EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. —The Vikings opened the 2017 NFL Draft with 69 players of the maximum offseason allotment of 90.
They left the three-day event with 11 additional players and will be adding more undrafted free agents by next week in time for the team's rookie minicamp.
It's not uncommon for Spielman to make multiple deals within a draft, but this year he negotiated seven draft-day trades. Making deals is his favorite part of the draft, but the GM outpaced his normal array by a considerable margin.
He was excited yet couldn't completely fend off fatigue as he spoke to reporters to conclude the draft. * *
"Pretty tired right now, to be honest with you," Spielman said. "[Assistant General Manager] George Paton and [Executive Vice President of Football Operations] Rob Brzezinski do an excellent job working the phones. As you're sitting there monitoring the board, they're fielding the calls, making calls out, keeping me informed on what's available and what's the potential.
"I thought with all the picks that we had in the third day, it gave us the ability to move up and down when we had to," Spielman added. "Even in that sixth round to move a couple picks back to still pick up Eric Wilson the tight end and increase the value of one of our seventh-round picks when we had the first two picks of the seventh round. Felt that that was very beneficial for us."
Spielman was able to send one fourth-round pick to Kansas City to acquire two fifth-round picks. He also nudged down two spots from 199 to 201 in order to move from 230th to 220th in a deal with Washington.
The GM said he thinks the Vikings were able to add quality as they bolstered quantity and that continued with an aggressive foray into rookie free agency immediately after the draft.
"I feel like we filled a lot of needs on our roster. Going to create a lot of competition with a lot of young players," Spielman said. "Can't give enough credit to our coaches and our scouts and all the work and effort they put into it. We felt very strongly about the depth of this draft class in the third round. We're able to manipulate up and down a little bit in the third day and still achieve what we wanted to get accomplished."
Spielman said the Vikings committed more money toward undrafted free agents than in previous years.
"We were already up there and we are pretty much done right now," Spielman said. "We will have a couple of spots to fill, but we were very aggressive and had a game plan of how we were going to attack this so we could get better at it."
Of the 11 selections the Vikings made, only two were made from the Vikings original spots. Linebacker Ben Gedeon (120th overall) and linebacker Elijah Lee (232nd) were drafted from spots that Minnesota held to open the draft.
In the Division
Green Bay opened the third day by drafting Wisconsin linebacker Vince Biegel, who totaled 39.5 tackles for loss, 21.5 sacks and five pass breakups.
The Packers also drafted three running backs throughout the day, selecting Jamaal Williams out of BYU in the fourth round (134th overall), Aaron Jones out of Texas-El Paso in the fifth round (182nd) and Devante Mays out of Utah State in the seventh round (238th).
Additionally, the Packers drafted receivers DeAngelo Yancey (fifth round, 175th, Purdue) and Malachi Dupre (seventh round, 247th, LSU) and center Kofi Amichia (sixth round, 212th, South Florida).
Chicago traded up five spots in the fourth round, sending fourth and sixth-round picks to the Los Angeles Rams, to select Alabama safety Eddie Jackson.
The Bears then selected North Carolina A&T running back Tarik Cohen at 119. Cohen rushed 868 times for 5,619 yards and 56 touchdowns in four seasons.
Chicago's final selection of 2017 was guard Jordan Morgan out of Kutztown (PA) in the fifth round at the 145th overall spot, 100 places before the Vikings final selection of the day.
Detroit drafted six players on the third day of the draft. The Lions tabbed Tennessee linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (124th) and Toledo tight end Michael Roberts (127th) in the fourth round.
The Lions added San Diego cornerback Jamal Agnew (165th) in the fifth round, Arkansas defensive end Jeremiah Ledbetter (205th) and Miami quarterback Brad Kaaya (215th) in the sixth round and Eastern Michigan defensive end Pat O'Connor (250th) in the seventh round.
A Notable 'Mr. Irrelevant'
Each year, the final pick of the draft is lovingly dubbed "Mr. Irrelevant." The 2017 designation went to Mississippi quarterback Chad Kelly, who was selected by the Denver Broncos. Kelly is the nephew of Bills Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly but has been battling multiple injuries.
