Vikings Sign Final 14 of Historically Large 2020 Draft Class

EAGAN, Minn. — All 15 members of the Vikings 2020 draft class — the largest harvested in a seven-round draft in NFL history — have signed their rookie contracts, the team announced Thursday. Minnesota’s draft class broke a seven-round draft record of 14 selections made by the 1997 Dolphins and 2016 Browns. The draft became seven rounds in 1994. Quarterback Nate Stanley signed his rookie deal on July 13.Here’s a refresher on the 14 other members of his class. Justin Jefferson Jefferson, the Vikings first draftee in 2020, is expected to compete for the No. 2 job at wide receiver. He was the 22nd overall pick in the draft — the fifth wide receiver selected overall — after recording one of the best receiving seasons in LSU history as a junior in 2019. He tied for the national lead with 111 catches (a school single-season record) and finished second in the country overall with 18 touchdown receptions, which trailed only Tigers teammate Ja'Marr Chase's 20.Jefferson drew praise from teammates and coaches during the Vikings virtual offseason, including from Vikings Offensive Coordinator Gary Kubiak. “I think he’s done some things that give him a good head start moving forward,” Kubiak said in mid-June. Jefferson, who stands at 6-foot-1 and weighs 202 pounds, was clocked at 4.43 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. Jeff Gladney Gladney, the 31st overall pick, is among a handful of cornerbacks who will vie for playing time in 2020. The former TCU standout is 5-foot-10 and weighs 191 pounds but brings a feisty attitude to the team. He started 10 of 12 games in 2019, totaling 31 tackles (24 solo), one interception and 1.5 tackles for loss. His 14 passes defensed led the Big 12. Gladney is the first TCU player to be drafted by the Vikings in the first round in franchise history.Ezra Cleveland Cleveland, who starred at left tackle for Boise State, was a second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and was taken 58th overall. Cleveland started all 13 games at left tackle for the Broncos and was named a First-Team All-Mountain West selection for the second consecutive year. The 6-foot-6, 313-pound lineman started all 40 games in three seasons with the Broncos. He will reunite with former college teammate Alexander Mattison in Purple. Cleveland helped the running back rush for 2,501 yards and 29 scores for Boise State in 2017-18.Cleveland was one of the most athletic offensive tackles in the 2020 draft. That was evident by his time of 4.93 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, the third-fastest by an offensive lineman. The 22-year-old Cleveland also ran a zone-scheme offense in college, which overlaps with offensive system that Vikings Offensive Coordinator Gary Kubiak has installed in Minnesota. Cameron Dantzler Dantzler, a third-round selection, was the 89th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. A redshirt junior out of Mississippi State, the cornerback measures in at 6-foot-2 and 188 pounds. Dantzler allowed a passer rating of just 57.0 last season, which ranked fourth among FBS cornerbacks.He started 22 of 35 games from 2017-19 for the Bulldogs, including all nine that he played last fall. Dantzler led Mississippi State with 10 passes defensed in 2019. He recorded 40 tackles (31 solo) and two interceptions last season. Dantzler is in the mix for cornerback depth, as well as playing time on special teams. D.J. Wonnum Wonnum was picked in the fourth round (117th overall pick) of the draft, and has comparable measurements to Danielle Hunter and former defensive end Stephen Weatherly. Wonnum, a senior out of South Carolina, measured in 6-foot-5 and 258 pounds. Hunter, who was 6-5 and 252 pounds out of LSU in 2015, is now a two-time Pro Bowler who has recorded back-to-back, 14.5 seasons. Weatherly was a seventh-round pick in 2016 and signed with Carolina as a free agent.A team captain in 2019, Wonnum collected Second-Team All-SEC honors from The Associated Press after recording 37 tackles, including 9.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. Wonnum was also South Carolina's 2019 Comeback Player of the Year, as he was limited to just five games in 2018. Wonnum appeared in 43 games with 30 starts in college, recording 137 career tackles with 14.0 sacks and 29.5 career tackles for loss. James Lynch Lynch was a fourth-round selection (130th overall) after a standout career as a defensive tackle at Baylor. He earned First-Team All-American honors in 2019, and was also named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. He led the Bears with 19.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks, ranking in the top 10 nationally in both categories. He also broke up five passes, forced three fumbles and blocked two kicks as a junior.In 38 career games, the 6-4, 289-pound Lynch tallied 101 tackles, 33.5 tackles for loss and 22 sacks. The selection of Lynch added depth to Minnesota’s defensive line and thrilled Hall of Famer defensive tackle John Randle, who hit it off with Lynch at the combine. Troy Dye Dye, the 132nd overall pick, was the third defensive player Minnesota selected in the fourth round of the draft. He started 13 games last season, recording 84 tackles with 9.