Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Heading into the 2013 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings knew that they needed help at wide receiver. All they had was a 29-year-old Greg Jennings at the position. Sure, they have other bodies, such as Jerome Simpson, but I am talking about players who have legitimate talent for their position in the league.
By trading a second, third, fourth, and seventh round pick to the New England Patriots, the Vikings were able to secure the 29th overall pick and select Tennessee wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson. While Patterson brings his fair share of baggage and questionable character, he also brings much needed talent to the position.
The addition of Patterson now gives the Vikings two receivers who have the necessary talent to play the position successfully in the NFL. However, should the Vikings have kept their picks and simply stockpiled additional talent at wide receiver? Instead of trading four picks for the right to secure Patterson, would it have made more sense to simply draft receivers with each of those picks that they traded to the Patriots?
The simple math right now is that the Vikings only have two talented receivers on its roster, but by using second, third and fourth round picks on the position, it is possible they could have ended up with three or four receivers with talent to succeed in the league, even if it meant not having the most talented receiver in Patterson.
It’s easy to look back and second guess the decision, but the fact of the matter is that they could have drafted a receiver such as Terrance Williams or Aaron Dobson in the second round and then nabbed Stedwin Bailey in the third. As the fourth round approaches, there are still some quality wideouts still available. With that being said, it is possible the Vikings add a receiver in this round since they still do have a pick, although there is still a need at linebacker.
If you’re a Vikings fan, what do you think? Are you happy with Patterson or would you have rather had three receivers drafted in rounds 2-4 instead?
