A Look Back at Minnesota’s 2019 Draft Class

Jan 3, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Alexander Mattison (25) celebrates with fullback C.J. Ham (behind) center Garrett Bradbury (56) and tight end Irv Smith (84) after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Some people say that you need three years to really evaluate a player in the NFL. With that in mind, I would do an article talking about the 2018 class. However, only three players are still on the team. I still have nightmares about the Mike Hughes pick. In my opinion, the 2019 class isn’t talked about like it should be. It may not be 2015 level but still was a very good draft.

So, let’s change things a little and look at what to expect in year 3 of this class.

18th overall pick  – Garrett Bradbury, C, North Carolina State

We started that draft class with a player who had high potential. Bradbury was a very athletic prospect who would excel in a zone-blocking scheme. Well, it’s hard to say anything against his run blocking. Our center showed an ability to open run lanes since day one and it sure was an improvement over Pat Elflein. But things get tricky when we talk about pass pro. That’s an area he really struggled, allowing 9 sacks in only two seasons. One could say that this is not entirely on him, as he always played with sub-par guards – to say the least – next to him. That’s a valid point, and this season we may have an answer since Cleveland and Oli Udoh should be an improvement; the iOL looked good during preseason.

50th overall pick – Irv Smith Jr., TE, Alabama

Jul 30, 2021; Eagan, MN, United States; Minnesota Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. (84) catches a pass at training camp at TCO Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Smith’s flair and charisma made him a fan favorite even before his first NFL snap. He’s the type of guy that is easy to root for. Irv had some good numbers on a lesser role as Kyle Rudolph’s backup, and for the second year in a row, he was a prime breakout candidate. Sadly, he needs meniscus surgery and is likely done for the year. Smith has the potential to be a complete tight end, displaying route running, catching, and blocking ability. Only 23, he should be a big part of this offense in the future.

102nd overall pick – Alexander Mattison, RB, Boise State

After Rick Spielman’s traditional 364 trade backs to acquire late-round picks, we finally pulled the trigger and grabbed Mattison. At the time, Dalvin Cook only had 14 starts under his belt, so it was wise to draft a backup RB. Well, it’s hard to find a better one than Mattison. Cook is at another level, yes, but Mattison’s presence allows Dalvin to catch his breath when needed or carry the load when our star player is injured. It will be interesting to see if the Vikings will re-sign him or trade him when his rookie contract is up – Mattison could be a starter somewhere else.

114th overall pick – Dru Samia, iOL, Oklahoma

After three players that panned out, we have Dru Samia. After the draft, this was my friends’ favorite pick. Samia was a mauler at Oklahoma, and, even with Elflein struggling a lot, he didn’t get a chance during his rookie season. Last year we got to know why. It was embarrassing seeing him get bullied week in and week out. Later that year, he lost the starting job to Ezra Cleveland. He has now been cut.

162nd overall pick – Cameron Smith, LB, USC

This was going to be a Cinderella story, but it had a sad ending. Cam didn’t see the field much in his rookie season, logging only 85 total snaps. For the 2020 season, this number could have gone up, as he would have a shot at the third linebacker spot. However, he tested positive for COVID-19 and, after further testings, medics found out he had a serious heart condition. This led him to an open-heart surgery and he missed the whole season. This year he again had a shot at a bigger role, but he decided to retire after suffering a concussion during the Broncos game.

190th overall pick – Armon Watts, DT, Arkansas

Watts is a big guy. He’s one of the few who played DL last year and will be around for 2021. The Arkansas product is getting a lot of praise this year, and I guess it doesn’t hurt having Pierce and Tomlinson to teach him some things. Watts probably won’t see the field as much as he did last season, but now he’ll have a year to just sit back and learn from three very good players.

191st overall pick – Marcus Epps, DB, Wyoming

With back-to-back picks in the sixth round, the Vikings decided to double down on defense. Epps didn’t do much in Minnesota and was released mid-season. The Eagles claimed him off waivers and he got more playing time in Philly. For the Vikings, it was a bet that just didn’t pay off.

193rd overall pick – Olisaemeka Udoh, OT, Elon

If one guy had a meteoric ascension this year, it was Udoh. Brought in as a great athlete, he had only one game during his rookie season. And what a game it was. The Vikings had already clinched a playoff berth, so Zimmer played some backups against the Bears. Udoh subbed in as the right tackle, having to block Khalil Mack. He had a good game and even pancaked Mack. Everyone freaked out after this, but that was the only action Udoh had until now. Sliding inside to guard, he came out of nowhere and won the starting job against Dozier and Wyatt Davis. Spielman usually uses the analogy of a baseball batter when talking about draft picks. Maybe he hit a big home run in Oli Udoh.

217th overall pick – Kris Boyd, CB, Texas

Nov 8, 2020; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive back Kris Boyd (29) breaks up a pass intended to Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Hall (17) in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Talking about risers, Boyd certainly was among the biggest. A player that had a bad tendency of committing pass interference penalties, Boyd kept improving in Minnesota and will probably begin the season as CB3 – assuming Mack Alexander’s role will only be in the slot. He certainly earned Zimmer’s trust, as he was the one playing with the starters during preseason, not Cam Dantzler.

239th overall pick – Dillon Mitchell, WR, Oregon

Another bet that just didn’t work, it’s normal for a seventh-round pick.

247th overall pick – Olabisi Johnson, WR, Colorado State

Bisi Johnson is another player that got a lot of fans quickly. With Adam Thielen missing some games due to a hamstring injury in 2019, Bisi was the one replacing him. He did a good job, catching 31 passes for 294 yards and three touchdowns. Last year, he started the season as the no. 2 wide receiver. It lasted two games, as Justin Jefferson got the job by week 3. Sadly, Johnson had an ACL tear and is out for the season – he would be in the fight for a roster spot.

250th overall pick – Austin Cutting, LS, Air Force

To wrap up our draft picks, Rick went with a long snapper. Since I don’t remember hearing his name in 2019, I think he did a good job. But, last year, he lost his job to Andrew DePaola.

Notable undrafted free agents

Jake Browning, QB, Washington

Well, he was our QB2 but ended up getting cut. Check out Purple PTSD‘s coverage of the roster cuts.

Brandon Dillon, TE, Marian

Dillon is getting the chance of a lifetime right now. After being undrafted, he managed to stick around. Now, he may earn a role for a couple of games. Tyler Conklin is dealing with a hamstring injury and his status for week 1 may be tricky. Dillon should get some snaps, even after the Herndon addition.

That’s all, folks. The 2019 draft class will face a huge year now, and many players will need to step up their games to pursue a deep playoff run. Right now we don’t talk much about them, but we may have gotten some special players from 2019.

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