yahoo.com/ucf/football/recruiting/rankings/rank-2602/0" target="_blank">top 250 high school players</a> in the country that year.</p>
<p>Linebacker <span>Anthony Barr</span>. . .or, back then, "athlete" <span>Anthony Barr</span>. . .had his own share of hype. He was a four-star recruit out of Loyola High School in Los Angeles, and was Rivals' #5 "athlete" for 2010. I'm not sure exactly how Rivals defines "athlete," but a look at the list shows players that wound up playing numerous different positions in college, including receivers <span>Robert Woods</span> and <span>DeAndre Hopkins</span>, cornerbacks <span>Justin Gilbert</span> and <span>Bashaud Breeland</span>, and even (college) quarterback Kain Colter. The last sentence of <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/kansas/football/recruiting/player-Anthony-Barr-86423" target="_blank">Barr's profile</a> is kind of funny in hindsight, too. Remember, he spent his high school (and early college) years on offense.</p>
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<p>He is a versatile athlete and could possibly end up as an outside linebacker, weakside defensive end or even a tight end if running back does not work out.</p>
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<p>Good call, Rivals.</p>
<p>Defensive end <span>Scott Crichton</span> wasn't quite as highly thought-of. He <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Scott-Crichton-105665" target="_blank">garnered a three-star rating</a> coming out of Henry Foss High School in Tacoma, Washington, and he was ranked as the #44 strong-side defensive end in the country, as well as the #12 player in the state of Washington.</p>
<p><span>Jerick McKinnon</span>, who was <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nebraska/football/recruiting/player-Jerick-McKinnon-99224" target="_blank">listed as a wide receiver</a> at Marietta, Georgia's Sprayberry High School, didn't crack any of the national rankings. Interestingly enough, McKinnon had scholarship offers from both Air Force <i>and</i> Navy before deciding to commit to Georgia Southern. Says a lot about his character, in my opinion. . .and the fact that he was a wide receiver in high school might allay concerns about his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield or out of the slot.</p>
<p><span>David Yankey</span> was also a <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/clemson/football/recruiting/player-David-Yankey-85338" target="_blank">three-star recruit</a> coming out of Centennial High School in Roswell, Georgia. He was ranked as the #47 offensive tackle in America by Rivals, and had scholarship offers from thirteen different colleges. Interestingly, he was listed as 275 pounds coming out of high school. At the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-combine">Scouting Combine</a>, he weighed in at 315.</p>
<p>Moving on to the sixth round, we find another three-star recruit in <span>Antone Exum</span>. A product of Deep Run High School in Glen Allen, Virginia, <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/virginiatech/football/recruiting/player-Antone-Exum-63152" target="_blank">Exum was classified</a> under the same "athlete" heading as Anthony Barr was. In the class of 2009, Exum was the 38th-best "athlete" in high school football. Again, it's a <a href="https://rivals.yahoo.com/virginiatech/football/recruiting/rankings/rank-2133/0" target="_blank">very interesting mix of players on the list</a>, including current Vikings' cornerback <span>Josh Robinson</span> (#18) and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Detroit Lions</a>' second-round draft pick <span>Kyle Van Noy</span> (#24).</p>
<p>I can't seem to find a Rivals profile for the Vikings' other sixth-round pick, cornerback Kendall James. Not sure if it exists or not. If anyone manages to find one, please point me to it.</p>
<p>As we reach the seventh round, defensive tackle <span>Shamar Stephen</span> wasn't highly sought-after either, from the looks of things. Stephen, who has also put on about 40-45 pounds in his time at Connecticut, was a <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/footballrecruiting/football/recruiting/player-Shamar-Stephen-86233" target="_blank">two-star recruit</a>, and didn't register on any of Rivals' lists coming out of Lutheran High School in Brookville, New York.</p>
<p>Brandon Watts is another current Vikings' draftee that was a <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/footballrecruiting/football/recruiting/player-Brandon-Watts-72433" target="_blank">three-star recruit</a> coming out of high school. Coming out of Washington County High School in Sandersville, Georgia, Watts made a couple of national lists as well. He was ranked as the #59 outside linebacker prospect in the country for the class of 2009, as well as the 68th-ranked player overall coming out of the state of Georgia that year.</p>
