So who's your #2 favorite Viking Rook this season?

Cleveland

I think I'll put in some different criteria...

Biggest impact: Cleveland. O'Neill, Bradbury and Cleveland have had some ups and downs--and they're all still very young--but I'd say this marks the 3rd hit in a row for highly drafted OL. That's a good sign.

Highest upside: Dantzler. Give him another year and a few lbs, watch out. He and Gladney should be our starting CBs for years. 

Most surprising: Wonnum. Totally off my radar before the draft. Might have a future. Gotta give Dre Patterson kudos on this one. 

Honorable mentions: Troy Dye. I think Dye is a starter next season. Already pretty good in coverage, give him another 5-10 lbs and we could have a 3-down LB. Harry Hand. He's flashed here and there.

Most disappointing: Gotta go with Gladney. He'll be fine, but he was all over the place. Wildly inconsistent. Probably about what you expect from a late 1st rounder, but not quite what you hope for. 

Hey, who the hell gave you permission to build on this thread in a positive way??? 

Huh?

@"purplefaithful" said: Hey, who the hell gave you permission to build on this thread in a positive way??? 

Huh?

With the highest degree of difficulty, hold me closer...

Dantzler. Let us give thanks for crappy combine 40's.

Cleveland and we need another OL this draft.  It starts and ends on the lines and both of ours are not good enough for playoff football even when Hunter is back and the unknown Pierce.  

I’ll say Dantzler but man what a class. Kudos to RS and everyone involved for coaching the rooks up. Another class like that, plus some good fortune with health, and it’s very possible the “run it back”/“stick to the status quo” faithful fans will be proven right. 

Dantzler. He's going to make a nice jump with a full round of OTAs, training camp and preseason games.

I think it's Cleveland because it means one less draft pick we have to worry about with an already awful OL. Dantzler was awesome this year, but with us already having to plan on drafting replacements for Reiff and Dozier, Cleveland showing some strength provides a little more comfort in an area that is our biggest weakness.

@"minny65" said: Cleveland and we need another OL this draft.  It starts and ends on the lines and both of ours are not good enough for playoff football even when Hunter is back and the unknown Pierce.  

Seeing Dantzler’s confidence grow along with his play was the my hilight of the season.  He shows me a tough mind, short memory and what I do next attitude.  

@"BarrNone55" said:

@"minny65" said: Cleveland and we need another OL this draft.  It starts and ends on the lines and both of ours are not good enough for playoff football even when Hunter is back and the unknown Pierce.  

We were a game away with second, third at fourth string guys manning the D line. 

They did have a very good rookie class with Jefferson already a star and guys like Gladney, Dantzler, Cleveland, Wonnum, and Dye all looking they will be contributors going forward. I think that Dantzler was the second most impressive rookie to me. He was arguably our best corner out of the gate and he continued to get better and more confident as the season went on and it was nice to see them develop a 3rd round corner after burning so many 1st and 2nd rounders on them in recent years. I still have concerns about his durability, so hopefully he can make a big jump in reshaping his body. My third most impressive rookie would be Wonnum. He was very good at points during the season, but seemed to disappear later in the season. I am not sure what his ceiling is, but he's at least a nice rotational player and has the potential to be more.

how many of those rookies would have contributed if it werent for injury and being forced into playing early?   

I say Cleveland since he was supposed to be a LT and ends up kicking inside at RG and played pretty damn good IMO.