Minnesota’s 1st Pick: Looking Back to the Past Decade of Pick #23
K. Joudry
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Minnesota’s 1st pick offers potential for either a massive payoff or massive disappointment.
When we look at recent history, we can find the extremes. In fact, we don’t even need to leave Minnesota to capture the highs and lows of the pick. On the more negative end of things is receiver Laquon Treadwell. On the more positive end of things is left tackle Christian Darrisaw.
Folks, it’s no small feat to find a franchise LT at pick #23.
If we step back even further, though, we can see further evidence that Minnesota will have the capacity to add someone capable of changing their franchise.
Minnesota’s 1st Pick and A Decade of RD1
Let’s head down memory lane.
As you’ll see, the draft slot contains some notable hits and misses. There are a lot of players Vikings fans will be familiar with since 4 of them ended up playing in Minnesota. We’re excluding 2022 since we’ll need more time before being able to make a firmer conclusion about the selection. For whatever it’s worth, the pick was used on CB Kaiir Elam.
Take a look at pick #23 from 2012-21:
- 2012: Riley Reiff, OT
- 2013: Sharrif Floyd, DT
- 2014: Dee Ford, LB
- 2015: Shane Ray, DE
- 2016: Laquon Treadwell, WR
- 2017: Evan Engram, TE
- 2018: Isaiah Wynn, OT
- 2019: Tytus Howard, OT
- 2020: Kenneth Murray, LB
- 2021: Christian Darrisaw, OT
If GM Hindsight had been picking at 23rd over this past decade, the results may look something like this:
- 2012: Bobby Wagner, LB
- 2013: Travis Kelce, TE
- 2014: Davante Adams, WR
- 2015: Danielle Hunter, EDGE
- 2016: Chris Jones, DT
- 2017: T.J. Watt, EDGE
- 2018: Lamar Jackson, QB
- 2019: A.J. Brown, WR
- 2020: Jaylon Johnson, CB
- 2021: Christian Darrisaw, OT
What’s the point of the lists? Well, it’s merely to suggest that the past decade of players taken in the 23rd spot have resulted in some excellent NFL players (Darrisaw foremost among them). Furthermore, if we adjust for hindsight, we can see that there were elite, Hall-of-Fame level players left on the board.
Minnesota is thus staring down a consequential moment.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is trying to rebuild on the fly. It’s supremely difficult to refuel the plane while it’s still in the air. Far too often, that kind of approach leads to a crash. Nailing the 23rd selection – like with Darrisaw a couple years ago – is paramount.
Minnesota’s other recent picks at 23rd were for Floyd and Treadwell, both of whom will be remembered as draft busts in Minnesota. In fairness, the DT’s career was undermined by an injury and subsequent issue from a surgery. With better luck, perhaps Floyd would have been the pass-rushing, disruptive 3T Minnesota has been looking for for a long time.
History shows us that there will almost certainly be elite talent available when the Minnesota’s 1st pick arrives. Being able to successfully identify who that players is and then have the gumption to bring said player aboard is the key. Oh, and offering the rookie the necessary support and help is an overlooked-yet-still-crucial component that can make the difference between a draft success or bust.
At this stage, there are theories aplenty for what Minnesota should do. On the most recent episode of Notes from the North, Arif Hasan indicated that CB Deonte Banks was a name to remember. The talented corner is among the most mocked players to Minnesota (on PFF).
The NFL Draft begins in less than 3 weeks. A great player is going to be available at 23rd, so let’s hope the Vikings can figure out who that will be.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this piece.
