Minnesota Vikings & GM Rick Spielman finalizing a multi-year contract

The Vikings extended Mike Zimmer before the start of training camp and now it sounds as if they are keeping the coach and general manager pairing together. The team is reportedly finalizing a multi-year contract with Rick Spielman. 

Spielman has been the Vikings GM since 2012 and now gets the chance to continue to see the young talent he’s drafted grow over the next few years. In the 2020 NFL Draft Spielman helped the Vikings set a record selecting 15 total players. Looking ahead to 2021, the Vikings are projected to have 12 draft picks, giving the team a total of 27 draft picks in a two-year span. 

It’s nearly impossible to hit on the majority of a team's draft picks, but Spielman has done a great job over the years at moving around to secure more picks. The first round hasn’t been a strong suit for the Vikings since Spielman took over, but they have done a fantastic job at finding talented players throughout every round of the draft. 

The 2015 draft is looked at as a highlight year for Spielman, and here is a list of players that were taken after the first round since that draft. 

2015

Eric Kendricks - second round 

Danielle Hunter - third round 

Stefon Diggs - fifth round 

2016

Mackensie Alexander - second round 

Stephen Weatherly - seventh round 

Jayron Kearse - seventh round 

2017

Dalvin Cook - second round 

Pat Elflien - third round 

Jaleel Johnson - fourth round 

Ifeadi Odenigbo - seventh round 

2018

Brian O’Neill

2019

Irv Smith Jr. - second round 

Alexander Mattison - third round 

Dru Samia - fourth round 

Armon Watts - sixth round 

Kris Boyd - seventh round 

Bisi Johnson - seventh round 

Austin Cutting - seventh round 

This is without mentioning some of the undrafted free agents they have had throughout this time, which includes Adam Thielen and Anthony Harris. 

The 2020 draft is still unknown, and it could stay that way throughout the 2020 season with all of the uncertainty still surrounding the season. However, given the Vikings recent track record of turning younger players into regular starters, the team is set up for a bright future. 

The first round hasn’t been as good for the Vikings since 2012, but the team has still landed some great players within the first 32 picks. Anthony Barr, Xavier Rhodes and Harrison Smith were all taken in the first round under Spielman, three players that have solidified the defense since they arrived in Minnesota

Analysts have labeled the 2020 draft a success already for the Vikings, given the amount of ammunition Spielman selected to help rebuild a team that lost a lot this offseason. It should also be noted that the Vikings got who they wanted in the first round this year, landing two talented players in Justin Jefferson and Jeff Gladney. 

It really wasn’t much of a question whether or not Spielman was going to get extended. After Zimmer’s extension was announced, he mentioned in his press conference that he’d like the GM to remain the same as well. 

Heading into 2020, it looks as if the Vikings head coach is going to get his wish.


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