2009 NFL draft one year later: Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings only had five picks in the 2009 draft, yet they were able to score a significant contributor with each one of those picks. Of course when your first pick ends up being the offensive rookie of the year, things could not get much better. The Vikings front office delivered a solid draft class and it one of the many reasons they had so much success during the 2009 season. One year ago I gave the Vikings very high marks for tuning in a draft class that not only addressed their primary needs, but found great talent at a number of positions.

A quick look at the 2009 Vikings Draft class:

•Round One (22)- Percy Harvin WR •Round Two (54)- Phil Loadholt RT •Round Three (86)- Asher Allen CB •Round Five (150)- Jasper Brinkley LB •Round Seven (231)- Jamarca Sanford DB

So with their first two picks they get a ROTY, and a guy who figures to be a long term starter on their offensive line. Allen played in 10 games and made 27 tackles, he would replace Cedric Griffen in the NFC Championship game. Brinkley played in every game, and wound up replacing EJ Henderson as the starter at the MLB spot. Sanford played in 14 games and made 29 tackles.

Anyway we try to dissect this draft, it winds up being excellent. NFL teams have to prepare for an injury, which means they have to have depth at every position; the best way to get that depth is to make wise decisions in the later rounds of the NFL draft. This team scored on all five of its picks, and we have to maintain it’s A grade it earned one year ago.