Bleacher Report Offers an Idea for a Vikings Draft Do-Over
K. Joudry
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Every team makes bad picks. Some more than others, but every team will find itself in this less-than-flattering group at some point. Minnesota is no different. When Vikings fans think of draft busts, many think of Laquon Treadwell.
The folks over at Bleacher Report agree, offering a thought-exercise where the Vikings could have a do-over. They go back to 2012, looking at each team’s record for the past ten drafts. They then partner the team with a new selection, someone who would have been more worthy of a first-round selection.
The piece identifies Treadwell as being among the Vikings main draft busts, so BR looks to rectify this mistake wih Tennessee’s Kevin Byard:
The Vikings already had one excellent safety in Harrison Smith. Pairing him with Kevin Byard, who has three seasons with at least five interceptions, 23 career picks and two first-team All-Pro nods, would offer quite the last line of defense in the Twin Cities.
Indeed, Byard has been an excellent player since coming into the NFL. Last year, he came in at 1st overall in the PFF rankings, and he has found himself in their top-10 during three other seasons. Playing alongside The Hitman certainly would have given the Vikings a high-end pair for the backend of the defense.
Some Vikings fans might quibble with the Treadwell choice given that there have been some other notable draft busts. Matt Kalil, Garrett Bradbury, and Mike Hughes all did poorly. Getting improved play at either corner or OL would do wonders for this team.
Regardless, it’s an interesting piece from BR. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is heading into his first draft as a GM, so it remains to be seen what his strategy will be. There are a lot of rumors about trading down, but it’s supremely difficult to find the truth amid all the tomfoolery circulating pre-draft. The hope, of course, is that he’ll marry need and value as he opts for someone who will help the Vikings compete in 2022 and beyond.
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