Jeremy Fowler, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn. –
The Minnesota Vikings will receive two fourth-round selections in next month’s NFL draft as compensation for losing Sidney Rice and Ray Edwards in free agency last year, the team announced today.
The Vikings’ rebuilding plan under new general manager Rick Spielman gets a boost. The picks will be the 33rd and 39th in that round, giving the team 10 total picks in the draft – three in the fourth, two in the seventh and one in each of the five other rounds.
The draft will begin April 26. The Vikings have the third overall pick.
The Vikings and Green Bay Packers were the only teams awarded multiple fourth-round picks, although the Oakland Raiders received a third- and a fourth-round pick. The Baltimore Ravens and New York Giants each received a fourth rounder.
In all, 23 teams received picks ranging from the third to seventh rounds. Compensatory picks can’t be traded.
Minnesota’s 10 picks ties last season’s total and are the most for the franchise since 1992, when the Vikings had 11 picks.
The Vikings have found value in the fourth round recently, especially on the defensive line, taking Christian Ballard (2011), Everson Griffen (2010), Brian Robison (2007) and Ray Edwards (2006). Edwards started 58 games and produced 29-1/2 sacks for Minnesota before signing a five-year, $30 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons worth $11 million guaranteed.
Robison registered eight sacks and three forced fumbles last season as Edwards’ replacement, and
Griffen and Ballard could see roles increase on the line in 2012.
Rice signed a five-year, $41 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks worth $18.5 million guaranteed.
