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Eric Kendricks was widely regarded as the top inside linebacker in this year’s draft class, and a potential late first-round pick as such. The Minnesota Vikings took him in the second round, with the 45th overall pick, and he’ll join college teammate Anthony Barr in Minnesota’s linebacking corp. Kendricks won the 2014 Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker, and he is the all-time leading tackler in UCLA history with 481.
The Vikings have struggled to find a consistent middle linebacker since the departure of E.J. Henderson, who started at least 10 games in seven out of eight seasons from 2004-2011. Kendricks looks likely to fix that immediately, with all-around ability against the run, in coverage and as a blitzer that allowed to him to stay on the field and be an impact player during his college carer.
Barr was a top candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year before a knee injury sidelined him late last season, so Vikings’ head coach Mike Zimmer and his defensive staff deserve a lot of credit for his accelerated development. There must be something Zimmer likes about UCLA linebackers under the tutelage of former NFL head coach Jim Mora Jr., and Kendricks comes into the NFL with a more complete skill set than Barr did.
Kendricks probably should have been taken somewhere in the last 10 picks of the first round, with multiple teams picking in that area that had a need at linebacker, so getting him in the second round is tremendous value for the Vikings. He also fills a significant need, and with Audie Cole as his primary competition Kendricks has to be considered the front runner to start at middle linebacker when the Vikings take the field Week 1.
Brad Berreman is a Senior Writer at Rant Sports.com. Follow him on Twitter.
