Minnesota Vikings 2021 Third Round Picks

Due to draft pick dealings the Minnesota Vikings had four third round picks in the 2021 NFL Draft. They had dropped back in the first round from #14 to #23 in a trade with the New York Jets. With the 23rd pick, the Vikings selected offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw out of Virginia Tech. Through 2+ seasons, Darrisaw looks every bit, and then some, the franchise left tackle that he was drafted to be. He’s been brilliant. An occasional missed game is the only knock on his play. 

It was the four third round picks (and three fourth round picks) that were supposed restock the talent and point the Vikings in the right developmental direction. After only 2+ years, it’s fairly safe to say that the Vikings decision-makers failed. In particular, they failed miserably with their selections in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. It’s a failure that may have helped lead to the firings of general manager Rick Spielman and head coach Mike Zimmer following the 2021 season. 

Those Third Round Picks

3 (66) Kellen Mond, QB, Texas A&M

3 (78) Chazz Surratt, LB, North Carolina

3 (86) Wyatt Davis, OG, Ohio State

3 (90) Patrick Jones II, Pittsburgh

My knee-jerk reactions to each:

Mond - intrigued by the first quarterback selected with a “high-end” pick since Teddy Bridgewater

Surratt - high-effort linebacker that started his college career as a quarterback

Davis - liked the bulking up of the interior of the offensive line

Jones - exciting pass rusher

This was a third round disaster. At least the Vikings added Christian Darrisaw. Only Patrick Jones II is still on the team. 

Current whereabouts of the others:

Mond - Indianapolis Colts practice squad

Surratt - New York Jets

Davis - last seen on the New York Giants injured reserve

General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, head coach Kevin O’Connell and the rest of the Vikings new decision-makers rid themselves of this third-round disaster as soon as they could. Mond, Surratt, and Davis were waived after their second training camp with the Vikings. Only Patrick Jones II made an impression on the team’s new coaches. 

While thinking about this unfortunate third round, I started thinking about what might’ve been. Here’s a look at the third round the Vikings could’ve had. Hindsight can be a bitch. 

3 (66) Alim McNeill, DT, North Carolina State

   -or- Paulson Adebo, CB, Stanford

3 (78) Quinn Meinerz, OG, Wisconsin-Whitewater

3 (86) Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, USC

I’m certain that McNeill/Adebo, Meinerz, and St. Brown would’ve been impact players through their 2+ seasons with the Vikings. They certainly wouldn’t be on their second, third, or fourth teams only one year later. 

Imagine this 2021 Minnesota Vikings Draft Class

1. Christian Darrisaw

3. Alim McNeill/Paulson Adebo

3. Quinn Meinerz

3. Amon Ra-St. Brown

3. Patrick Jones II

4. Kene Nwangwu

4. Camryn Bynum

Now, it’s back to reality.