When former Vikings GM weighs in on draft grades, he brings a refreshing dose of patience to a process that's often rushed. Every April, after the NFL draft concludes, analysts rush to hand out letter grades like candy. But the truth is, those instant evaluations are almost meaningless. It takes two to three years—sometimes longer—to truly know how a team performed on draft day.
Consider the history books. Tom Brady, a skinny sixth-round pick out of Michigan in 2000, became the greatest quarterback of all time. In 2017, the Chiefs traded their 27th overall pick, a third-rounder, and a future first-round pick to move up to No. 10 and select Patrick Mahomes—a move widely considered risky for a "raw" prospect from Texas Tech. Then there's Joe Montana and Russell Wilson, both third-rounders who went on to become Super Bowl champions and legends.
Between those four quarterbacks alone, we're looking at 15 Super Bowl titles, 11 Super Bowl MVPs, and 39 Pro Bowl selections. Not bad for picks that likely earned mediocre draft-day grades. As Larry David might say, those turned out "pretty, pretty good."
Closer to home for Vikings fans, Fran Tarkenton was a third-round pick in 1961. No one could have predicted he'd lead Minnesota to three Super Bowls, earn NFL MVP honors, become a nine-time Pro Bowler, and eventually enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
So when it comes to the Vikings' recent draft classes, the same logic applies. If J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner develop into All-Pros who lead the Purple to the promised land, the 2024 draft will earn an A+—especially with sixth-rounder Will Reichard already proving himself as an All-Pro kicker. Meanwhile, the 2022 draft class, which has zero players still with the team, is already a clear F.
As for the just-completed 2026 draft? The former GM isn't rushing to judgment. What if Caleb Banks stays healthy and becomes the next Chris Jones or Kevin Williams—a dominant, game-wrecking defensive lineman? What if several later-round picks develop into starters, and a couple become stars? Time will tell, and that's exactly the point. In the NFL, patience isn't just a virtue—it's the only way to get the grade right.