Minnesota Vikings 2002 Draft coverage and picks. A round by round list of the teams 2002 draft picks and a profile of each player.
Raonall Smith | Willie Offord | Brian Williams | Ed Ta'amu | Nick Rogers | Chad Beasley
Round 1, Pick 7
Bryant McKinnie, OT Miami
Notes: (6-8, 343, 5.38) Did not play high school football until his
senior year, when he was a defensive end. Moved to the offensive line at
Lackawanna Junior College (Pa.) in 1997. Came to Miami (Fla.) in '99 and red
shirted for developmental purposes. Starting left tackle in 2000 and an
All-Big East pick. A Pro Football Weekly All-American and a unanimous
All-American in '01, when he also won the Outland Trophy as the top lineman
in the country. Started every game in '01 but had his knee scoped after the
regular-season finale to remove bone chips and loose cartilage. Had the
surgery in early December and was able to start the Rose Bowl.
Positives: A planet player, meaning there are very few people in the history
of the planet who are as big as McKinnie and can do the things he does on
the football field. He has the wingspan of a 747 and does an excellent job
of using his hands and long arms to punch and redirect rushers. With his
size and wingspan, getting around him is like circumventing the globe. Seems
to have a feel for position, despite his limited football background. Is
light on his feet and athletic. Slides his feet fluidly and can change
directions. Bends his knees extremely well for a man as tall as he is. With
his long arms, he is not going to bench-press 225 pounds 45 times, and he
had not spent that much time weight training before college. However, he can
be overpowering one-on-one. Rarely seen off his feet, despite his limited
football background. Has very good balance and body control and seems to
have a good feel when blocking in-line. Never seems to give up a sack and
pitched a complete shutout at Syracuse All-America DE Dwight Freeney, who
some believed was the best pass rusher in the country. Can also adjust on
the move.
Negatives: Is not a real killer or that intense all the time. Does the job
but does not seem to want to finish all his blocks and really punish the man
he is blocking, except when the big guy is upset about some tactic the
defender used. Is so big and talented that he does not have to do the little
extras that could make him extra special. Does not push himself as much as
he should in practice. Has not spent enough time working in the weight room
to improve his strength and flexibility. Still learning the game, and lack
of experience will hurt him. Looks indecisive and struggles at times in the
open field, when his assignments are not clearly defined and he has an
option of who to block. That is the one area where his limited football
background seems to hurt him. While he has been durable and very effective,
McKinnie may not always push himself as much as he should in practice. In
terms of size, is similar to Jonathan Ogden, but McKinnie does not have
Ogden's super athletic ability, flexibility or feet.
Summary: Size-wise, McKinnie is similar to Jonathan Ogden but does not have
Ogden's super athletic ability, flexibility and feet. Nevertheless, McKinnie
will be a very high first-round pick, and if he will pay the price, he could
become a perennial All-Pro type of player.
Round 2, Pick 6, 38th Overall
Raonall Smith, OLB, Washington St.
Notes: (6-2, 242, 4.53) Has run 4.49 on a very, very fast surface.
Three-sport (football, basketball and baseball) athlete in high school who
graduated in 1996. Delayed collegiate enrollment until January of '97 to
save a year, but still wound up redshirting in '97. Was limited to six games
and two starts in '98 because of injuries. Had surgery on his shoulder after
the year. Played in eight games and started four in '99 and missed three
games with a knee injury and one with a shoulder injury. Stayed healthy and
started every game in 2000. However, missed time in '01 when he had his knee
scoped on Oct. 1. Nevertheless, only missed one full game and two starts and
was a second-team All-Pacific-10 pick. Had 26 tackles, including six for
loss, and two sacks in '98. Was in on 38 tackles, including four for loss,
in '99. Had 71 stops, including 12 for loss, and three sacks in '00 and also
broke up five passes. Took part in 68 tackles, including seven for negative
yardage in '01, picked off his first pass and broke up a half-dozen passes.
Positives: Looks the part. Has a great body. Is very athletic and has
tremendous speed and jumping ability. Runs like a deer and jumps like a
kangaroo. Can be an explosive hitter. Can make plays sideline to sideline
and blitz off the edge. At times, does a terrific job in coverage and looks
natural. Can run with receivers and backs and blanket tight ends. Should
make an excellent special-teams player.