<p>Last, but not least, we find another <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Jabari-Price-92122" target="_blank">three-star recruit</a> in cornerback Jabari Price. He was ranked as the 83rd-best cornerback in the country coming out of Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach, Florida. That wasn't enough for him to crack either the national rankings at the position, nor did he make the overall list for the state of Florida for the class of 2010.</p>
<p>Taking a look at some of the undrafted free agents the Vikings have brought in, offensive tackle <span>Antonio Richardson</span>. . .known to his friends as "Tiny". . .was a <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/usc/football/recruiting/player-Antonio-Richardson-89115" target="_blank">four-star recruit</a> and the #7 offensive tackle in America coming out of Pearl-Cohn High School in Nashville, Tennessee. He was also the #1 overall player to come out of the state of Tennessee in 2011. Tight end A.C. Leonard was another <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/footballrecruiting/football/recruiting/player-A.C.-Leonard-105630" target="_blank">four-star recruit</a>, and was also rated the #5 tight end in the nation and the 15th-best player in the state of Florida, and the 57th-best player in the country in 2011. Oh, and if you go to Leonard's page at the link there, it says that Leonard reminds them of. . .Aaron Hernandez. Yes, <i>that</i> Aaron Hernandez. Hope he doesn't remind them that much of him.</p>
<p>That's a look at how far some of the Vikings' crop of rookies has come since their formative years on the gridiron. Hopefully you found the information interesting, if nothing else.</p>
https://www.dailynorseman.com/2014/5/14/5717790/how-far-have-the-vikings-rookies-comeChristopher Gates2014-05-14T13:32:54-05:002014-05-14T13:32:54-05:00Which Vikings Rookies Will Have The Most Impact?
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<figcaption>Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Minnesota Vikings</a> have added a bevy of fresh faces over the past few days, and I know that we're all looking forward to seeing them take the field. But which players are going to have the biggest impact on the Vikings' 2014 season? Well, this is one man's opinion on who the most impactful first-year players for the Vikings will be. I was initially just going to limit this to the team's draft class, but I think a couple of undrafted free agents are going to make an impact as well, so I expanded it a bit.</p>
<p>There's a pretty good chance that this will be off by a bit come August and September, but again, this is just one man's opinion.</p>
<p><b>1) <span>Teddy Bridgewater</span>, quarterback</b> - As I've already expressed, <a href="http://www.dailynorseman.com/2014/5/12/5709668/could-teddy-bridgewater-start-right-away" target="_blank">I'm having trouble seeing a scenario</a> where Bridgewater doesn't win the "open competition" in training camp between himself, <span>Matt Cassel</span>, and Christian Ponder. All three quarterbacks are basically starting from the same level in Norv Turner's offense, and with that being the case, I don't think there's any question that Bridgewater is the best quarterback. With Bridgewater's ability to quickly learn and adapt to systems, I think it would be an upset if either of the other two could keep him from being the Week 1 starter. I know that a lot of folks want the Vikings to be "patient" with Bridgewater, but if he's the clear-cut best quarterback on the team as much as I think he is. . .and he proves it in July and August. . .there's no reason to sit him. So, his being on top of this list is based on my supposition that he starts from Week 1.</p>
<p><b>2) <span>David Yankey</span>, guard</b> - Surprised? Don't be. Barring a camp injury, I firmly believe that Yankey will be the starter at left guard when the regular season gets underway. The two-time All-American (at two different positions) was a steal for the Vikings in the fifth round, and should prove to be an upgrade over <span>Charlie Johnson</span> at the left guard spot. With four other solid, veteran pieces on the offensive line, Yankey should be able to get comfortable in a hurry. If the Vikings can improve on that spot, they could be sporting one of the better offensive lines in the league. . .very important for both a young quarterback and that <span>Adrian Peterson</span> fellow that the Vikings' offense has revolved around for the past few years.</p>
