The Spaz
04-18-2004, 05:28 PM
Here are two words to make any NFL scout drop his stopwatch and run screaming from the war room: Dimitrius Underwood.
Underwood was the epitome of a poor draft pick. On the other end of the scale is Randy Moss, who has made the Vikings look like geniuses for taking the receiver after 20 teams passed him by because of concerns about his character.
"That's the crazy thing about the draft; you never know what you're really going to get," longtime Vikings personnel man Paul Wiggin said. "When they call it an inexact science, they're not kidding."
The draft, which will be held Saturday and next Sunday, is one of the most important, yet one of the most frustrating, projects every NFL team undertakes. It has evolved into virtually a yearlong project.
For cash-conscious teams such as the Vikings, it's an essential part of building their roster. Busts can hurt a team for years; steals can help for seasons to come.
In their 43 years of drafting, the Vikings have selected 540 players and made their fair share of good and bad picks. Last season, the Vikings were the only NFL team with all of their draft picks active for the season opener, and nearly the entire class should be a vital part of the team this season. Last year's catch broke a string of bad drafts, particularly in the later rounds.
"You want to make the right pick in the late rounds," longtime Vikings draft guru Frank Gilliam said. "That's where the draft is made."
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=knight-draftshotampcold&prov=knight&type=lgns
Underwood was the epitome of a poor draft pick. On the other end of the scale is Randy Moss, who has made the Vikings look like geniuses for taking the receiver after 20 teams passed him by because of concerns about his character.
"That's the crazy thing about the draft; you never know what you're really going to get," longtime Vikings personnel man Paul Wiggin said. "When they call it an inexact science, they're not kidding."
The draft, which will be held Saturday and next Sunday, is one of the most important, yet one of the most frustrating, projects every NFL team undertakes. It has evolved into virtually a yearlong project.
For cash-conscious teams such as the Vikings, it's an essential part of building their roster. Busts can hurt a team for years; steals can help for seasons to come.
In their 43 years of drafting, the Vikings have selected 540 players and made their fair share of good and bad picks. Last season, the Vikings were the only NFL team with all of their draft picks active for the season opener, and nearly the entire class should be a vital part of the team this season. Last year's catch broke a string of bad drafts, particularly in the later rounds.
"You want to make the right pick in the late rounds," longtime Vikings draft guru Frank Gilliam said. "That's where the draft is made."
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=knight-draftshotampcold&prov=knight&type=lgns