NFL Draft memories

The NFL Draft begins this evening. 

To be honest, I haven't been following much draft speculation or indulging in "hot takes," so I have no idea what my Minnesota Vikings club has planned with the #12 overall pick. 

As someone who has been a Draft-watching junkie for nearly three decades, there are many intriguing storylines which come to mind, not the least of which is the drama surrounding the 2005 draft. Given the San Francisco 49ers had the top pick that year and needed a quarterback, the speculation was rampant about which QB they'd select. Given the two best prospects were Utah's Alex Smith and Cal's Aaron Rodgers, it was established it would be between one of those two. Given Rodgers grew up in proximity to the Niners' home stadium, he seemed to be the favorite.....until he wasn't. Yes, the 49ers did indeed select Smith, leaving Rodgers to wait. And wait. And wait some more. 

Rodgers was ultimately selected 24th overall by the Green Bay Packers. Given his comments upon being drafted so late, Rodgers' quest to become a Hall of Fame caliber QB was sparked that very day. 

So whenever Draft day rolls around, inevitably I see a variation of this: 

Sure, this is a bit of trolling from our friends to the east. And it wouldn't be such a kick in the nuts if the Vikings hadn't whiffed on their two first round picks (WR Troy Williamson and DE Erasmus James were busts). But what's most galling to me is the perpetual "woe-is-us" reaction from some of my fellow Vikings fans who believe our club should've selected Rodgers. Apparently a history lesson is in order. 

At the time, the Vikings QB was Daunte Culpepper. In 2004, the season before that fateful draft, Culpeper led the NFL in passing yardage (4,711) and was second in touchdown passes (39). He also finished second to Peyton Manning (now a Hall of Famer) in the voting for 2004 Offensive Player of the Year. Another thing to keep in mind is that Nate Burleson was Culpepper's top WR that season as Randy Moss missed 4 games due to a hamstring injury. And in a three season span from 2002 thru 2004, Culpepper's per season average was just over 4,000 yards passing and 27 TDs. However, the Vikes were merely a .500 team in that same timeframe, so it would stand to reason there were other pressing needs throughout the roster (particularly since Moss was jettisoned after the '04 campaign). But in a cruel twist of fate, Culpepper blew out his knee in Week 8 of the 2005 season. He would ultimately be traded to the Miami Dolphins prior to the 2006 campaign. 

In retrospect, it would have been the best thing for the Vikings to select Rodgers in 2005 given his enormous potential as well as keeping him away from the hated Packers. But the idea that the Vikings' brass at the time was somehow negligent in not taking the future Hall of Famer is revisionist history on par with the 1619 Project. 

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