Well now, let me tell y’all a bit ‘bout that 2014 NFL draft, where them Minnesota Vikings made their picks. It was a real big deal, I reckon, ‘cause they sure had some good choices to make. They were sittin’ pretty with that 8th pick, but it wasn’t no easy job, y’know? A lotta folks was lookin’ at them like, “What are they gonna do next?” It was a time of change for the team, what with a new coach and all, Mike Zimmer takin’ over, so there was a whole lotta buzz around the draft that year.
So, the Vikings didn’t mess around too much when it came to their first pick. They went ahead and chose Teddy Bridgewater, a quarterback from Louisville. Now, I don’t know much ‘bout all them fancy football terms, but I do know this: Teddy had a lotta folks hopin’ he’d be the one to turn things around for ‘em. He was picked 32nd overall, and folks were sayin’ he could be the future of the team. Now, maybe he didn’t quite live up to them big ol’ expectations, but he sure got a lotta love from fans back then.
Then, after Teddy, the Vikings made a few more picks. They grabbed a defensive back, a couple of wide receivers, and a whole bunch of folks who were supposed to help the team get back to its glory days. Let me tell ya, them Vikings sure were busy that day. Some folks said they had a pretty decent haul, others weren’t so sure. But I guess, in the end, time’s the real judge of how them picks turned out.
Vikings 2014 Draft Picks:
- Teddy Bridgewater – Quarterback, Louisville (1st Round, 32nd Overall)
- Anthony Barr – Linebacker, UCLA (1st Round, 9th Overall)
- Jerrick McKinnon – Running Back, Georgia Southern (3rd Round, 96th Overall)
- Scott Crichton – Defensive End, Oregon State (3rd Round, 72nd Overall)
- Kendall James – Cornerback, Maine (6th Round, 184th Overall)
- Antone Exum – Safety, Virginia Tech (6th Round, 182nd Overall)
- Isame Faciane – Defensive Tackle, Minnesota (7th Round, 220th Overall)
Now, y’all might be wonderin’ what all them picks meant in the long run. Some folks done alright, others not so much. But hey, that’s the way it goes sometimes. The big one that folks still talk about is Anthony Barr, the linebacker from UCLA. He was picked 9th overall, and boy, he made his presence known on that field. He still playin’ for the Vikings to this day, makin’ tackles and doin’ his thing. A real standout, if you ask me.
Some Surprises in the 2014 Draft:
Well, it ain’t no secret that that draft was full of surprises. Take for example, ol’ Jerrick McKinnon. He wasn’t exactly the most talked-about pick, but he sure put in the work. He wasn’t no big-name running back like some of them other folks, but he still found himself a role on that Vikings squad. Sometimes them underdog picks work out better than you’d think.
And let’s not forget about that confusion with the trade talkin’ ‘bout them Ravens and Vikings, back when the Ravens GM, Ozzie Newsome, was chattin’ ‘bout how the deal wasn’t finalized, and it threw everything into a bit of a mess. But you know what they say: all’s well that ends well. The Vikings did their pick, and the Jaguars got theirs, and here we are, talkin’ ‘bout it years later.
That whole draft class, though, there’s a lotta mixed feelings about how it went. Sure, some players did well, but some of ‘em… well, I reckon they didn’t quite hit their stride. Still, 2014 was a start to a new chapter for the Minnesota Vikings. With Mike Zimmer at the helm, it was a whole new vibe for the team, and them picks were part of that journey. Sometimes, you gotta take a chance, and you just hope it all works out in the end.
What We Learned from the 2014 Draft:
Well, if there’s anything to take away from that year, it’s that ya never really know what’s gonna happen in the draft. Some folks are quick to judge, but you gotta give these players time to show what they got. That 2014 draft might not have been perfect, but it sure was important for the Vikings in the long run. After all, they did get themselves a key player like Anthony Barr, and Teddy Bridgewater? He may not have stayed around forever, but he sure gave the team a shot at the future.
Now, as for them Vikings today? Well, I reckon they’re still hopin’ for the best, just like they were back in 2014. The team has had its ups and downs, but don’t count ‘em out just yet. You never know when one of them picks is gonna turn into a real gem!
Tags：[2014 NFL Draft, Minnesota Vikings, NFL Draft Picks, Teddy Bridgewater, Anthony Barr, NFL Draft Results, Vikings Draft History, NFL Draft Overview, Mike Zimmer, Vikings 2014 Draft]
