The contributions Minnesota got from several of its 2017 rookies were a stark comparison to those from its 2016 class. Mike Zimmer called Dalvin Cook, Pat Elflein and Ben Gedeon “some of our most important guys” when evaluating the success of this year’s group, which features players who could be holding down their positions for years to come.
Grade: Above average
Best rookie: Cook’s season came to an abrupt end in Week 4 after he suffered a torn ACL, but the role he played in Minnesota moving past a one-dimensional rushing attack cannot be understated.