Negatives: Hot and cold player whose lack of football instincts and
experience often handicap him. Can do everything you would want an outside
linebacker to do, but does not do anything well on a consistent basis. Late
reactor who generally needs to see things unfold before he can react. Will
let the play-action fake freeze him. Has too much indecision in his play.
Lacks awareness against the pass and at times will look a little lost. Has a
hard time coming off blocks. When he gets blocked against the run or when
blitzing, he tends to stay blocked. Has not been that durable.
Summary: Great workout guy who flashes all the tools, but unless the light
goes on and he really starts to see the big picture, he will be a player
that looks like Tarzan and runs like a deer, but does not get enough done.
Is a lot like Mark Fields was, but not as nasty, aggressive or explosive.
Round 3, Pick 5, 70th
Overall
Willie Offord, SS, South Carolina
Notes: (6-1, 210, 4.6) Has run just under 4.5 on a very fast surface. Red
shirted in 1997. Started seven games at outside linebacker in '98. Moved to
safety in '99, but most of his action came on special teams. Started
11-of-12 games in 2000 and every game in '01. Had 30 tackles and three
passes broken up as a freshman, 12-0 in 1999, 59-5 and one pick in 2000 and
77-2-1 in '01.
Positives: A big, physical safety who will often play more like a linebacker
in a defensive scheme where he is stationed up in the box. Has improved and
has become more active in coverage. Should be a very good special-teams
player.
Negatives: Still needs work in coverage, especially on turning and going
back on the ball. Can be inconsistent. Does not always wrap up when he
tackles and will miss a few. At times, gets himself in bad positions. I have
also seen him turn his back on some plays when he is trying to make the
tackle.
Summary: In-the-box type. Still not where teams want but has improved a lot.
Round 4, Pick 7, 105 Overall
Brian Williams, CB, North Carolina State
Notes: (5-11, 207, 4.56) Was recruited as a running back but moved to
safety as a freshman in 1998, when as a second-unit player and
special-teamer, he had 13 stops, blocked a kick and returned five kickoffs
for 63 yards. Started every game at free safety in '99 and led the team in
tackles with 131. Also picked off two passes, broke up four and blocked a
kick. Shifted to cornerback in 2000, started every game and had 55 stops and
six passes broken up as well as one blocked kick. Played in every game and
started all but one in '01 at cornerback. Had 63 stops, nine passes broken
up and three interceptions.
Positives: Well-built, tough, durable and hard-hitting player who has also
excelled on special teams during his career. Plays with heart and spirit and
enjoys the game. As a corner, he is effective when playing bump-and-run and
can be effective in a zone. Has enough size and more than enough toughness
to move inside. Versatile. Can player anywhere in the secondary in the right
schemes.
Negatives: Lacks great pure speed for a cornerback. Will struggle at times
with man-on-man coverage when he is backed off. Does not always flip his
hips and come out of his pedal as fluidly as scouts would like. At times
will lose a step in transition. Will lose his footing at times, and any time
a cornerback or deep safety gets off balance or falls down, a disaster could
occur.
Summary: A good, tough, versatile football player.
Round 4, Pick 34, 132 Overall
(Compensatory Pick)
Ed Ta'amu, OG, Utah
Positives: (6-1, 330, 5.3) Wide-body type with a massive chest and thick
arms and legs…Comes off the snap low, quickly getting his hands up and into
the defender's chest. Has strength and explosion to shock defenders and
neutralize the charge. Maintains balance on the move and plays at the proper
pas level to gain leverage and control. Displays a quick first step, strong
hand punch and powerful leg drive. Shows solid leg slide, base and knee bend
anchoring in pass protection. Has good lateral agility and a feel for the
pass rush, picking up stunts and blitzes quickly when dropping back and
sinking his hips. Has excellent balance, keeping a very wide base…His hand
punch simply stuns opponents, generally taking the defender down with one
swipe. His low stance allows him to get a strong rise off the ball, using
that initial step to easily control the defender.
