Despite all that’s happened as of late, the NFL Draft is still scheduled to happen in April.
That means there will still be endless speculation as to whom the Vikings will take in all seven rounds. The team has no shortage of draft picks — now up to 12, including compensatory picks and what the Bills gave the team in exchange for Stefon Diggs — so there are a lot of players to choose from.
For this mock simulation, I decided to pick an offensive lineman in the first round. The offensive line greatly improved in 2019-20, due to a system change and a career year from Dalvin Cook.
But that doesn’t mean the position group can’t get better. There’s also a consideration that Riley Reiff could be a cap casualty in the coming days. If that were to happen, the team would lack depth at the all-important left tackle position. The Vikings could then move Brian O’Neill to left tackle if Reiff ends up on a different team. Minnesota could also plug in a rookie at that position, or sign a free agent.
No matter how you look at it, drafting offensive linemen would greatly help the team for next season.
I did that, and more in Vikings Wire’s latest mock simulation, using The Draft Network in order to fill out picks.
You can see how the entire draft played out here.
Round 1: Georgia OT Andrew Thomas
Personally, I was kind of surprised Thomas fell to the Vikings, even with where their new pick was in the mock simulation. I took Thomas at No. 22 because I think he makes the offense a lot better. Thomas has the potential to be a dominant offensive tackle at the NFL level. A player of his caliber could come in and start at left tackle for the Vikings.
Round 1: Iowa DE A.J. Epenesa
That extra pick in the first round means Minnesota can go with the best player available at pick No. 25, and that’s what I did in drafting A.J. Epenesa. He was a force to deal with at Iowa, and can be a starter on the defensive line. If the Vikings want to bring back Everson Griffen, then the team still needs depth on the edge after the departure of Stephen Weatherly.
Round 2: Minnesota S Antoine Winfield Jr.
The Vikings franchise tagged Anthony Harris, but apparently the team has acknowledged that Harris could be a tag-and-trade candidate. If there’s an opening at safety, Winfield Jr. would be adequate to fill it. He is not as big as Harris, but still has similar ball-hawking skills and it’s not the end of the world to draft a starting safety in the second round, especially when the team already has Harrison Smith at safety.
Round 3: Virginia CB Bryce Hall
For the Vikings first of two third-round picks, I went with Hall. Minnesota might need to shore up cornerback depth, with Mackensie Alexander and Trae Waynes entering free agency. Also, the Vikings recently terminated Xavier Rhodes’ contract. Hall could come in and possibly compete for the nickel corner spot, maybe even working his way to a starting position out wide.
Round 3: Georgia QB Jake Fromm
Minnesota can get creative with its third-round pick, and that’s why I chose Fromm. He was the best quarterback available at the time. Fromm has a chance of eventually becoming a starter in the NFL, and his skill set fits the Vikings system already. Worse case scenario, he’s an interesting backup to have down the road.
Round 4: Texas A&M WR Quartney Davis
Maybe Bisi Johnson is the answer to the Vikings’ problems with the third wide receiver spot on the depth chart, but maybe not. Davis at least gives him some competition. Davis is a wideout with good breakout speed that could serve as a threat in the NFL.
Round 5: Baylor DT Bravvion Roy
It’s so hard to find an adequate defensive tackle at the right time for the Vikings in this draft. Roy could be a reserve, and I doubt he’d be a starter on this team next season, but you never know. Roy is pretty good for how quick he is, so maybe his talent translates well to the NFL level.
Round 6: Michigan State CB Josiah Scott
Scott provides plenty of depth in the sixth round. Minnesota’s cornerback situation might lack depth if it wasn’t for the draft. Scott can be a solid reserve, or maybe even a nickel corner if he’s give a chance.
Round 6: Mississippi State C Darryl Williams
Williams provides versatility by being able to play both guard and center. He can compete for a spot against guard Pat Elflein or center Garrett Bradbury, and if he loses out to those two, he could be a decent platoon lineman. Good value in the sixth round.
Round 7: Michigan State S David Dowell
Harris was given the franchise tag, but his long term role with the Vikings is still in question. Winfield Jr. getting taken in the earlier rounds would not make safety a priority in the seventh, but Dowell would do just fine as a reserve for the team next season.
Round 7: Georgia WR Lawrence Cager
Cager can compete with Davis, who was drafted in the fourth round, and Johnson, who is still on the team. He might not be able to land the third-best wide receiver spot, but he’s a big body. He’s listed at 6-5, 220 pounds. He might be a good complement to Adam Thielen, who is a quicker receiver but not as big as Cager.
Round 7: Michigan State DT Mike Panasiuk
So this didn’t go as planned for me. I expected to take a defensive tackle a lot earlier than the seventh round, but I was put in a spot where the interior defense lineman I wanted was either gone or too big of a reach for the time. I think if Joseph, whose contract was terminated, doesn’t come back, then the Vikings will have to try and sign a defensive tackle in free agency. However, I think Panasiuk could be a fine reserve.
