Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman is not a universally loved figure. But on the whole, most reasonable people acknowledge the “job well done” since Spielman took over the Vikings big job in 2012.
Before that, Spielman was in the leadership triangle, yet it was always unclear as to who was personally making the draft picks in Minnesota. 2012 erased all the mystery, though. Spielman can be held fully accountable for the last nine drafts.
Spielman has made 1st-Round draft picks 13 times since he was anointed the head boss. 54% of those 13 men have reached Pro Bowls with the Vikings during their careers: Matt Kalil, Harrison Smith, Xavier Rhodes, Coradarrelle Patterson, Teddy Bridgewater, Anthony Barr, and Justin Jefferson.