Thread: Looking Back: 2005 draft

Ahh.... the dreadful 2005 draft.
I don't think I really need to explain how bad of a draft this was for us, but I'll continue with the series and do it anyway.

Round
Pick
Player
Pos
School
1 7(7)



Troy Williamson WR South Carolina
1 18(18) Erasmus James DE Wisconsin
2 17(49) Marcus Johnson OG Ole Miss
3 16(80) Dustin Fox CB Ohio St.
4 11(112) Ciatrick Fason HB Florida
6 17(191) C.J. Mosley DT Missouri
7 5(219) Adrian Ward CB UTEP


1. Troy Williamson:
This is a classic example of why boosting a players draft status based on combine results is a bad idea.
In his rookie season, he wasn't all bad.
Started out with 24 catches and 372yds with 2 TD's as a #3/4 receiver.
In following seasons, he was better known for his embarrassing drops rather than production on the field.
May go down as one of the biggest busts in Vikings history.
Grade: F
Alternatives at this pick: Demarcus Ware, Shawn Merriman, Jamaal Brown, Derrick Johnson

2. Erasmus James: Lacking an impact player at DE, we went for Erasmus James.
He didn't do too badly rotating in.
In his rookie year, he recorded 5 sacks in 9 days, but he couldn't stay healthy.
We managed to trade him to the Redskins after three years, where he tried to rejuvenate his career, but he just couldn't stay healthy.
He retired the following year after injuries kept him off the field.
Without the injuries he may have panned out, but it is what it is.
Grade: D-
Alternatives at this pick: Marcus Spears, Mark Clayton, Fabian Washington, Aaron Rodgers, Jason Campbel, Roddy White, Heath Miller

3. Marcus Johnson:
After Dixon retired, we were severely lacking on the OLine, with Birk and McKinney being the only decent linemen.
We took G Marcus Johnson, and he ended up starting 8 games his rookie year.
He did alright, considering he was a rookie, but we switched him to T for some reason.
The change of position didn't really work well with him, and he soon became a liability, and eventually got benched.
Currently a member of the Buccaneers.

Grade: D
Alternatives at this pick: Nick Collins, Roscoe Parrish, Darrent Williams, Justin Miller, Vincent Jackson, Bryant McFadden

4. Dustin Fox:
Not much to say about this guy.
Broke his arm in training camp, and never made the active roster.
managed to make it onto Madden 05, but that was about the highlight of his time with the Vikings.
managed to make the Bills active roster to fill in for an injury, but was waived once again.
currently is not on any active roster.
Grade: F-
Alternatives at this pick: Chris Henry, Ellis Hobbs, Dominique Foxworth, Nick Kaczur

5. Ciatrick Fason: Alot of people were high on this guy, I didn't see why.
he never really did anything.
He was used as a goal line back for some reason, despite being only 6' 207lbs. hasn't been on an active roster since 2006.
Perhaps if used better he might have been an alright #3 for somebody, but that wasn't the case.
Grade: F
Alternatives at this pick: Jerome Mathis, Brady Poppinga, Darren Sproles, Chris Canty

6. C.J. Mosley: Really, IMO the only player from this draft worth a damn.
He did a good job rotating in with Pat Williams, recording three sacks.
We traded him away for Brooks Bollinger, and he is now a member of the Cleveland Browns.

Grade: C-
Alternatives at this pick: Chris Kemoeatu,

7. Adrian ward: Was cut after training camp.
Never made the active roster of any team, and doesn't even have a page on NFL.com.
Managed to make it onto madden 05, but that was the highlight of his pro career.
he probably has a framed screenshot of the bottom of the Vikings Roster.
Grade: F-
Alternatives at this pick: Jay ratliff, Matt Cassell, Ryan Fitzpatrick.


Overall Grade: F------

Gotta go down as one of our worst ever draft.
A few guys started for us, but only because they had to, not because they deserved to.
Two guys, including a first round pick never once saw the field.
When you look at some of the playmakers we could have had instead, its hard to give anyone any credit for this draft.

Worst. Draft. Ever.

This was one of the weakest draft classes ever, for every team.
Not a lot of stars came out this year...at least at this point.

"jkjuggalo" wrote:

This was one of the weakest draft classes ever, for every team.
Not a lot of stars came out this year...at least at this point.

Look at who we could have had in the first round, Demarcus ware, Shawn merriman, Marcus Spears, Aaron Rodgers, Roddy white.
Those players could fill a number of GAPING holes we had then.

Pretty close to being the worst draft class BBQ.
I kindof think the 2004 class was worse but it wouldn't be hard to get me to agree with you though.

I remember I was VERY high on Derrick johnson

I think my one and 2 picks were Derrick Johnson in the 1st.. Roddy White or Clayton in the second

Woulda been decent if we coulda pulled it of fha

"BBQ" wrote:

Worst. Draft. Ever.

+1

Two pretty bad drafts back to back.

"1. Troy Williamson:
This is a classic example of why boosting a players draft status based on combine results is a bad idea.
In his rookie season, he wasn't all bad.
Started out with 24 catches and 372yds with 2 TD's as a #3/4 receiver.
In following seasons, he was better known for his embarrassing drops rather than production on the field.
May go down as one of the biggest busts in Vikings history." (Courtesy of i_bleed_purple)




Wait!!, You mean he's not the perfect replacement for Randy Moss?? He's fast, isn't that all it takes?

"molineviking" wrote:

"1. Troy Williamson:
This is a classic example of why boosting a players draft status based on combine results is a bad idea.
In his rookie season, he wasn't all bad.
Started out with 24 catches and 372yds with 2 TD's as a #3/4 receiver.
In following seasons, he was better known for his embarrassing drops rather than production on the field.
May go down as one of the biggest busts in Vikings history." (Courtesy of i_bleed_purple)




Wait!!, You mean he's not the perfect replacement for Randy Moss?? He's fast, isn't that all it takes?

LOL, ask the Raiders.
Bet that old man quietly thinks to himself, should've taken Crabtree instead of the fast tall dude who keeps dropping the ball.

"i_bleed_purple" wrote:

"jkjuggalo" wrote:

This was one of the weakest draft classes ever, for every team.
Not a lot of stars came out this year...at least at this point.

Look at who we could have had in the first round, Demarcus ware, Shawn merriman, Marcus Spears, Aaron Rodgers, Roddy white.
Those players could fill a number of GAPING holes we had then.

Think of that draft if it looked like this... of course this is the "what if's" but still fun.

1. DeMarcus Ware or Shawn Merriman
1. Marcus Spears or Aaron Rodgers
2. Nick Collins
3. Ellis Hobbs
4. Darren Sproles
6. Chris Kemoeatu
7. Matt Cassell

That would be a sick draft class.

Think of the Defense: Slide Madieu to SS and ufff. Amazing.






















Nick Collins






Madieu Williams















DeMarcus Ware



EJ Henderson



Chad Greenway

Cedric Griffin



Jared Allen
Kevin Williams
Pat Williams
Marcus Spears









Antoine Winfield