In preparation for the 2016 NFL Combine, NFL media analyst Bucky Brooks handed out letter grades to each of the NFC North teams’ rookie classes. Brooks gave the Vikings an “A” grade, saying the following:
[Vikings Head] Coach Mike Zimmer has engineered a quick turnaround in Minnesota behind a homegrown group of players who have developed rapidly under the gruff taskmaster. He worked his magic with 2014 rookies Teddy Bridgewater (QB) and Anthony Barr (LB) during his first season at the helm, and he did it again with 2015 rookies Eric Kendricks, Stefon Diggs and T.