By this point, Vikings fans have a pretty good idea of which players are tabbed to go to their team in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft.
Minnesota has obvious needs at defensive end and the offensive line. A lot — and I mean a lot — of mock drafts have the Vikings picking either a defensive end or tackle at No. 14, assuming the team doesn’t trade back.
ESPN’s Todd McShay is the latest to pick a player who can help in the trenches. When McShay’s mock draft ran on April 1, Minnesota picked Northwestern OL Rashawn Slater. McShay has since updated his mock draft due to the Sam Darnold trade. That led to the Vikings going to the other side of the ball in their mock draft, selecting Michigan DE Kwity Paye. Here’s what McShay wrote about Paye and Minnesota:
“I think linemen Rashawn Slater or Alijah Vera-Tucker (USC) could be matches here, but I’d opt for an impact pass-rusher. Paye is a similar player to Everson Griffen, who thrived with the Vikings. One thing to know: Paye had a 21% pressure percentage in 2020, second best in the FBS.”
Based on his pressure percentage in college, Paye is certainly a good match for the Vikings. Minnesota’s pass rush was horrendous this past season and the unit will have to get more pressure if it doesn’t want opposing offenses to pick it apart.
