The 2020 NFL Draft kicks off tomorrow. Due to the hacked-up situation in the world the draft is going to be done a little differently. Many are calling it a "virtual" draft. There's nothing virtual about it. The draft will actually happen. Hopefully there will be no technical glitches. Anyway, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune cooked up a Minnesota Vikings seven-round mock draft for the paper yesterday. The Vikings are currently scheduled to have 12 picks in the draft. Goessling threw three trades into his mock. The Vikings still have 12 picks but it's a different 12. Here's his projection.
1. (24)-from Saints-Josh Jones, OT, Houston
1. (25)-Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU
2. (58)-Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State
3. (78)-from Falcons-Julian Okwara, Edge, Notre Dame
3. (89)-Matt Hennessy, C/G, Temple
5. (164)-from Cowboys-McTelvin Agim, DT, Arkansas
6. (201)-J.R. Reed, S, Georgia
6. (205)-Dane Jackson, CB, Pittsburgh
7. (219)-Trevis Gipson, Edge, Tulsa
7. (231)-from Cowboys-Sewo Olinilua, RB, TCU
7. (249)-Nate Stanley, QB, Iowa
7. (253)-Jeff Thomas, WR, Miami
That's some fine work by Goessling. Josh Jones and Jeff Gladney have become my first round preference. It'd be a beautiful thing if Brandon Aiyuk is still available at #89. The same is true for Julian Okwara and Matt Hennessy in the third. When it comes to the real draft, I'm hoping that the Vikings can somehow land a defensive tackle like Missouri's Jordan Elliott or Texas A&M's Justin Madubuike. That would probably have to be at the expense of Aiyuk in the second round. Goessling does help the defensive tackle position with McTelvin Agim in the fifth. Jeff Thomas has a lot of talent but I've been leery of him since watching a docu-series a few years ago that profiled his high school football team. Perhaps he's grown up some since those days. Overall, I'd be happy with Goessling's seven-round mock for the Vikings if it were the real thing.
Reading through Ben Goessling's seven-round mock got me thinking about my own. Actually, I've been thinking about this without prompting from anyone. The draft is tomorrow. This stuff has been on my mind for so long. Too long. Unlike Goessling, I won't project trades. I've found that projecting trades in a mock draft is even more ridiculous than doing a mock draft.
Minnesota Vikings Seven-Round Mock Draft
1. (22)-Josh Jones, OT, Houston
1. (25)-Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU
2. (58)-Jordan Elliott, DT, Missouri
3. (89)-Van Jefferson, WR, Florida
3. (105)-Amik Robertson, CB, Louisiana Tech
4. (132)-Kenny Willekes, Edge, Michigan State
5. (155)-Isaiah Coulter, WR, Rhode Island
6. (201)-J.R. Reed, S, Georgia
6. (205)-Kevin Dotson, OG, Louisiana
7. (219)-Omar Bayless, WR, Arkansas State
7. (249)-Nate Stanley, QB, Iowa
7. (253)-Jaylinn Hawkins, S, California
The first issue with this mock is probably the lack of a receiver in the first two rounds. Personally, I'd feel pretty good about a receiver draft haul of Van Jefferson, Isaiah Coulter, and Omar Bayliss. They might be lacking a bit in speed but each can get open. And catch. They can catch the football. Not all speedsters can. Jeff Gladney and Amik Robertson are two of my favorite corners in the draft. Mike Zimmer might not like their respective heights but they are feisty, physical football players. He'll like that. Josh Jones, Gladney, and Jefferson would project as starters. Jordan Elliott, Robertson, and Kenny Willekes would likely factor into the respective defensive rotations. Coulter/Bayliss, J.R. Reed, and Kevin Dotson could eventually contend for starting positions. Maybe I'm a little biased but I like my my seven-round mock more than Goessling's mock.
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