All 31 picks of the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft are in, and the Minnesota Vikings have **gained another playmaker** in Ole Miss wide receiver Laquon Treadwell.
Now that we've met the newest player to wear purple and gold, let's take a look at other first-round draftees that the Vikings will face during the 2016 season, starting with the NFC North opponents.
Packers: DT Kenny Clark, No. 27 overall
Minnesota split the series matchup with Green Bay last season and dethroned its NFC North rivals to take control of the division. In 2016, the Vikings will come face-to-face twice with the newest Packer, defensive tackle Kenny Clark. This year marked the fifth consecutive draft in which the Packers used their first-round pick on a defensive player.
As a junior at UCLA, Clark started all 13 games and recorded career highs in tackles (75 total and 47 solo), tackles for loss (11), sacks (6.0) and pass breakups (five).
Bears: LB Leonard Floyd, No. 9 overall
Chicago was this year's only NFC North team to make a first-round trade, swapping picks with Tampa Bay to move up two slots and take linebacker Leonard Floyd ninth overall. The Bears rushing defense tied for 22nd in the league in 2015, and adding Floyd should strengthen their front seven.
Over three seasons with Georgia, Floyd played 38 games, starting 32 of them. He recorded 184 tackles and led the team in sacks each year, totaling 17. In 2015, Floyd tallied 74 tackles, 4.5 sacks and tied for the team lead with 10.5 tackles for loss.
Lions: T Taylor Decker, No. 16 overall
The Lions drafted Ohio State tackle Taylor Decker, who was the fourth offensive lineman and fourth Buckeye selected in the first round. Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was sacked 44 times in 2015, (eight of those credited to the Vikings) and he'll be glad for the extra protection.
Decker's performance on the line in 2015 bolstered an Ohio State offense that averaged 35.7 points per game and recorded 3,188 rushing yards on the season; in 2014 and 2015, Decker helped Ohio State break a number of school offensive records, including points scored and passing touchdowns.
Titans: T Jack Conklin, No. 8 overall
The Titans traded with Cleveland to move up from No. 15 to No. 8. After drafting Marcus Mariota second overall in 2015, Tennessee snagged tackle Jack Conklin to bolster its offensive line and provide better protection for their second-year quarterback.
Panthers: DT Vernon Butler, No. 30 overall
After falling to Denver in Super Bowl 50, the Panthers added defensive tackle Vernon Butler to their roster with the 30th overall pick. Analysts have said all along that this year's draft class of defensive tackles was extremely deep, and Carolina was able to snag a talented defensive player late in the first round.
Giants: CB Eli Apple, No. 10 overall
Ironically, Ohio State cornerback Eli Apple is headed to the Big Apple, where he'll be known as the second "Eli" on a roster highlighted by quarterback Eli Manning. The Giants strengthened their secondary by adding Apple with the 10th overall pick. In the Vikings last meeting with the NFC East team, the Giants struggled to slow the Vikings, who scored 49 points to New York's 17. Apple's 6-foot-1 frame and good range will make him a challenge to opposing receivers in 2016.
Texans: WR Will Fuller, No. 21 overall
After swapping with the Redskins to move up one slot, the Texans used the 21st overall pick to select Notre Dame's Will Fuller in what started a run of wide receiver picks. Fuller was the second receiver off the board and Houston's third receiver drafted in two years. The Texans picked receiver Jaelen Strong and Keith Mumphery in 2015 at 11th and 175th overall, respectively, but neither made a big splash last season.
As a junior at Notre Dame, Fuller recorded 62 receptions for 1,258 yards and 14 touchdowns (fifth-most in FBS) and also returned one punt for 10 yards.
Eagles: QB Carson Wentz, No. 2 overall
The Eagles now have a first-overall and second-overall pick on their roster, both quarterbacks. After having Sam Bradford in the pilot's seat in 2015, Philadelphia drafted NDSU quarterback Carson Wentz with the No. 2 pick acquired via an earlier trade with Cleveland.
As a senior, Wentz returned from a broken wrist that sidelined him for two months to start seven games and lead the Bison to their fifth consecutive title game win. Over those seven games, Wentz threw for 1,651 yards and 17 touchdowns while also adding six touchdowns on the ground.
Redskins: WR Josh Doctson, No. 22 overall
After moving down one spot on the board, the Redskins added a receiver to their arsenal with TCU's Josh Doctson. Quarterback Kirk Cousins became Washington's full-time starter in 2015 and had both Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson as targets. Doctson is a big-bodied receiver that adds depth to Washington's receiving corps.
As a senior in 2015, Doctson set TCU records with 79 catches and 14 touchdowns. He recorded 1,337 receiving yards en route to being named a first-team All-American and a finalist for Biletnikoff Award for nation's top wide receiver.
Cardinals: DT Robert Nkemdiche, No. 29 overall
The Vikings fell just three points short in Arizona last season. In 2016, the Cardinals will come to Minneapolis for the rematch with an added defensive weapon. Arizona selected defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche 29th overall to increase depth on an already-talented defense that ranked fifth in the NFL last season. The Cardinals' 3-4 defense was headlined in 2015 by Calais Campbell and Frostee Rucker, who have a combined 18 years of NFL experience and will provide Nkemdiche with a veteran presence.
Cowboys: RB Ezekiel Elliot, No. 4 overall
With the fourth overall pick, Dallas took the third offensive player and second from Ohio State in running back Ezekiel Elliott. The Cowboys parted ways with DeMarco Murray following the 2014 season and added Darren McFadden and Alfred Morris in 2015. Unanimously pegged by analysts as the top running back in this year's draft, Elliott now gives Dallas another ground-game threat.
Jaguars: CB Jalen Ramsey, No. 5 overall
Jaguars Head Coach Gus Bradley is known to have an affinity for defensive backs, and he got his wish with cornerback Jalen Ramsey fifth overall. Ramsey was the first defensive back off the board and should make an immediate impact on the Jaguars defense.
Ramsey told Hall of Famer Deion Sanders on stage in Chicago that he's a corner who can play safety.
In three seasons at Florida State, Ramsey played both cornerback and safety for the Seminoles and totaled 180 tackles, 15.0 tackles for loss, 23 pass breakups, 5.0 sacks, 3 interceptions, three forced fumbles and two touchdowns.
Colts: C Ryan Kelly, No. 18 overall
With the 18th overall pick, the Colts drafted Ryan Kelly, the first center and first Alabama player selected. Quarterback Andrew Luck took a large number of hits and 15 sacks in the seven games he played in 2015.
As a senior at Alabama, Kelly anchored the offensive line for the national champs and received the Rimington Trophy as the nation's top center. Running back Derrick Henry led the FBS with 2,219 yards behind Kelly and Alabama's sturdy line.
