Apr 30, 2021 at 09:58 PM Copied!
EAGAN, Minn. The Vikings bolstered their defensive line in the third round Friday night, taking Pittsburgh edge rusher Patrick Jones II with the 90th overall pick.
The selection of Jones gives the Vikings another defensive end to try and get after the quarterback, a collection that currently includes Danielle Hunter, Stephen Weatherly, D.J. Wonnum and Jalyn Holmes.
All of the above have been coached by Vikings Assistant Head Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator and defensive line coach Andre Patterson, whom Jones has also become well-acquainted with. I talked to Coach Andre a lot. I just got a feel for him and knew he was a great coach. I looked him up, too, Jones told Vikings.com s Gabe Henderson after being drafted. He s developed great pass rushers, and now that I get the opportunity to work for him, I m just excited.
overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, and he spoke with Twin Cities media members shortly thereafter.
The Moment My dad always tells stories about me throwing the ball at the age of 2, and then my mom, I always told her that I wanted to play in the NFL, [from a really] young age, Mond said. So I feel like I ve been preparing for this for the longest time. I m truly excited, and just having the experience I do in the SEC, playing against the best competition, I think that it s going to make a lot easier [learning] curve for me.
Stephenson Explains Changes in Approach by Vikings Scouts Feb 25, 2021 at 06:30 PM Copied!
In a normal offseason, most teams football-side employees would have converged in Indianapolis this week for the 2021 NFL Scouting Combine.
The league managed to squeak in last year s event right before the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically altered operations. And even though the league was able to play its entire season, including Super Bowl LV earlier this month, the decision was made to not hold the traditional combine this year.
Rather than eyeballing more than 300 players running the same 40 yards of turf at Lucas Oil Stadium, Vikings Director of College Scouting Jamaal Stephenson joined #VikingsatHome to update VEN s Gabe Henderson on the different ways the department is having to operate this year.
Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman knew it was only a matter of time.
For the past several years, he had looked on as Vice President of Player Personnel/Assistant General Manager George Paton participated in job interviews for general manager positions in the NFL.
Each time, Paton had returned to the Vikings franchise for which he s put forth tremendous work ethic since arriving in Minnesota in 2007.
The opportunity that Paton received from the Denver Broncos, however, was one that he could not pass up for himself and his family. The Broncos announced Paton as their GM on Wednesday, which Spielman on Thursday described as very emotional.