<p><b>3) <span>Anthony Barr</span>, linebacker</b> - Mike Zimmer loves his athletic, versatile defenders, and early on Barr is going to provide that for the Vikings. He might not be the most "polished" linebacker at this point, but the thing that he <i>can</i> already do is get after the quarterback. He's going to get plenty of opportunities to do that as a rookie, and I think he's going to take full advantage of them. The only reason he isn't above Yankey on this list is because I think he's going to be more of a rotational type of guy early on, whereas Yankey should be a full-time starter.</p>
<p><b>4) <span>Scott Crichton</span>, defensive end</b> - A lot of what I said about Barr can probably be said about Crichton, too. Crichton is more of a "hand on the ground" defensive end, while Barr can be moved around to different places. Crichton is going to be a backup to start with on the defensive line, barring a huge training camp, but he should get plenty of opportunities in pass rushing situations, as well as part of the regular defensive end rotation.</p>
<p><b>5) <span>Jerick McKinnon</span>, running back</b> - McKinnon is going to have the least amount of pressure on him to start with, as he's going to remain on the depth chart behind the NFL's best running back. He's also going to have a bit of a learning curve. But he does have a ton of athletic ability, and Norv Turner does love getting the ball to his running backs. McKinnon should prove to be an effective change of pace, and if he can figure out some of the nuances of blocking and receiving. . .after coming from a triple-option offense where he wasn't asked to do a whole lot of either. . .his impact could be a bit greater than this.</p>
<p><b>6) A.C. Leonard, tight end</b> - Surprise! I mentioned that Norv Turner likes to get the ball to his running backs, but he also loves to make use of the tight end in his offense. The Vikings have some talent at the tight end position, but I think that Leonard has a pretty good chance to make the roster. Leonard had some legal issues in college that resulted from his dismissal from the University of Florida, but appears to have turned himself around. Leonard isn't a classic in-line tight end, or he isn't at the present time, at least. What he <i>is</i> is an athletic freak, having turned in a 4.50 40-yard dash at the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-combine">Scouting Combine</a> as well as a 34" vertical jump (third among tight ends at the Combine). He could create a lot of match-up problems if he can keep his head on straight.</p>
<p><b>7) <span>Antone Exum</span>, safety</b> - The Vikings have a bit of a log jam to see who will be Harrison Smith's running mate. While Jamarca Sanford is the incumbent at the position and <span>Andrew Sendejo</span> had his moments in limited duty last season, Exum is someone to keep an eye on. The Vikings are currently projecting him as a safety, but he was a very solid corner at Virginia Tech. Exum's biggest problem has been injuries, having torn an ACL in January of 2013 and suffering an ankle injury after returning from that. If he can stay healthy, he can provide a lot for the Vikings' secondary, and should be able to make an impact on special teams as well.</p>
<p>Which rookies do you think are going to have the biggest impact for the Vikings in 2014?</p>
https://www.dailynorseman.com/2014/5/14/5717544/vikings-rookie-class-who-will-have-the-greatest-impactChristopher Gates2014-05-13T14:22:23-05:002014-05-13T14:22:23-05:00Vikings Waive Four Players, Sign UDFAs
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<img alt="Backup running back and underdog fan favorite Bradley Randle was among four players waived by the Vikings." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vWp-hpt0CN1pbQJJXjySX1qrnqc=/0x144:4000x2811/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/32989987/20130818_kkt_ah3_572.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Backup running back and underdog fan favorite Bradley Randle was among four players waived by the Vikings. | Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Vikings had a busy day of personnel moves.</p> <p>This past weekend's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">NFL Draft</a> and the flurry of undrafted free agent signings that followed signifies the beginning of an exciting journey for many players. <span>For other players, the NFL Draft means an unfortunate end of the road.</span></p>
<p>We have spent the past several days focusing on the influx of new players on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Minnesota Vikings</a>; today we were reminded that there are only so many players that can be on the roster. In order to make room for the new draftees and undrafted free agent signings, the Vikings announced the release of four players <a href="http://www.vikings.com/news/article-1/Vikings-Officially-Sign-15-College-Free-Agents-Waive-4-Veterans/c7c85501-1e72-4fee-8051-51917f516ce7">on their official website</a> Tuesday: RB Bradley Randle, LB Simoni Lawrence, OL <span>Josh Samuda</span>, and LB Terrell Manning. None of the four players have had significant playing time in their NFL careers.</p>
