Vikings 2046 Draft Class

[Rawrster]

Overview: A pretty solid draft overall. We locked in two long-term starters with our first two picks and our secondary should be feared for years to come. Beyond that, we picked up some excellent roleplayers with our next 4 picks. These players may not be stars, but they will see playing time almost immediately. No real busts this year, with the possible exception of our 7th rounder.

1.19 - Braxton Summers, S (35/73)
Fantastic numbers for a mid-late 1st round pick. Look for him to start immediately at SS. This addition, combined with Johnson and Chandler at corners, should make Minnesota's secondary on of the best in the league over the next few years.
Status: Starting SS

2.18 - Jerome West, T (27/50)
Solid numbers. He should develop in to Higdon's (13th year in the league) replacement at LT.
Status: Backup T this season, but will be groomed in to a starter.

3.17 - Andy Wright, CB (14/40)
I would like to see his future value a bit higher here, but he should have really solid Man-to-Man, Run Defense and Interception bars. He can develop in to an excellent Nickle Corner if utilized properly.
Status: Developmental with solid upside. Future Nickle Corner.

4.16 - Bruce Barnes, TE (23/38)
Not amazing numbers, but better than what we currently have at the position. He brings much needed blocking skills to the position.
Status: Primary blocking TE.

5.4 - Doug Tircuit, RB (23/38)
Very similar future potential to every other running back on the roster. All five running backs sit between 36 and 39. Time will tell how his specific skillset fits in with the rest of the group.
Status: Needs to develop a bit, but could contribute in a RBBC situation.

5.19 - Ruben Imlay, WR (26/43)
Solid numbers for a 5th round pick. It looks like he could develop in to another Julio Herndon or Silas Fuller, which is a very good thing. He makes the receiving corp very solid and four men deep.
Status: Solid roleplayer. Should develop in to a #3 or #4 wideout.

6.18 - Ezra Ellis, CB (18/36)
Needs to develop, but could be a useful backup in a year or two.
Status: Backup potential, but needs to develop.

7.17 - Ethan Langhoff, WR (16/29)
Needs to show something in training camp if he wants to make the team.
Status: Fighting for a spot on the team.

[Rawrster]

Post training camp review

Overview: A solid, if unspectacular, looking draft class. Solid players in my first two picks and a few more role players mixed in. Barnes and Imlay are looking like they may develop in to really good value down the road.

1.19 - Braxton Summers, S (42/64) [+7/-9]
His top end values dropped a bit, but he is progressing well and will be a solid starter for me.
Status: Starting SS

2.18 - Jerome West, T (32/47) [+5/-3]
Developing well and will serve as a backup this season.
Status: Backup T.

3.17 - Andy Wright, CB (17/32) [+3/-8]
A large drop in future value makes him a poor 3rd round pick. He will stick around for a year or two, but needs to show major improvement to have a long career in the league.
Status: Reserve corner with a dwindling upside.

4.16 - Bruce Barnes, TE (31/39) [+8/+1]
His solid blocking bars, combined with some aging veteran TEs on the team, finds Barnes as the Vikings starting TE this season.
Status: Starting TE.

5.4 - Doug Tircuit, RB (14/18) [-9/-20]
Horrible results from a back who showed promise coming out of the draft. He will not make the team.
Status: Cut.

5.19 - Ruben Imlay, WR (31/40) [+5/-3]
Imlay is developing well. He will be WR #4 this season and should see decent playing time.
Status: Backup WR and a KR.

6.18 - Ezra Ellis, CB (24/33) [+6/-3]
Developing in to an okay player. He should find a role as a backup CB this season.
Status: Backup CB.

7.17 - Ethan Langhoff, WR (19/24) [+3/-5]
A disappointing camp for a player already fighting for a roster spot.
Status: Fighting for a spot on the team.

[Rawrster]

Rookie season review

Overview: This class is developing in to a good one over all. There were a couple misses (Wright in the third and Tircuit in the fifth), but the team also got 3 starters and another great WR in this draft. If the Vikings have shown anything in the last few years, it is that they know how to draft DBs (Defensive Rookie of the Year twice in the last three seasons) and wideouts.

