The Minnesota Vikings entered Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft armed with a load of draft picks. They had a pick in the second, two in the third, and nine on Day 3. If they wanted to trade up in the second or third round they had the picks to do so. Fans and most talking heads expected trades. Instead of trading up, the Vikings decision-makers chose to let the draft come to them. They needed an offensive tackle. They let Boise State offensive tackle Ezra Cleveland fall to them in the second. There was a time in the draft evaluation process during which I thought that Cleveland could be a first round pick of the Vikings. I assumed that they would have to trade up to secure him or Houston's Josh Jones in the second round. Perhaps they tried to trade up but could find a partner. It didn't really matter as both Cleveland and Jones were available at #58. They chose Cleveland. The Vikings selected TCU cornerback Jeff Gladney in the first round. Seeing as they lost their top three corners in free agency the Vikings still needed more at the position. Instead of trading up to secure one, they let Mississippi State's Cameron Dantzler drop to them in the third round. Early in the draft evaluation process I had visions of Dantzler as a potential first round pick of the Vikings. Then he ran a 4.6 at the Scouting Combine and everyone hated him. He was still one of the best cover corners in college football last season. Just ask LSU's Ja'Marr Chase. Or his new teammate, Justin Jefferson. Through nearly three rounds the Vikings drafted four players that I considered to be sound first round picks at various times during the draft evaluation process. And they didn't have to spend draft picks to secure any of them. The Vikings simply let the draft come to them. They still had one final pick in the third. The second to last pick in the third. #105. Instead of making that selection the Vikings decided to deplete the New Orleans Saints of their Day 3 picks. The Saints traded four Day 3 picks for the Vikings #105 pick in the third round. The Vikings were clearly letting the draft fall to them.
Through three rounds the Vikings have added the following football players:
1. Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
1. Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU
2. Ezra Cleveland, OT, Boise State
3. Cameron Dantzler, CB, Mississippi State
After acquiring the remainder of the Saints' 2020 picks, the Vikings have a ridiculous 13 picks today.
4. (117)
4. (130)
4. (132)
5. (155)
5. (169)
5. (176)
6. (201)
6. (203)
6. (205)
7. (219)
7. (244)
7. (249)
7. (253)
That's ridiculous. I have to think that Rick Spielman will move up a time or two today. But I was certain of that yesterday. I really don't think that the Vikings come away from the draft with 17 draft picks.
Where do the Vikings go today? A pass rusher or two, more receivers, safety depth, an interior offesnsive lineman, a quarterback? Louisiana Tech corner Amik Robertson is a personal favorite. I'm not sure that they select a corner in the fourth round after having added Gladney and Dantzler. I like the mix of defensive tackles currently on the roster but the national media consider it a position a need. 13 picks over four rounds is a crazy number. It's difficult to imagine Spielman using them all. Perhaps there's a method to this madness. Perhaps the Vikings are hoping to get a jump on the undrafted free agent signing spree. Who knows? I don't. I'm just dizzy over the 13 remaining picks. But I love the four players that the Vikings have added when they've actually made selections.
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