Negatives: Still very raw, relying a lot on brute strength rather than
technique. Shorter than ideal but his hand quickness could see him shift to
center at the pro level. Needs to develop better hand usage (has a terrific
punch, though) as he tends to hang on and lean into his blocks, rather that
reaching out to redirect. Has trouble locating and landing on linebackers
when on the move. Has a tendency to punch and push rather than sustain and
position when blocking at the second level. Was suspended for the beginning
of the 2001 season.
CAREER NOTES
Late bloomer who finally was given an opportunity in the starting lineup the
last two years. Made up for lost time by establishing himself as one of the
most aggressive drive blockers in the West. Joined the Utes as an offensive
guard, but was shifted to defensive tackle the following year. Moved back to
the offensive line as a junior and then led the team in blocking consistency
and knockdown blocks during his final two campaigns.
Round 6, Pick 5, 177 Overall
Nick Rogers, OLB, Georgia Tech
Notes: (6-1, 250, 4.75) Lettered in football, basketball and track in
high school. Red shirted in 1997 and did not see much action in '98. Started
to emerge in '99, when he started about half the games and had 36 tackles,
six tackles for loss, 1 1/2 sacks and an interception playing linebacker and
rush end. Really came on in 2000 as a rush end and earned second-team
All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors. Had 62 tackles, 13 tackles for loss,
nine sacks and caused six fumbles. Started every game in '01 and had 64
tackles, 12 tackles for loss and six sacks and was a second-team All-ACC
pick.
Positives: Fast and athletic for a defensive end. Appears to have the speed
and athleticism to play outside linebacker. Looks like he can turn his hips
well enough to play in coverage. Plays hard. Uses his hands well on the pass
rush and can be an effective edge rusher with closing speed.
Negatives: Tweener size is a huge liability when he plays down. If he's used
as a pure linebacker, his greatest strength, rushing the quarterback, is
taken away. When he plays down, he can be engulfed by big tackles and buried
on running plays. And if they lock on to him in pass protection, odds are he
is finished. He also can be pushed wide of the pocket at times. Seemed to
disappear for long stretches in some football games and was not a factor in
quite a few 2001 games. Is not a sure wrap tackler and will come in out of
control at times. Would be a major projection at linebacker, since you don't
know about his instincts, coverage skills and feel for coverage.
Summary: While he would be an ideal CFL defensive end, Rogers could make an
NFL team as an "elephant" type of rush end, a situational rusher or an
outside linebacker. His best fit would be as a 3-4 rush linebacker.
Round 7, Pick 7, 218 Overall
Chad Beasley, DT, Virginia Tech
Notes: (6-5, 303, 5.12) Father, Tom, was a star defensive lineman at
Virginia Tech who was drafted by the Steelers in the third round of the 1977
draft and went on to play in the NFL for nine years (six in Pittsburgh,
three in Washington). Chad was a top high school weight man who won the
class AA state championship in the shot-put and discus and was an all-state
football player. Red shirted in '97 and missed most of spring practice in
'98 with a foot injury. Came back that fall to play in every game as a
second-unit defensive tackle on a team that rotated two groups of defensive
linemen. Played in every game in '99 and started three times. Second-team
All-Big East defensive tackle in 2000, when he started the first 10 games
and Virginia Tech's bowl game and played in Game 11, despite a badly
sprained left ankle. Had surgery on his right foot after the year and missed
spring ball. Came back in the fall and was a second-team All-Big East pick
after recording 57 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks. Had 28-2-1
in '98, 39-4-2 in '99 and 58-7-1 in 2000. Also picked off a pass in 1998 and
2000.
Positives: Very hard worker and good competitor. Toiled in the weight room
to add size and strength and to better his athletic testing numbers. Now has
big-league weight-room numbers. Bench-presses more than 400 pounds, has
squatted more than 600 and reportedly has a 35-inch vertical jump. On the
field, he is a high-motor, relentless player who always hustles and chases.
Negatives: Lacks a wide power base and train. As a result, he has a hard
time translating weight-room numbers to the field and is not a power player.
Average pass rusher. Has never had more than two sacks in a season.
Summary: Not the prospect his father was but will have a chance because he
has his father's heart and competitiveness and has really worked hard to add
weight and strength.