The Minnesota Vikings had an incredible regular season in 2024. Sam Darnold enjoyed a career resurrection in Minnesota as he, Justin Jefferson, and the Vikings challenged for the NFC North. Though they lost to the Detroit Lions, they finished with a 14-3 record.
Jefferson has led the way offensively for Minnesota for the last five seasons. He has emerged as one of the best pass catchers in the NFL to this point. But what if we went back to the 2020 NFL Draft and the LSU product was off the board? Who would Minnesota select with the No. 22 overall pick?
Vikings Change Directions in 2020 Redraft With Justin Jefferson Gone
PFSN contributor Jacob Infante recently compiled a redraft of the 2020 NFL Draft based on the knowledge we currently have. The first overall pick — Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow — remained unchanged. However, significant changes were soon made to the first round order.
Jefferson did not wait long to hear his name called in this redraft. In fact, he didn’t even leave the NFC North. The LSU product went to the Lions with the third overall pick. In the actual draft, Detroit selected Ohio State corner Jeff Okudah at this spot.
“Simply put, Justin Jefferson might be the most valuable non-quarterback in the NFL today. He’s a four-time All-Pro in five seasons, and heading into 2025, he’s the NFL’s all-time leader with 96.5 career receiving yards per game. It’s an easy choice for the Lions here,” Infante wrote of Detroit’s selection.
Minnesota missed out on some of the other star pass catchers in this class. The likes of CeeDee Lamb and Tee Higgins went before the 22nd pick. As a result, the team went away from receiver and focused on the defense with their pick in this redraft.
Minnesota selected EDGE rusher Jonathan Greenard with the 22nd pick in Infante’s redraft. It’s a full circle move for the team and the Florida product. Greenard joined Minnesota in real life before the 2024 season.
Jonathan Greenard gets a sack against his former team 😤
📺: #HOUvsMIN on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/xx4h2iNMyB— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2024
“With 24.5 sacks in his last two seasons, Jonathan Greenard has blossomed into one of the top edge rushers in the game. He lands on the team he signed a massive contract with in free agency in 2024,” Infante wrote of the selection for Minnesota.
Greenard was not a first-round pick in the actual 2020 NFL Draft. In fact, the Florida product did not hear his name called until late in the third round. He went 90th overall to the Houston Texans that year.
Greenard had a bit of a breakout season in 2021. He played just 12 games, starting all of them. But he made an impact, recording eight sacks for Houston. He recorded 33 combined tackles, nine tackles for loss, and 12 quarterback hits, as well.
The Texans pass rusher was limited to eight games in 2022. However, he did get back on track in 2023. He played 15 games that season, recording a career high 12.5 sacks. He cashed in with the Vikings as a free agent before the 2024 season.
His debut season in Minnesota proved to be a success. He played all 17 games for the first time in his career. And he came within a half sack of tying his career high sack total. He certainly figures to play a significant role on Brian Flores’s defense entering the 2025 season.
