Six defenders taken within the first 11 picks have played for Mike Zimmer since he became a defensive coordinator in 2000.
Only a shattered jaw and busted knee kept all six from starting full seasons as rookies.
Keith Rivers was drafted ninth overall by Zimmer’s Bengals in 2008. As a rookie, Rivers won a starting linebacker job out of training camp and started seven games before Hines Ward broke his jaw. The Vikings took Anthony Barr with the ninth overall pick last season, starting him on the strong side for 12 games before he underwent season-ending knee…
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Source:: 1500 ESPN Sportswire
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