The Vikings have gone through quite the transformation this offseason, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
Gone will be familiar faces like Trae Waynes, Xavier Rhodes, Mackensie Alexander, Jayron Kearse, Linval Joseph and Everson Griffen.
With that, there are plenty of holes to fill. And with two first-round draft picks thanks to the Stefon Diggs trade, Minnesota is well-equipped to attempt to fill those holes in the draft.
In his recent mock draft over at The Ringer, Danny Kelly has the Vikings taking two defensive players with their first-round picks.
With the No. 22 pick, the Vikings take Utah cornerback Jaylon Johnson.
Here’s a quick tidbit from Johnson via Kelly:
Johnson has an enticing combination of size, length, athleticism, and coverage instincts; he has day-one starter potential.
The only trustworthy corner on the roster right now is former first-round pick Mike Hughes. He could certainly use some help.
With the No. 25 pick, Kelly has the Vikings drafting Penn St. defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos.
Here’s Kelly on Gross-Matos:
Gross-Matos has top-tier upside thanks to a rare blend of length and explosiveness; he’s still just scratching the surface of his potential as an edge defender.
With Griffen on his way out, the Vikings need another edge rusher opposite of Danielle Hunter. It feels like Gross-Matos could come in and do that.
You can check out Kelly’s full mock draft here. He does a great job of breaking down each prospect.