Round 4
- Green Bay (from Cleveland): Vince Biegel, LB, Wisconsin, Senior
109. Minnesota (from San Francisco): Jaleel Johnson, DT, Iowa, Senior
- Jacksonville: Dede Westbrook, WR, Oklahoma, Senior
- Seattle (from San Francisco through Chicago): Tedric Thompson, S, Colorado, Senior
- Chicago (from Los Angeles Rams): Eddie Jackson, S, Alabama, Senior
- Los Angeles Chargers: Rayshawn Jenkins, S, Miami, Senior
- Washington (from New York Jets): Samaje Perine, RB, Oklahoma, Junior
- Arizona (from Carolina): Dorian Johnson, G, Pittsburgh, Senior
- Cincinnati: Carl Lawson, OLB, Auburn, Junior
- Los Angeles Rams (from Chicago through Buffalo): Josh Reynolds, WR, Texas A&M, Senior
- Philadelphia: Mack Hollins, WR, North Carolina, Senior
- Chicago (from Arizona): Tarik Cohen, RB, North Carolina A&T, Senior
120. Minnesota: Ben Gedeon, ILB, Michigan, Senior
- San Francisco (from Indianapolis): Joe Williams, RB, Utah, Senior
- Baltimore: Nico Siragusa, G, San Diego State, Senior
- Washington: Montae Nicholson, S, Michigan State, Junior
- Detroit (from New England through Tennessee): Jalen Reeves-Maybin, LB, Tennessee, Senior
- Los Angeles Rams (from New York Jets through Tampa Bay): Samson Ebukam, OLB, Eastern Washington, Senior
- Cleveland (from Denver): Howard Wilson, CB, Houston, Sophomore
- Detroit: Michael Roberts, TE, Toledo, Senior
- Cincinnati (from Minnesota through Miami): Josh Malone, WR, Tennessee, Junior
- Oakland: David Sharpe, T, Florida, Junior
- Houston: Julién Davenport, T, Bucknell, Senior
- New England (from Seattle): Deatrich Wise, DE, Arkansas, Senior
- Philadelphia (from Minnesota through Kansas City): Donnel Pumphrey, RB, San Diego State, Senior
- Dallas: Ryan Switzer, WR, North Carolina, Senior
- Green Bay: Jamaal Williams, RB, BYU, Senior
- Pittsburgh: Joshua Dobbs, QB, Tennessee, Senior
- Atlanta: Sean Harlow, G, Oregon State, Senior
- Indianapolis (from New England): Zach Banner, T, Southern Cal, Senior
- Cincinnati [compensatory selection]: Ryan Glasgow, DT, Michigan, Senior
- Kansas City (from Minnesota through Philadelphia through Cleveland) [compensatory selection]: Jehu Chesson, WR, Michigan, Senior
- New York Giants: Wayne Gallman, RB, Clemson, Junior
- New York Jets (from Los Angeles Rams) [compensatory selection]: Chad Hansen, WR, California, Junior
- Houston (from Cleveland) [compensatory selection]: Carlos Watkins, DT, Clemson, Senior
- Indianapolis (from San Francisco) [compensatory selection]: Marlon Mack, RB, South Florida, Junior
- Indianapolis [compensatory selection]: Grover Stewart, DT, Albany State, Senior
Round 5
- Denver (from Cleveland): Jake Butt, TE, Michigan, Senior
- San Francisco: George Kittle, TE, Iowa, Senior
- Chicago: Jordan Morgan, G, Kutztown, Senior
- Jacksonville: Blair Brown, LB, Ohio, Senior
- Atlanta (from Buffalo through Los Angeles Rams): Damontae Kazee, CB, San Diego State, Senior
- New York Jets: Jordan Leggett, TE, Clemson
- Los Angeles Chargers: Desmond King, S, Iowa, Senior
- Carolina: Corn Elder, CB, Miami, Senior
- Cincinnati: Jake Elliott, K, Memphis, Senior
- Washington (from New Orleans): Jeremy Sprinkle, TE, Arkansas, Senior
