Minnesota Vikings targeted Xavier Rhodes, Cordarrelle Patterson all along
By Nam Huynh
Apr 26, 2012; Eden Prairie, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman and head coach Leslie Frazier introduce the 2013 1st round draft picks Sharrif Floyd (76) and Xavier Rhodes (29) and Cordarrelle Patterson (84) at at a press conference at Winter Park. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Vikings were extremely happy with their draft, and now we know why.
The Vikings, from the very beginning, had targeted Xavier Rhodes and Cordarrelle Patterson with the Nos. 23 and 25 picks to replace Antoine Winfield and Percy Harvin, according to Peter King of SI.com.
It wasn’t until Sharrif Floyd, viewed by the team’s personnel department as a clear top-10 pick, fell to No. 23 that general manager Rick Spielman adjusted his plan. In the end, Minnesota traded up in the late first round and got Patterson anyway.
With Erin Henderson likely moving to middle linebacker, Spielman might have another starter in fourth-round pick Gerald Hodges at weak-side linebacker.
Yeah, that’s a pretty good draft.