The past 3 years.....only 1 rookie defensive starter
In the past 3 years, the Vikings have had 1 rookie defensive starter. They had the NFL's 2nd-fewest snaps for rookie defenders from 2023-25. (Granted, there weren't many options!) Will the 2026 draft class change that? An underrated camp storyline...https://t.co/muivrBVu0E
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) July 13, 2026
This is mostly about going three straight drafts without a 2nd rounder. Typically, in three drafts you’d have nine top-100 players. We had four. Of the four, only one played defense (Turner). And even that player didn’t start as a rookie (mostly due to sitting behind two All Pros). Good years from TJ Hockenson and Dallas Turner will take a little sting off of this fact.
"The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it”
I thought for sure Lemon was going to be a Viking as our pick came up.
Looking back, I should have anticipated a very D heavy draft this past spring. Maybe you didnt, but I totally missed on that.
Not necessarily rolling the dice on Banks, but at least someone like Woods being on the team today.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
purplefaithful wrote:
I thought for sure Lemon was going to be a Viking as our pick came up.
Looking back, I should have anticipated a very D heavy draft this past spring. Maybe you didnt, but I totally missed on that.
Not necessarily rolling the dice on Banks, but at least someone like Woods being on the team today.
I was calling for it but I was so pleasantly surprised to see it happen. Way overdue. Fingers crossed on Dallas Turner, Caleb Banks, Big Orange and Golday kicking into some big contributors with Jakobe Thomas getting there eventually as well. Probably too much to ask, honestly, but I'm asking for it! 😆
StickierBuns wrote:
I was calling for it but I was so pleasantly surprised to see it happen. Way overdue. Fingers crossed on Dallas Turner, Caleb Banks, Big Orange and Golday kicking into some big contributors with Jakobe Thomas getting there eventually as well. Probably too much to ask, honestly, but I'm asking for it! 😆
I don't think it was overdue. I think it was a pretty good plan. Surround your young QB with studs, then worry about your defense later, especially when your DC is Flores.
But I like our draft this year.
It’s sick Flores hasn’t gotten any help. I like KOC , I think he’ll figure it out . Flores has been making chicken salad out of chicken crap. Flores gets no resources or picks and his unit way out performs KOCS every year . Seems like Flores adapts and KOC doesn’t
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