NFL Analyst Determines Minnesota Vikings Have Just Three Players Worth a First-Round Pick
· Yahoo Sports
After a disappointing 9-8 season that resulted in missing the playoffs, the Minnesota Vikings knew they had to make changes. They started at the very top by firing general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
The Vikings looked within and realized the roster-builder wasn’t doing a good enough job of identifying and adding talent to the team. While the Vikings have some great players, including Justin Jefferson, others might suggest they had completely botched the quarterback situation, letting Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones depart in free agency, only to be stuck with an inconsistent J.J. McCarthy who had trouble finding the strike zone.
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By firing Adofo-Mensah, then later hiring Nolan Teasley after the draft concluded, it sent a signal that the Vikings’ recent efforts haven’t been good enough. Other roster evaluators agree.
Vikings Have Just Three Players Worth a Top Pick?
Dec 8, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) celebrates his touchdown with wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) against the Atlanta Falcons during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn ImagesCredit: USA TODAY Sports via Reuters ConnectThe Vikings have assembled what they feel is a strong roster they can compete for a playoff spot with. Obviously, we won’t know whether that’s true until the games get underway.
Yet, the offseason is all about evaluation and projection. Recently, ESPN has been doing a lot of ranking and projecting, including on topics relevant to the Vikings.
One exercise ESPN’s Bill Barnwell took on was determining which teams have players who could fetch a first-round pick via trade, as we saw with Myles Garrett and A.J. Brown this offseason. Obviously, the Vikings have at least one valued gem in Jefferson, but who else is viewed as a trade chip worth at least a first-round pick? According to Barnwell, Jefferson is worth at least two first-round picks. But after him, there are just two others who Barnwell believes the Vikings could fetch a first-rounder for, and they’re both on rookie contracts.
“WR Jordan Addison, G Donovan Jackson. Jackson was likely the best first-round pick of the Kwesi Adofo-Mensah era in Minnesota, as he quickly settled in as a very solid guard up front. In a league where below-average starting young guards are getting in the ballpark of $15 million per season as free agents, Jackson could end up being a valuable interior player, especially if the Vikings spend more on quarterback in the years to come and have to cut back elsewhere.”
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell on Vikings Worth a First-Round Pick
Jackson being labeled the best first-round pick of the Mensah era is high praise. Especially considering he added Addison with the 23rd overall pick and he’s since become one of the best No. 2 receivers in football (Sorry, Stefon Diggs). Addison has understandably been overshadowed by Jefferson, but he’s still managed to produce 2,396 receiving yards and 22 receiving touchdowns (two more as a rusher) in three seasons.
Barnwell also included four honorable mentions who he’ll need to see more from before placing a first-round grade on their trade value. Those players are first-round rookie Caleb Banks, left tackle Christian Darrisaw, edge rusher Dallas Turner plus edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel.