The largest class of 2020 was a pretty good one. Trades are a big part of this class, including a notable first-round pick acquisition, a trade back in the same round to get two more picks, a trade of a third-round pick to get four more picks, among others.
The star of the class is one of the biggest stars in the NFL in wide receiver Justin Jefferson. Notably acquiring the pick in the Stefon Diggs to the Bills trade, Jefferson has been nothing but a superstar with four straight 1,000-yard seasons and set the rookie receiving record at the time. He was the fifth receiver drafted, notably behind busts Henry Ruggs and Jalen Reagor, and is already a top three receiver in the league, if not number one.
The Vikings traded back six spots in the first round (acquiring a fourth and a fifth) and selected cornerback Jeff Gladney. He started 15 games as a rookie, but was released the following year following a domestic violence incident. After sitting out the 2021 season, he signed with the Cardinals in March 2022. In May that year, he and his girlfriend tragically passed away in a car crash at the age of 25.
Ezra Cleveland was the starting right guard the second half of his rookie year, and started every game the next two seasons at left guard. He entered 2023 as the starter again, but was traded to the Jaguars at the trade deadline, and started five games for them. Not sure why the Vikings traded a guy who started 49 games for them, maybe because they wanted to start veteran Dalton Risner instead, but Cleveland should be a top OL on the market.
Cameron Dantzler had a good start to his career and with 26 starts in his first three seasons, but some locker room issues and injuries triggered his release in 2023 and has been part of four teams and couldn’t stick with any of them. The 25 year old is still young and can turn his career around given an opportunity, but we shall see.
D.J. Wonnum, while not a household name, has quietly had a very good four seasons. With 23 career sacks, including eight in 2021 and 2023, Wonnum has played 62 games with 31 starts but is often behind the likings of Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith over the years, but a guy like him will be valued highly. James Lynch has mainly been a backup and Troy Dye has been a core special teamer. Harrison Hand only last two seasons before a stint with the Bears in 2022.
K.J. Osborn didn’t have an offensive snap as a rookie, but developed into a solid WR3 over the last three years who’ll get around 600 yards per year. Blake Brandel has five career starts and has only served as a backup.
The unsung hero of the Vikings defense last season is Josh Metellus. A special teamer his first two seasons, he started earning defensive snaps in 2022 and was named a full-time starter in 2023, and even earned a contract extension before the season began. He’s known as a super-utility versatile player in that defense, notably lining up in 12 different positions, including safety, corner, linebacker, and even defensive line.
The rest of the class didn’t last long. Kenny Willekes was injured and on the practice squad for three seasons for his release. Nate Stanley spent his rookie year on the practice squad, then his second year injured, then cut and retired. Brian Cole didn’t make it out of training camp, and spent the year on the Dolphins practice squad before his release. Kyle Hinton spent three years on the practice squad and wasn’t brought back for a fourth.
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