Vikings draft mania: numbers to think about

I can actually say now less than a week until the draft. I have been doing a ton of reading and research on numbers involved in Vikings drafts in the past.

Did you know the Vikings have drafted 604 players since the first year of the team back in 1961 through 2012 season?

The team has had 51 first round picks through the years. If the draft numbers stay where the Vikes are slotted for 23rd and 25^th, it will be the 8^th year of multiple first round picks. It has happened in 1967, 1974, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2005, and 2012 and unless something happens it will be 2013 as well.

This will be the 3^rd straight draft the Vikings have had double digit draft choices. The Vikings have never selected 23^rd but have 25^th four times (1970, 1974, 1975 and 1976)

I went back to the last 5 drafts to see who went 23^rd and who went 25^th courtesy of the Vikings draft guide and see some pretty good players who were picked at this number.

2012 Player name- Position- College –who drafted them

23-Riley Reiff  OT-  Iowa-  Detroit Lions

25-Don’t’a Hightower LB- Alabama - New England Patriots

2011

23-Danny Watkins G- Baylor- Philadelphia Eagles

25-James Carpenter T- Alabama- Seattle Seahawks

2010

23-Bryan Bulaga OT- Iowa-  Detroit Lions

25-Tim Tebow QB- Florida- Denver Broncos

2009

23-Michael Oher OT- Ole Miss - Baltimore Ravens

25-Vontae Davis CB-Illinois- Miami Dolphins

2008

23-Rashard Mendenhall RB- Illinois Pittsburgh Steelers

25-Mike Jenkins CB- South Florida- Dallas Cowboys

The Vikings have 11 picks and with one of them at number 120. The Vikings found a very good player at pick 120 back in 2007. He wears number 96, and his name is Brian Robison.

First round picks are the ones who people talk about at draft time but during and after the season is when people can really talk about their teams draft choices and how the player performed.

The pick is just a number. The player that is picked is the one who has to prove himself. First round or 7^th round the player better bring their A game to training camp or they might be looking for work elsewhere. Good luck to all the 2013 draft choices as they can help make the best sports in the world even better.

Thanks for reading

Purplestick