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The Inside Scoop On The 2014 Minnesota Vikings Draft

Trends January 09, 2025

What was the 2014 Minnesota Vikings NFL Draft?

The 2014 Minnesota Vikings NFL Draft was the 56th annual NFL Draft for the Minnesota Vikings professional American football team, which took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, New York, from May 8 to 10, 2014. It was the first NFL Draft under new general manager Rick Spielman. The Vikings had a total of nine draft picks, including the eighth overall pick in the first round.

The Vikings used their first-round pick to select Teddy Bridgewater, a quarterback from the University of Louisville. Bridgewater was considered one of the top prospects in the draft and was widely expected to be selected in the top 10. The Vikings also used their second-round pick to select Anthony Barr, a linebacker from the University of California, Los Angeles. Barr was a versatile player who could play both inside and outside linebacker. The Vikings used their third-round pick to select Scott Crichton, a defensive end from the University of Oregon. Crichton was a powerful pass rusher who was expected to contribute immediately to the Vikings' defense.

The Vikings' draft class was praised by many analysts. Bridgewater was considered a franchise quarterback, and Barr and Crichton were both seen as potential starters. The Vikings' draft class was also notable for its lack of trades. The Vikings did not make any trades during the draft, which was a rarity for an NFL team.

The Vikings' 2014 draft class was a success. Bridgewater became the Vikings' starting quarterback in 2015 and led the team to the playoffs in 2015 and 2017. Barr became a Pro Bowl linebacker and was a key member of the Vikings' defense. Crichton became a solid contributor to the Vikings' defense and helped the team reach the NFC Championship Game in 2017.

The Vikings' 2014 NFL Draft was a turning point for the franchise. The Vikings had struggled in the years leading up to the draft, but the addition of Bridgewater, Barr, and Crichton helped the team return to contention.

2014 Minnesota Vikings Draft

The 2014 Minnesota Vikings NFL Draft was a significant turning point for the franchise. The Vikings had struggled in the years leading up to the draft, but the addition of quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, linebacker Anthony Barr, and defensive end Scott Crichton helped the team return to contention.

Teddy Bridgewater
Anthony Barr
Scott Crichton
First-round pick
No trades
Successful draft class
Playoff appearances
NFC Championship Game

These key aspects highlight the importance of the 2014 Minnesota Vikings NFL Draft. The Vikings were able to add several key players who helped the team return to contention. The draft class was also notable for its lack of trades, which is a rarity for an NFL team. The Vikings' success in the 2014 NFL Draft is a testament to the team's scouting and player development staff.

1. Teddy Bridgewater and the 2014 Minnesota Vikings Draft

Teddy Bridgewater was the Minnesota Vikings' first-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. He was a highly touted quarterback prospect from the University of Louisville, and the Vikings were excited to add him to their team.

Bridgewater's college career
Bridgewater had a successful college career at Louisville. He was a two-time All-American and led the Cardinals to a BCS bowl game in 2013. He was also named the ACC Player of the Year in 2013.
Bridgewater's NFL career
Bridgewater was the Vikings' starting quarterback from 2014 to 2016. He led the Vikings to the playoffs in 2015 and 2016, and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2015. However, he suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2016 and was traded to the New Orleans Saints in 2018.
Bridgewater's impact on the Vikings
Bridgewater was a popular player with the Vikings and was seen as the franchise quarterback. He helped the Vikings return to contention after several years of struggles. He was also a good teammate and was respected by his coaches and teammates.

The 2014 NFL Draft was a turning point for the Minnesota Vikings. The addition of Teddy Bridgewater helped the Vikings return to contention and become a playoff team. Bridgewater was a talented quarterback who was a key part of the Vikings' success.

2. Anthony Barr and the 2014 Minnesota Vikings Draft

Anthony Barr was a key part of the Minnesota Vikings' success in the 2014 NFL Draft. He was a versatile linebacker who could play both inside and outside linebacker, and he was a key member of the Vikings' defense.

Barr was selected by the Vikings with the ninth overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He was a highly touted prospect coming out of UCLA, and he was expected to be a major contributor to the Vikings' defense.

Barr did not disappoint. He started 16 games for the Vikings in 2014 and recorded 74 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and two interceptions. He was a key part of the Vikings' defense, which ranked 10th in the NFL in points allowed in 2014.

Barr continued to be a key part of the Vikings' defense in 2015 and 2016. He recorded over 100 tackles in both seasons, and he was named to the Pro Bowl in 2016.