1.19 - Braxton Summers, S (54/65) [+12/+1]
Games Started: 16
Ints: 3
Pass Defense: 80.4%
Tackles: 91
Sacks: 3.5
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Status: It is hard to ask for more than Defensive Rookie of the Year from a player. Summers should be a star in an already loaded secondary for years to come.

2.18 - Jerome West, T (35/47) [+3/0]
Games Played: 16
Games Started: 2
Status: West played primarily on Special Teams his rookie season, while continuing to develop. With Higdon announcing his retirement in the offseason, West should move in to the starting LT role this upcoming year.

3.17 - Andy Wright, CB (17/32) [0/0]
Games Started: 0
Games Played: 5
Tackles: 2
Status: Wright saw very little playing time this season and will struggle to make the team next year.

4.16 - Bruce Barnes, TE (40/40) [+9/+1]
Games Played: 16
Games Started: 10
Catches: 12
Yards: 120
TDs: 1
Status: Barnes has developed in to an excellent blocking TE and is the team's clear starter at the position next season.

5.4 - Doug Tircuit, RB (14/18)
Tircuit did not make the team.
Status: Cut.

5.19 - Ruben Imlay, WR (35/40) [+4/0]
Games Started: 0
Games Played: 16
Catches: 46
Yards: 582
TDs: 1
Status: When the #4 receiver on the team has over 500 receiving yards, you know the team throws the ball a lot. Imlay performed very well his rookie season, adding to an already stacked group on WRs. Look for him to occupy a very similar role next season.

6.18 - Ezra Ellis, CB (27/34) [+4/+1]
Games Played: 13
Games Started: 1
Tackles: 19
Status: Ellis is developing in to an okay player, given where he was drafted. He is also outperforming the team's third round pick, Andy Wright. Ellis has a shot to make the team again this upcoming season, which should allow him to develop into a decent backup for the team.

7.17 - Ethan Langhoff, WR (20/24) [+1/0]
Games Played: 8
Games Started: 0
Catches: 2
Yards: 35
Status: Langhoff saw little playing time and even less improvement during his rookie season. He is unlikely to make the team next year.

[Rawrster]

Second season review

Overview: This class is developing is really shaping up in to a solid group. The group includes two full-time starters (including a star player in Summers) and three other major contributors.

1.19 - Braxton Summers, S (71/71) [+17/+6]
Games Started: 14
Ints: 2
TDs: 2
Pass Defense: 81.1%
Tackles: 75
Sacks: 1.5
Status: While Summers had his numbers drop a bit, much of that can be attributed to improvements else where on the defense. Summers has developed into a star player.

2.18 - Jerome West, T (44/44) [+9/-3]
Games Played: 16
Games Started: 16
Status: West started all games this season and should continue to fill that role moving forward.

3.17 - Andy Wright, CB (19/31) [+2/-1]
Games Played: 0
Status: Wright saw no action this season and will struggle to stay on the team moving forward.

4.16 - Bruce Barnes, TE (40/40) [0/0]
Games Played: 16
Games Started: 1
Catches: 11
Yards: 83
TDs: 1
Status: Barnes actually saw less work than last year when the team decided to bring in Lucas Cheng. Still, Barnes is a solid player who should continue to make an impact on the team.

5.4 - Doug Tircuit, RB (14/18)
No longer on team

5.19 - Ruben Imlay, WR (41/41) [+6/+1]
Games Started: 1
Games Played: 16
Catches: 42
Yards: 431
TDs: 3
Status: Imlay continues to put up solid numbers for the #4 WR on the team. While his numbers dropped a bit, that is more a reflection on the offense as a whole last season.

6.18 - Ezra Ellis, CB (34/34) [+7/ 0]
Games Played: 16
Games Started: 3
Tackles: 19
Ints: 1
Status: Ellis worked primarily out of Nickle and Dime situations this season. He was in on 299 defensive snaps this year, which is great production for a sixth round pick.

7.17 - Ethan Langhoff, WR (20/24) [+1/0]
cut
Status: Langhoff was cut before the start of the season