Meet The 10 Players Drafted By The Minnesota Vikings
The NFL Draft is over, and the Minnesota Vikings have added 10 new players to their roster. Perhaps the biggest news out of last weekend was something that never actually happened.
Amid all the rumors and speculation, Adrian Peterson remains a Viking and we'll never know if the Vikings were close to a trade. What the Vikings did do with this year's draft is load up on defensive players early that can make a significant impact right away.
Here's a look at the 10 players the Vikings selected at the NFL Draft in Chicago. Some could compete for starting spots this year, while others will battle just to make the 53-man roster.
Vikings 2015 Draft Picks
Trae Waynes (Michigan State)
The Vikings made it known they were looking to trade down from the No. 11 pick, but they didn't get an offer good enough to move from it and risk not getting a player they really wanted. They selected Trae Waynes with the pick, a cornerback who can strengthen the team's defense right away. He has the speed and athleticism to fit Mike Zimmer's defense.
Eric Kendricks (UCLA)
For the second time in as many years, the Vikings took a UCLA linebacker early in the draft. It was Anthony Barr last year, and this year in the second round, it was Eric Kendricks. He led the Bruins last year with 149 tackles and was a Second Team All-American.
Danielle Hunter (LSU)
Danielle Hunter has a scary combination that could make him an incredibly athletic defensive end in the NFL. He's 6 feet, 5 inches tall and weighs 252 pounds. Hunter led LSU with 13 tackles for a loss last year and started 23 straight games for the Tigers.
T.J. Clemmings (Pittsburgh)
The Vikings drafted T.J. Clemmings, an athletic offensive lineman out of Pittsburgh, in the fourth round. He's 6 feet, 5 inches tall and 309 pounds. Clemmings started all 13 games last year and was a Second Team All-America pick by the American Football Writer's Association.
Mycole Pruitt (Southern Illinois)
The Vikings selected Mycole Pruitt out of Southern Illinois with their fifth-round pick. He's a 251-pound tight end who was a two-time FCS All-American for the Salukis. He had 81 catches for 861 yards and 13 touchdowns last year, all school records. He also led Division I among tight ends in catches, yardage and touchdowns.
Stefon Diggs (Maryland)
With their second pick of the fifth round, the Vikings went with athletic wide receiver Stefon Diggs out of Maryland. He was a Second Team All-Big Ten pick in 2014 and started 10 games for the Terrapins. As a freshman, he had 1,896 all-purpose yards, which was good for second in school history.
Tyrus Thompson (Oklahoma)
The Vikings added depth to their offensive line by taking Tyrus Thompson out of Oklahoma in the sixth round. He played left tackle for the Sooners and at 6 feet, 5 inches tall and 324 pounds, he could play guard in the NFL as well. He started 29 career games at Oklahoma and was a First-Team All-Big 12 selection last season.
B.J. Dubose (Louisville)
The Vikings added some versatility to their defensive line by taking B.J. Dubose out of Louisville in the sixth round. He is a multi-position player and has athleticism at 6 feet, 4 inches tall and 284 pounds. He had 42 tackles last season for the Cardinals, including four sacks and 7.5 tackles for a loss.
Austin Shepherd (Alabama)
The Vikings added more to their offensive line in the seventh round, taking Austin Shepherd out of Alabama with the 228th overall pick. The Vikings feel he could play both tackle and guard, and they like his pedigree coming from a national title-caliber program. He'll have to work to make the team, but could bring depth to the offensive line if there's an injury.
Edmond Robinson (Newberry)
The Vikings' final pick of the NFL draft came a little out of left field. They took Edmond Robinson, a linebacker out of Division II Newberry College in South Carolina. He's the lone Division II player to be drafted and the first from Newberry since 1974. He'll have plenty of work to do to make the team but could make an impact on special teams to start.
The Vikings made one thing certain with their approach to the NFL Draft. They're going to build a foundation with defense and athletic players while they already have established veterans on offense. Look for Waynes, Kendricks and Hunter to make an early impact in Minnesota. But the true success of a draft is to find the late round pick that turns out to be a success story nobody saw coming.