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. Dye earned First-Team All-Pac-12 honors and participated in the 2019 Reese's Senior Bowl.Dye is the only player in Oregon history to lead the team in tackles for four consecutive seasons. He finished third in program history in career tackles (397) and tied for fourth in tackles for loss (44.0). Dye is listed at 6-foot-3 and 231 pounds. Harrison Hand Hand, the 169th overall pick in the fifth round, was the third cornerback drafted by the Vikings in 2020. He played one season at Temple after beginning his college career at Baylor. He was granted the opportunity to play immediately instead of sitting out as a transfer and recorded 59 tackles (4.0 for loss) and three interceptions for the Owls in 2019. Hand started 13 of 22 games in two seasons at Baylor, totaling 55 tackles, 11 pass breakups and an interception.Hand will bring plenty of athleticism to the Vikings, where he is expected to help contribute on defense and special teams. Hand, who is 5-foot-11 and 197 pounds, recorded a vertical leap of 41 inches at the combine, which tied first-round pick Jeff Okudah for the best among cornerbacks in the 2020 class. K.J. Osborn Osborn, a redshirt senior out of Miami, was the 176th overall pick in the draft. The athletic wide receiver and returner is 5-foot-11 and 203 pounds.Osborn started all 13 games he played for the Hurricanes last season, leading the team in receiving with 50 catches for 547 yards and five touchdowns. Osborn also contributed on special teams. He returned 16 punts for 255 yards (15.9 average) and 10 kickoffs for 201 yards (20.1 average). Osborn transferred in 2019 to Miami after spending four seasons at Buffalo, where he served as one of the Bulls top playmakers in 2017 and 2018. He finished his career there with 96 catches for 1,490 yards and 12 touchdowns and earned 2018 All-MAC honors. Blake Brandel Brandel, a sixth-round selection out of Oregon State (203rd overall pick), was more than reliable at left tackle in his time with the Beavers. Brandel started all 48 possible games in college, which is the third-longest streak in school history. He was an All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention in his first three seasons before earning Second-Team All-Pac-12 honors as a senior.Pro Football Focus graded Brandel's pass blocking at 93.1 in 2019, the best mark in the nation and graded him at 90 overall for the sixth-best mark nationally. Brandel, who is 6-foot-7 and 307 pounds, allowed just one sack and four hurries in 2019 when he served as a team captain. Josh Metellus Safety Josh Metellus, a former Michigan standout, was selected in the sixth round with the 205th overall pick in the draft. Metellus, who is 5-foot-11 and 209 pounds, is expected to add safety depth and contribute on special teams.He started 13 games for the Wolverines in 2019 and recorded 74 tackles, including 4.0 tackles for loss. Additionally, he snagged two interceptions and added five passes defensed. Metellus showed his versatility at Michigan, where he lined up at outside linebacker, both safety spots, outside corner and in the slot. Kenny Willekes Willekes was the first of four picks in the seventh-round, as the former Michigan State star was taken at pick No. 225. Willekes is the Spartans all-time leader with 51 tackles for loss and was a two-time, First-Team All-Big Ten selection in college in 2018 and 2019. He also was Michigan State's Team MVP in those years and ranks third in program history with 26.0 career sacks, despite beginning his career as a walk-on.Willekes, who is 6-foot-3 and 264 pounds, was a Second-Team All-American selection by Walter Camp in 2019 when he recorded 78 tackles with 10.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss. He also had two fumble recoveries and forced two fumbles. He earned the Burlsworth Trophy, which is awarded annually to the nation's best player who was a former walk-on. Brian Cole II Cole, who starred at Mississippi State, was a seventh-round pick and the 249th overall selection. Cole started 12 games as a hybrid safety/linebacker for the Bulldogs in 2019 and recorded 67 tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss. He also added one interception, two passes defensed and 2.0 sacks, which led all Mississippi State defensive backs.He did not play in the Music City Bowl, opting instead to turn his focus to draft prep. Cole started his college career in 2015 at Michigan, where he played receiver. The following season, he changed schools and positions. The Michigan native transferred to East Mississippi Community College and made the switch to defensive back, eventually being named one of the country's top five junior college safeties. Kyle Hinton Hinton was the 15th and final draft pick by the Vikings in 2020, as the former Washburn University (Division II) offensive lineman was taken with the 253rd overall pick. Hinton (6-foot-3 and 310 pounds) played 40 games for the Ichabods, including 34 starts on the offensive line. He was a four-time all-MIAA selection and was a three-time All-American selection.While he primarily played tackle in college, Hinton is expected to shift to the interior with the Vikings. Hinton has the athleticism the Vikings covet for offensive linemen. He was also clocked at 4.86 seconds in his first 40-yard dash at Kansas State University’s Pro Day, and 4.70 in his second, although there were some timing concerns with his final run. But by comparison's sake, Cleveland's best 40 time from the combine was 4.93 seconds, and Vikings right tackle Brian O'Neill ran a 4.82 at the combine back in 2018.

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