Monday Morning Mailbag: Questions and Answers about Vikings 2020 Draft Class

[Viktor]

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I think we checked a lot of boxes and put ourselves in position to have a competitive roster for this coming season and beyond. Having the volume of picks enabled us to make multiple selections at each position of need, but what also stood out to me was already having great depth at positions like running back and tight end enabled us to use all of that draft capital on the positions of greatest need. I think that [Vikings GM] Rick [Spielman], the coaches and scouts did their usual excellent job of finding talent in all rounds of the draft. I couldn't help but notice the graphic shown multiple times during the telecast stating that 56% of the 2019 roster was made up of our own draft picks. That certainly speaks to the ability of our front office to continue to find quality players from the college ranks. SKOL!


— Bill Shaw in Rochester, New York


Bill, you are simply spot-on with your draft analysis/recap. It was no secret that the Vikings endured a bit of roster turnover this offseason. As many as a half-dozen starters from the Vikings most-recent playoff game might not be back, including four potential guys on defense, and that doesn't include names such as Mackensie Alexander, Stephen Weatherly, Andrew Sendejo, Laquon Treadwell and others.


In the weeks leading up to the draft, the main positions of need appeared to be WR, CB, T and the defensive line. Perhaps it's no surprise that nine of Minnesota's first 10 picks focused on those four groups.


Trade Stefon Diggs? Respond by drafting LSU star Justin Jefferson at No. 22. See three corners leave? Draft three corners in Jeff Gladney, Cameron Dantzler and Harrison Hand. Release Linval Joseph and lose Weatherly and possibly Everson Griffen? Pick up defensive end D.J. Wonnum and DT James Lynch on back-to-back picks in the fourth round.


There wasn't much of a need for position groups such as TE, RB and the specialists, so there was no reason for the Vikings to address those spots. And with a NFL record of 15 picks in a seven-round draft — which certainly made for a long but fun weekend — the front office could devote plenty of resources to the areas they thought needed it the most.


I also noticed that graphic you referenced, and you can believe that Spielman and his staff are certainly proud of that. They love finding talent and keeping it right here in Minnesota.