- Tennessee (from Philadelphia): Jayon Brown, LB, UCLA, Senior
- Atlanta (from Buffalo): Brian Hill, RB, Wyoming, Junior
- Arizona: Will Holden, T, Vanderbilt, Senior
- Indianapolis: Nate Hairston, CB, Temple, Senior
- Baltimore: Jermaine Eluemunor, G, Texas A&M, Senior
- Cleveland (from New York Jets through Minnesota): Roderick Johnson, T, Florida State, Junior
- Indianapolis (from San Francisco through Washington): Anthony Walker, Jr., LB, Northwestern, Junior
- Tampa Bay: Jeremy McNichols, RB, Boise State, Junior
- Buffalo (from New England through Denver): Matt Milano, LB, Boston College, Senior
- Miami (from Philadelphia through Tennessee): Isaac Asiata, G, Utah, Senior
- Detroit: Jamal Agnew, CB, San Diego, Senior
- Philadelphia (from Miami): Shelton Gibson, WR, West Virginia, Junior
- New York Giants: Avery Moss, DE, Youngstown State, Senior
- Oakland: Marquel Lee, LB, Wake Forest, Senior
- Houston: Treston Decoud, DB, Oregon State, Senior
170. Minnesota (from Kansas City): Danny Isidora, WR, South Florida, Senior
- Buffalo (from Dallas): Nathan Peterman, QB, Pittsburgh, Senior
- Denver (from Green Bay): Isaiah McKenzie, WR, Georgia, Junior
- Pittsburgh: Brian Allen, DB, Utah, Senior
- Atlanta: Eric Saubert, TE, Drake, Senior
- Green Bay (from Denver through Cleveland and New England): DeAngelo Yancey, WR, Purdue, Senior
- Cincinnati [compensatory selection]: J.J. Dielman, C, Utah, Senior
- San Francisco (from Denver) [compensatory selection]: Trent Taylor, WR, Louisiana Tech, Senior
- Miami [compensatory selection]: Davon Godchaux, DT, LSU, Junior
- Arizona [compensatory selection]: T.J. Logan, RB, North Carolina, Senior
180. Minnesota (from Kansas City) [compensatory selection]: Danny Isidora, G, Miami, Senior
- New York Jets (from Cleveland) [compensatory selection]: Dylan Donahue, DL, West Georgia, Senior
- Green Bay [compensatory selection]: Aaron Jones, RB, Texas-El Paso, Junior
- Kansas City (from New England) [compensatory selection]: Ukeme Eligwe, LB, Georgia Southern, Junior
- Philadelphia (from Miami) [compensatory selection]: Nate Gerry, S, Nebraska, Senior
Round 6
- Cleveland: Caleb Brantley, DT, Florida
- Baltimore (from San Francisco): Chuck Clark, DB, Virginia Tech
- Seattle (from Jacksonville): Michael Tyson, S, Cincinnati
- New York Jets (from Cleveland through Houston and Chicago): Elijah McGuire, RB, Louisiana-Lafayette
- Los Angeles Rams: Tanzel Smart, DT, Tulane
- Los Angeles Chargers: Sam Tevi, T, Utah
- Dallas (from New York Jets): Xavier Woods, S, Louisiana Tech
- Carolina: Alex Armah, FB, West Georgia
- Cincinnati: Jordan Evans, LB, Oklahoma
- Miami (from Philadelphia): Vincent Taylor, DT, Oklahoma State
- Buffalo: Tanner Vallejo, LB, Boise State
- New Orleans: Al-Quadin Muhammad, DE, Miami
- New York Jets (from Los Angeles Rams through Chicago and Arizona): Jeremy Clark, CB, Michigan
- San Francisco (from Baltimore): D.J. Jones, DT, Mississippi
- Washington (from Minnesota): Chase Roullier, C, Wyoming
- New York Giants (from Tennessee through New England and Indianapolis): Adam Bisnowaty, T, Pittsburgh
201. Minnesota (from Washington): Bucky Hodges, TE, Virginia Tech
- San Francisco (from Denver): Pita Taumoepenu, OLB, Utah
