The Vikings have struggled to get consistent play from their inside linebackers since Erin Henderson left town a couple years back. That should all be over now, as Minnesota stole stole UCLA LB Eric Kendricks with the No. 45 overall pick in this year’s draft.

It is the second straight year the Vikings have invested heavily in a UCLA linebacker after selecting Anthony Barr in the first round of last year’s draft. Adding those two along with this year’s first-round pick, Trae Waynes, gives coach Mike Zimmer the weapons he needs to bring some bite back to the Vikings defense.

Kendricks (6’0, 232 lbs) is an aggressive player who attacks gaps and disrupts plays in the backfield. He has sideline-to-sideline range, which is a must in Zimmer’s defense, to go along with a nose for the football.

He finished last season with 149 total tackles, including 11.5 for a loss, to cap off an extremely productive college career. Vikings officials are ecstatic in their war room, as Minnesota just addressed its two biggest needs with blue-chip players and didn’t have to trade up for either one.