The Skol Scale originated in 2017 as a measurement of Drew Mahowald’s Minnesota Vikings optimism on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being “SUPER BOWL HOMEBOY!” He has used the Skol Scale for three years in the form of written articles and podcast segments. The most recent measurement was 5.5 prior to the 2020 NFL Draft.
The Minnesota Vikings’ status entering the 2020 NFL Draft was a bit uncertain. Is the team rebuilding? Is the team still trying to contend? Minnesota’s plethora of transactions during the free agency period didn’t produce a solid answer.
One thing was clear, however. The Vikings needed to crush the 2020 NFL Draft out of the park to remain contenders in the NFC, whether that was the original plan or not.
At first glance, it would appear that the Vikings crushed the draft.
I feel obligated to address the fact that this is being written merely weeks after the draft. Nobody really knows what the players selected in the 2020 NFL Draft will become. Perhaps the best evidence of this is the decisions on fifth-year options currently being made by NFL teams from first-round picks in the 2017 draft. Four of the top five picks from the 2017 draft had their fifth-year options declined.
However, the Vikings have received excellent reviews from just about everyone about their 2020 draft class. And that’s how it should be. The Vikings added significant depth at every key position of need while simultaneously picking up draft capital for the 2021 draft class.
Most important for the Vikings was finding players in the earlier rounds that can contribute immediately. Specifically, wide receiver, cornerback and offensive line were the position groups that needed a boost.
The Vikings used four picks in the first three rounds to find players that can contribute right away in 2020. First-round wide receiver Justin Jefferson figures to slide in as the No. 2 receiver. First-round cornerback Jeff Gladney and third-round cornerback Cameron Dantzler will almost certainly play a large role early simply due to a lack of depth at the position. Meanwhile, second-round offensive tackle Ezra Cleveland is set to compete for a starting spot on the offensive line.
Minnesota’s starting lineups on both side of the ball took a decisive blow during the free agency period. The most noteworthy loss is Stefon Diggs at wide receiver via a trade to Buffalo. But offensive lineman Josh Kline and a trio of cornerbacks (Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, and Mackensie Alexander) all left voids that needed to be replaced by pro-ready prospects as soon as possible if the Vikings wanted to remain competitive.
Jefferson’s production was off the charts in 2019 at LSU, routinely beating some of the best SEC defensive backs to haul in catch after catch from 2020 No. 1 pick Joe Burrow. Cleveland projects similarly to his new Vikings teammate, tackle Brian O’Neill, as an athletic tackle that will thrive in a zone scheme. Gladney and Dantzler both excelled as man-to-man cornerbacks in college and possess the feisty attitude necessary to play a large role in Mike Zimmer’s defense.
All four of those players have the upside to band-aid the wounds left by departed Vikings at highly valued positions.
Meanwhile, general manager Rick Spielman used the final day of the draft to acquire draft capital for the 2021 NFL Draft and take chances on high-potential players.
In the previous Skol Scale column, I suggested that the Vikings needed to repeat the success of their 2015 draft class to keep the team competitive. For those who don’t recall, the Vikings drafted Eric Kendricks, Danielle Hunter and Stefon Diggs in the 2015 NFL Draft.
That kind of success from just one draft is almost unprecedented. But could this draft class match it? Perhaps. And, for what it’s worth, the Vikings’ 2015 class was also highly regarded immediately following the draft.
Is it asking too much of four rookies to be expected to enter the league and play key roles at valuable positions on a playoff team? Probably. But Spielman has left that door open with this draft.
Skol Scale Rating: 6.5
The Vikings jump a whole point on the Skol Scale from 5.5 to 6.5 after the impressive draft by Spielman. Prior to the draft, it was difficult to get excited about where the Vikings stood. Diggs had just been traded. The team’s top three cornerbacks left in free agency. Kline and defensive end Everson Griffen were not brought back. Watching that much production leave is a scary sight.
Spielman and the Vikings scouting department did an excellent job identifying players that can contribute immediately at positions where the Vikings will need it. Is this draft class a surefire hit? No. None of the individual picks are either. But talent has been injected onto the roster where it was lacking the most. Vikings fans should be excited about that.
It also helps that the rest of the NFC North drafted poorly, boosting Minnesota’s chances of playoff contention in 2020.
