Scouts and decision-makers from the Vikings and the NFL's 31 other teams are in Mobile, Alabama this week for the Senior Bowl, where some of the top prospects in this year's draft will be playing in the game.
Rick Spielman and the Vikings eyeing up more Senior Bowl talent
In each of the four years since General Manager Rick Spielman was given final say on draft day, the Vikings have selected one or two Senior Bowl products. Harrison Smith was one of those picks.
January 26, 2016 at 9:33PM
The Vikings in recent years have not mined the Senior Bowl for talent as much as others. But chances are at least one prospect participating in Saturday's game will be one of their eight selections in April's draft.
In each of the four years since General Manager Rick Spielman was given final say on draft day, the Vikings have selected one or two Senior Bowl products in each draft class, including star safety Harrison Smith.
In 2012, Leslie Frazier was the head coach of the North team in the Senior Bowl, and the Vikings came away enamored with Smith. They traded back into the first round to select him. They later took linebacker Audie Cole.
Punter Jeff Locke was the only Senior Bowl player they drafted in 2013.
In 2014, the Vikings selected Senior Bowl running back Jerick McKinnon in the third round then took nose tackle Shamar Stephen in the seventh.
Last year, the Vikings drafted a pair of Senior Bowl offensive linemen in T.J. Clemmings and Austin Shepherd. Clemmings would start as a rookie.
And while it was not technically Spielman's show in 2011, it is worth noting that the Vikings drafted Senior Bowl MVP Christian Ponder that year.
Considering all that, it might be worth watching Saturday's Senior Bowl.
Mike Conley was in Minneapolis, where he sounded the Gjallarhorn at the Vikings game, on Sunday during the robbery.