Barr's success in the NFL is a testament to his talent and hard work. He is a versatile linebacker who can play both inside and outside linebacker, and he is a key part of the Vikings' defense.

3. Scott Crichton

Scott Crichton was a key part of the Minnesota Vikings' success in the 2014 NFL Draft. He was a powerful pass rusher who was expected to contribute immediately to the Vikings' defense.

Crichton was selected by the Vikings with the 43rd overall pick in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He was a highly touted prospect coming out of Oregon, and he was expected to be a major contributor to the Vikings' defense.

Crichton did not disappoint. He started 13 games for the Vikings in 2014 and recorded 35 tackles and 4 sacks. He was a key part of the Vikings' defense, which ranked 10th in the NFL in points allowed in 2014.

Crichton continued to be a key part of the Vikings' defense in 2015 and 2016. He recorded over 30 tackles in both seasons, and he helped the Vikings reach the NFC Championship Game in 2017.

Crichton's success in the NFL is a testament to his talent and hard work. He is a versatile defensive end who can play both inside and outside, and he is a key part of the Vikings' defense.

4. First-round pick

The Minnesota Vikings had the eighth overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. They used this pick to select Teddy Bridgewater, a quarterback from the University of Louisville. Bridgewater was considered one of the top prospects in the draft and was widely expected to be selected in the top 10.

Bridgewater's college career
Bridgewater had a successful college career at Louisville. He was a two-time All-American and led the Cardinals to a BCS bowl game in 2013. He was also named the ACC Player of the Year in 2013.
Bridgewater's NFL career
Bridgewater was the Vikings' starting quarterback from 2014 to 2016. He led the Vikings to the playoffs in 2015 and 2016, and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2015. However, he suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2016 and was traded to the New Orleans Saints in 2018.
Bridgewater's impact on the Vikings
Bridgewater was a popular player with the Vikings and was seen as the franchise quarterback. He helped the Vikings return to contention after several years of struggles. He was also a good teammate and was respected by his coaches and teammates.

The Vikings' decision to select Bridgewater with the eighth overall pick was a significant moment in the team's history. Bridgewater was a talented quarterback who was expected to be a key part of the Vikings' future. However, his career in Minnesota was cut short by injury. Despite this, Bridgewater's selection in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft was a sign of the Vikings' commitment to rebuilding the team and returning to contention.

5. No trades

The 2014 Minnesota Vikings NFL Draft was notable for its lack of trades. The Vikings did not make any trades during the draft, which was a rarity for an NFL team.

Strategic planning
The Vikings' decision not to make any trades during the draft was a strategic one. The team had a number of needs, and they wanted to use their draft picks to address those needs directly. They also believed that they could get better value by staying put and drafting the players they wanted, rather than trading away picks for players who might not be as good a fit.
Team chemistry
The Vikings also believed that not making any trades would help to build team chemistry. When players are traded, they have to learn a new system and adjust to a new team. This can take time, and it can be disruptive to the team's chemistry. By keeping their draft picks, the Vikings were able to avoid this problem and build a stronger team.
Value
The Vikings also believed that they could get better value by staying put and drafting the players they wanted. When teams trade picks, they often have to give up more than they get in return. This is because teams are always looking for the best possible value for their picks. By staying put, the Vikings were able to avoid this problem and get the players they wanted without having to give up too much in return.
Flexibility
Finally, the Vikings' decision not to make any trades gave them more flexibility. If they had made a trade, they would have been locked into that deal. By staying put, they were able to keep their options open and make decisions on draft day based on how the draft unfolded.

The Vikings' decision not to make any trades during the 2014 NFL Draft was a successful one. The team was able to address its needs, build team chemistry, get good value for its picks, and maintain flexibility. As a result, the Vikings had a successful draft class that helped them return to contention.

6. Successful draft class

A successful draft class is one that adds multiple impact players to a team's roster. These players can contribute immediately or develop into stars down the road. The 2014 Minnesota Vikings draft class was a successful one, as it added several key players who helped the team return to contention.

The most notable player from the 2014 Vikings draft class is Teddy Bridgewater. Bridgewater was the Vikings' first-round pick, and he was expected to be the team's franchise quarterback. He lived up to the hype, leading the Vikings to the playoffs in 2015 and 2016. Bridgewater was also named to the Pro Bowl in 2015.

Another key player from the 2014 Vikings draft class is Anthony Barr. Barr was a versatile linebacker who could play both inside and outside linebacker. He was a key member of the Vikings' defense, and he was named to the Pro Bowl in 2016.

