It’s a bittersweet time now that the 2020 NFL Draft is in one day.
On one hand, Vikings fans get some much-needed news and fresh players in what has been a frustrating offseason for the team thus far. Also, any entertainment can be good for sports fans, as the coronavirus pandemic has shut down the vast majority of organized sports right now.
On the other hand, it means one of the more exciting aspects of the offseason is coming to a close: predicting which players Minnesota is going to take during the draft.
And it’s been fun (and humbling) to try to do so on Vikings Wire this offseason. Minnesota has plenty of needs and it can be tough to assess which of those needs the Vikings should prioritize in the draft.
Some picks are rational choices for positional voids Minnesota must fill, while others are interesting players who could add a different dimension to the team.
Here is how all the teams drafted in the final Vikings Wire mock simulation.
And here are the Vikings picks and why I chose them:
Round 1: LSU CB Kristian Fulton
The Vikings could possibly take Jeff Gladney at No. 22 in the draft.
However, Fulton is arguably just as good, even though he doesn’t necessarily fit the mold of a conventional Mike Zimmer cornerback.
What I mean by that is this: Fulton isn’t a big, physically imposing corner who can cause problems for opposing wide receivers in press coverage. He’s more of an agile, speedy corner who can hopefully run alongside some of the top receivers in the NFL.
Fulton ran a 4.46, which put him among the fastest cornerback prospects in the NFL Combine. Florida’s C.J. Henderson, Clemson’s A. J. Terrell and some other cornerbacks were faster, but besides Henderson and Terrell, most of the corners who ran better 40’s weren’t as talented of players in other aspects.
Fulton isn’t super strong, but he can still press from time to time, not getting blown off the ball by big wide receivers when he does so. Among the top cornerback prospects, Fulton has just as much potential as most to finish as a shutdown defensive back at the NFL level.
Round 1: Georgia OT Isaiah Wilson
Some people would rather the Vikings take Wilson’s teammate and tackle Andrew Thomas. However, if Thomas doesn’t fall to No. 25, the Vikings can still get plenty of value in Wilson.
Wilson is listed at 6-7, 340 pounds. Vikings fans who became frustrated with Matt Kalil’s level of physicality should know this: that same thing is unlikely to happen with Wilson. He is hard to move, and already has the physical tools and power to be successful in the NFL.
Minnesota might need to help Wilson develop a little bit in certain areas, but he could still come in and start for this team right away.
Round 2: Clemson WR Tee Higgins
Higgins is big, but still plenty speedy. I’d say he’s pretty balanced in terms of his skill set, and he’d fit in the wide receiver two spot nicely on the team.
He’s not a full-on replacement for Stefon Diggs, who left for the Bills via trade this offseason, but he is a similar player in how good he is at route running.
Round 3: Florida DE Jabari Zuniga
Zuniga might not be a replacement for Everson Griffen, who seems like he’s leaving this offseason in free agency.
However, the Vikings also lost Stephen Weatherly, and I think Zuniga could come in and fill that role and be a spark in limited downs.
Maybe he progresses to the point where he’s taking a ton of reps at the NFL level. He is good in both pass rushing and run stopping, so the potential is there.
Round 3: Lousiana Tech CB Amik Robertson
Minnesota already drafted a corner in this simulation, but Robertson could be a perfect nickel option for the team.
He’s undersized but scrappy, and can compete for a spot out wide. I don’t think he’ll win a starting spot between Mike Hughes, Holton Hill and Kristian Fulton if he’s hypothetically picked, but he can come in for certain situations and be effective. If that’s the main corner rotation for 2020, the Vikings are looking better in that area than they were in 2019.
Rond 4: Arkansas DT McTelvin Agim
Agim can provide versatility by being able to play both defensive end and defensive tackle for a Vikings team that lacks depth at both.
He’d be a nice speed threat to complement defensive tackle Michael Pierce, who the Vikings added in the offseason.
Round 5: Minnesota WR Tyler Johnson
The hometown hero is worth taking a flyer on if you’re Minnesota. He’s solid in route running and can go up and grab a ball or two. I like this pick paired with Higgins, because the two could be a by-committee solution to replacing Diggs.
Round 6: LSU LB Jacob Phillips
The linebacker spot alongside Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr has seen a rotating cast of players try to fill that void.
Phillips can compete among them for the starting spot, and if he doesn’t win it, he can always be a decent reserve.
Round 7: South Carolina State OT Alex Taylor
Taylor has a long athletic frame, and he’s worth taking a chance on this late in the NFL Draft, especially if you’re a team like the Vikings, and have struggled on the offensive line at times.
I don’t see him as more than a reserve, but if any tackles run into injury problems in 2020, Taylor is a good alternative.
Round 7: South Carolina DE D.J. Wonnum
I thought about taking Wonnum with the previous pick, so when he was still available, he was too good to pass up.
Ifeadi Odenigbo could step into a starting role in 2020, and Wonnum could fill the role Odenigbo once had in 2019.
Round 7: Alabama S Shyheim Carter
Rick Spielman said recently that the Vikings are pretty much set at safety now that Anthony Harris has been franchise tagged.
With Harris and Harrison Smith back deep, safety isn’t dire, but it helps to have a young player with high upside, who could learn from those two starters in case Harris isn’t with the Vikings long term.
Round 7: Colorado QB Steven Montez
It’s the last pick the Vikings have in the draft this year, why not risk it on a young quarterback?
Montez’s awareness and decision making was questionable, but he’s a solid athletic quarterback with a high ceiling. He’s not a big risk, given Kirk Cousins is extended and Sean Mannion was re-signed this offseason. But what if he pans out at the NFL level? Then, the Vikings found a quarterback on a rookie contract, which could be interesting.