- Denver (from Tennessee): De'Angelo Henderson, RB, Coastal Carolina
- New York Jets (from Tampa Bay): Derrick Jones, CB, Mississippi
- Detroit: Jeremiah Ledbetter, DE, Arkansas
- Los Angeles Rams (from Miami): Sam Rogers, FB, Virginia Tech
- Cincinnati (from Tennessee through New York Giants): Brandon Wilson, RB, Houston
- Arizona (from Oakland): Rudy Ford, S, Auburn
- Washington (from Houston): Robert Davis, WR, Georgia State
- Seattle: Justin Senior, T, Mississippi State
- New England (from Dallas): Conor McDermott, T, UCLA
- Green Bay: Kofi Amichia, C, South Florida
- Pittsburgh: Colin Holba, LSU, Louisville
- Philadelphia (from Tennessee through Atlanta): Elijah Qualls, DT, Washington
- Detroit (from New England): Brad Kaaya, QB, Miami
- Dallas (from New England through Kansas City) [compensatory selection]: Marquez White, CB, Florida State
- Tennessee (from Cincinnati) [compensatory selection]: Corey Levin, OL, Tennessee-Chattanooga
- Kansas City [compensatory selection]: Leon McQuay III, S, Southern Cal
Round 7
219. Minnesota (from San Francisco through Cleveland): Stacy Coley, WR, Miami
220. Minnesota (from Washington through San Francisco): Ifeadi Odenigbo, DE, Northwestern
- Oakland (from Arizona through Chicago): Shalom Luani, S, Washington State
- Jacksonville: Jalen Myrick, CB, Minnesota
- Tampa Bay (from Miami through Los Angeles Rams): Stevie Tu'ikolovatu, NT, Southern Cal
- Cleveland (from New York Jets): Zane Gonzalez, K, Arizona State
- San Diego: Isaac Rochell, DT, Notre Dame
- Seattle (from Carolina): David Moore, WR, East Central (OK)
- Tennessee (from Cincinnati): Josh Carraway, OLB, TCU
- Dallas (from Buffalo): Joey Ivie, DT, Florida
- San Francisco (from New Orleans): Adrian Colbert, DB, Miami
- Washington (from Minnesota through Philadelphia): Josh Harvey-Clemons, S, Louisville
- Oakland (from Arizona): Jylan Ware, T, Alabama State
232. Minnesota: Elijah Lee, LB, Kansas State
- Carolina (from Indianapolis through Cleveland): Harrison Butker, K, Georgia Tech
- Los Angeles Rams (from Baltimore): Ejuan Price, DE, Pittsburgh
- Washington: Joshua Holsey, DB, Auburn
- Tennessee: Brad Seaton, T, Villanova
- Miami (from Tampa Bay): Isaiah Ford, WR, Virginia Tech
- Green Bay (from Denver): Devante Mays, RB, Utah State
- Dallas (from New England through Detroit): Noah Brown, WR, Ohio State
- Jacksonville (from Miami): Marquez Williams, FB, Miami (OH)
- Tennessee (from New York Giants): Khalfani Muhammad, RB, California
- Oakland: Elijah Hood, RB, North Carolina
- Houston: Kyle Fuller, C, Baylor
- Oakland (from Seattle): Treyvon Hester, DT, Toledo
245. Minnesota (from Kansas City): Jack Tocho, CB, North Carolina State
- Dallas: Jordan Carrell, DT, Colorado
- Green Bay: Malachi Dupre, WR, LSU
- Pittsburgh: Keion Adams, OLB, Western Michigan
- Seattle (from Atlanta): Christopher Carson, RB, Oklahoma State
- Detroit (from New England): Pat O'Connor, DE, Eastern Michigan
- Cincinnati [compensatory selection]: Mason Schreck, TE, Buffalo
- Cleveland (from Denver) [compensatory selection]: Matt Dayes, RB, North Carolina State
- Denver [compensatory selection]: Chad Kelly, QB, Mississippi
