With the 23rd pick in the 2021 NFL draft, the Minnesota Vikings select Christian Darrisaw, offensive tackle, Virginia Tech.
Analysis: The current NFL is filled with two kinds of offensive tackles — nuanced edge-protectors who have agility and need to build up their functional strength, and pure maulers whose footwork could use… well, a lot of work. Darrisaw is an excellent man in the middle, so to speak. He’s not “generational” as Penei Sewell might be, and he’s not quite the combination of dominator and technician that Rashawn Slater is, but if your NFL team needs a plug-and-play left tackle who will cost you a mid-first-round pick, Darrisaw looks like the kind of player who would give you just that kind of value for a number of consecutive seasons.
Grade: A. I had Darrisaw ranked as my third-best offensive tackle behind Penei Sewell and Rashawn Slater, so for the Vikings to get a tackle of Darrisaw’s caliber with the 23rd pick is outstanding value. Darrisaw is plug–and-play as a pass-blocker, and he brings all kinds of nasty to the position.
Easy to see why @dpbrugler is hearing 1st Round buzz from VaTech OT Christian Darrisaw.
Massive, mauling OT with good quickness/balance – big but not sloppy
I think Chazz Surratt will be seeing him in his nightmares. Darrisaw did some good work on 2nd/3rd levels in loss vs UNC pic.twitter.com/qk7Sk94XLG
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) October 11, 2020