<p>Randle was in Training Camp with the Vikings last year, was cut, and was re-signed to a deal later in the season. He quickly became a underdog fan favorite due to his infectiously positive attitude on Twitter. It was easy to tell how excited he was to be a member of the Vikings--after all, his Twitter handle is <a href="https://twitter.com/VIKINGS_Rebel" target="_blank">@VIKINGS_Rebel</a>. Unfortunately for Randle the writing was on the wall when the team drafted <span>Jerick McKinnon</span> in the third round and made Randle expendable.</p>
<p>You might remember <span>Josh Samuda</span> not for his play, but for the awful ankle injury he suffered about a month ago. (If for some morbid reason you want to see it, you can click the original post <a href="http://www.dailynorseman.com/2014/4/16/5620724/minnesota-vikings-josh-samuda-suffers-awful-ankle-injury" target="_blank">here</a>.)</p>
<p>Beside the ten draft picks that the Vikings made over the weekend, they have also officially announced the signings of 15 undrafted free agents: G Conor Bofelli, T <span>Pierce Burton</span>, WR Kain Colter, DE Rakim Cox, DT Isame Faciane, WR Donte Foster, T <span>Matt Hall</span>, C <span>Zac Kerin</span>, TE AC Leonard, WR Erik Lora, QB Travis Partridge, T <span>Antonio Richardson</span>, DE Tyler Scott, DE Jake Snyder, and RB Dominique Williams.</p>
<p>According to Vikings beat writer Chris Tomasson, he has confirmed with the Vikings that the moves leave the team with 89 players, which gives them exactly one open roster spot for the time being.</p>
https://www.dailynorseman.com/2014/5/13/5714322/minnesota-vikings-undrafted-free-agents-waive-four-playersEric Thompson2014-05-13T12:53:38-05:002014-05-13T12:53:38-05:00Teddy Bridgewater and the Cleveland Browns?
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<p>Were the Cleveland Browns also interested in Teddy Bridgewater?</p> <p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Yesterday <a href="http://espncleveland.com/common/more.php?m=49&action=blog&r=17&post_id=32611">a report surfaced</a> that the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Cleveland Browns</a> were considering drafting Teddy Bridgewater with the 22<sup>nd</sup> overall pick, but changed their mind at the last second to Johnny Manziel.<span> </span><span></span>Mike Pettine and the rest of the Cleveland Browns contingent have <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24559546/browns-deny-report-bridgewater-was-pick-then-changed-to-manziel">vehemently denied the report</a> and claimed that Manziel was their choice all along.<span> </span>If nothing else, it just goes to show how closely ranked Manziel and Bridgewater have been by teams across the NFL and among draft experts across the media.<span> </span>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Vikings</a> certainly had them ranked in the same Tier.<span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Despite the whole "what could have been" situation if the Browns had drafted Bridgewater and the Vikings had drafted Manziel, Bridgewater weighed in on the issue in a recent interview with Dan Patrick.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><object width="425" height="350" class="mceItemFlash"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JZ2slJYkkRg"> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JZ2slJYkkRg" mce_src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JZ2slJYkkRg" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed> </object> </p>
<p>Teddy Bridgewater on the Dan Patrick Show (Full Interview) 5/13/14 (via <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=JZ2slJYkkRg">Dan Patrick</a>)</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">In the interview he mentioned a lot of things, but he addressed the possibility of landing with the Cleveland Browns.<span> </span>He said,</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">"I actually told my agent that's not the place I wanted to be."</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">He mentioned his desire to play for the Vikings saying:</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">"Throughout this entire process I felt comfortable with the Minensota Vikings from every visit that I had with the team.<span> </span>You know the family environment, the players and great guys. <span> </span>I felt comfortable wanting to play here."</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">All I know is, I’m glad that Teddy Bridgewater is a member of the Minnesota Vikings, and I’ll be watching the career of both him and Johnny Manziel with interest going forward.</p>
https://www.dailynorseman.com/2014/5/13/5714138/teddy-bridgewater-and-the-cleveland-brownsCCNorseman