The Vikings also had success with their later-round picks in the 2014 NFL Draft. Scott Crichton, a defensive end, was a key contributor to the Vikings' defense. He recorded over 30 tackles in both 2015 and 2016, and he helped the Vikings reach the NFC Championship Game in 2017.

The 2014 Minnesota Vikings draft class was a successful one because it added several key players who helped the team return to contention. Bridgewater, Barr, and Crichton were all impact players who made significant contributions to the Vikings' success.

7. Playoff appearances

The 2014 Minnesota Vikings draft class was a success because it added several key players who helped the team return to contention. The Vikings had not made the playoffs since 2009, but they reached the playoffs in both 2015 and 2016 with the help of their young players.

Teddy Bridgewater was the Vikings' starting quarterback in both 2015 and 2016. He led the Vikings to a 11-5 record in 2015 and a 8-8 record in 2016. Bridgewater was a key part of the Vikings' success, and he was named to the Pro Bowl in 2015.

Anthony Barr was another key player for the Vikings in 2015 and 2016. He was a versatile linebacker who could play both inside and outside linebacker. Barr was a key member of the Vikings' defense, and he was named to the Pro Bowl in 2016.

The Vikings' success in the playoffs was due in large part to the contributions of their young players. Bridgewater, Barr, and Crichton were all key players for the Vikings in 2015 and 2016, and they helped the team return to contention.

8. NFC Championship Game

The NFC Championship Game is the championship game for the National Football Conference (NFC) in the National Football League (NFL). It is played between the winners of the NFC Divisional Playoffs. The winner of the NFC Championship Game advances to the Super Bowl to play the winner of the AFC Championship Game.

The 2014 Minnesota Vikings
The 2014 Minnesota Vikings finished the regular season with an 11-5 record, which was good enough to win the NFC North division. The Vikings then defeated the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Divisional Playoffs, but they lost to the Carolina Panthers in the NFC Championship Game.
The impact of the 2014 draft class
The Vikings' success in 2014 was due in large part to the contributions of their 2014 draft class. Teddy Bridgewater, Anthony Barr, and Scott Crichton were all key players for the Vikings in 2014, and they helped the team return to contention.
The future of the Vikings
The Vikings' success in 2014 was a sign of things to come. The team has a young and talented roster, and they are poised to be a contender for the NFC Championship Game for years to come.

The 2014 NFC Championship Game was a disappointing end to a promising season for the Vikings. However, the team's success in 2014 was a sign of things to come. The Vikings have a young and talented roster, and they are poised to be a contender for the NFC Championship Game for years to come.

FAQs about the 2014 Minnesota Vikings Draft

This section addresses frequently asked questions about the 2014 Minnesota Vikings NFL Draft.

Question 1: Who did the Vikings select with the eighth overall pick in the first round?

The Vikings selected Teddy Bridgewater, a quarterback from the University of Louisville, with the eighth overall pick in the first round.

Question 2: Which players from the 2014 draft class made significant contributions to the Vikings' success?

Teddy Bridgewater, Anthony Barr, and Scott Crichton were key players for the Vikings in 2014 and helped the team return to contention.

Question 3: How many playoff appearances did the Vikings make with players from the 2014 draft class?

The Vikings made two playoff appearances with players from the 2014 draft class, in 2015 and 2016.

Question 4: Which round was Scott Crichton selected in?

Scott Crichton was selected in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, with the 43rd overall pick.

Question 5: Did the Vikings make any trades during the 2014 NFL Draft?

No, the Vikings did not make any trades during the 2014 NFL Draft, which was a rarity for an NFL team.

Summary: The 2014 Minnesota Vikings NFL Draft was a success because it added several key players who helped the team return to contention. Teddy Bridgewater, Anthony Barr, and Scott Crichton were all impact players who made significant contributions to the Vikings' success.

Transition to the next article section: The Vikings' success in the 2014 NFL Draft is a testament to the team's scouting and player development staff. The team has a young and talented roster, and they are poised to be a contender for the NFC Championship Game for years to come.

Conclusion

The 2014 Minnesota Vikings NFL Draft was a turning point for the franchise. The Vikings had struggled in the years leading up to the draft, but the addition of Teddy Bridgewater, Anthony Barr, and Scott Crichton helped the team return to contention. These players were all key contributors to the Vikings' success in the 2014 season and beyond.

The Vikings' success in the 2014 NFL Draft is a testament to the team's scouting and player development staff. The team has a young and talented roster, and they are poised to be a contender for the NFC Championship Game for years to come.