Here’s a seven-round mock draft, if the Vikings didn’t need a quarterback.
1(11). Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
1(23). Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State
4(108). Cam Hart, CB, Notre Dame
4(129). Jacob Cowing, WR, Arizona
5(157). Zak Zinter, G, Michigan
5(167). Jordan Jefferson, DT, LSU
6(177). Kimani Vidal, RB, Troy
7(230). Anim Dankwah, OT, Howard
7(232). AJ Barner, TE, Michigan
Not picking on Day 2 is, and will be, a problem. If the Vikings still had their second round pick, they wouldn’t have that second first round pick.
As for the “What if” picks, Byron Murphy II and Chop Robinson would look so beautiful in purple. They might be my two favorite defensive players in the entire draft. Grabbing both of those players eases the pain of passing on a first round corner. Getting Cam Hart in the fourth further eases that pain.
This fake draft feels defensive-centric. That’s mostly because the first three picks are on that side of the ball. The Vikings defense needs an influx of defensive talent. They can’t solely rely on the scheming of Brian Flores. This draft actually leans toward the offense in numbers - 5:4. Zak Zinter is the only one of the five offensive players that probably projects as an eventual starter.
Mock drafts are a fun way to become familiar with the players. They can also lead to draft crushes. A couple immediately come to mind. I developed a special fondness for George Kittle in 2017 and Karl Brooks last year. I didn’t think either would make it past the fourth round. I was constantly scheming ways for the Vikings to get Kittle as early as the third round. I happily grabbed Brooks in the fourth round of nearly every mock draft. I was stunned when the 49ers selected Kittle in the fifth round and the Packers selected Brooks in the sixth round. Kittle has proved that he is, and was, a first round talent. The fifth round? That was insane. It’s early for Brooks but he had a nice rookie season for the Packers. All of this is to say that mock drafts are fun but the ranking/slotting of players is nothing like that of the teams. There’s no agreement between the amateur drafters and the professionals. Hell, there’s few agreements between the professionals.
This draft is a good time for the Vikings to need a quarterback. There are arguably four with potential to be special. The Vikings aren’t currently in position to grab one of the four. At #11, they are close and they have the draft capital to get closer. As important, the team’s shot-callers have repeatedly expressed a willingness to spend what it might take to get where they need to get. Still, they need to find a team willing to trade. Unfortunately, the move up to get the quarterback will require the picks that are needed to boost the talent on the defense. Quarterback is too damn important. If you don’t have one, you have to get one. Everything else is secondary. If the Vikings are successful in their attempts to get that quarterback, they’ll probably be left with seven Day 3 picks to supplement the rest of the team. Seven is a nice total. Day 3 isn’t the best day to find impact players. Kittle and Brooks were Day 3 picks. Gold can be found in those rounds. The Vikings defense needs some immediate impact players. I figure they need a couple defensive linemen, at least one corner, an edge rusher, and maybe some linebacker depth. That would take five of those seven picks. The Vikings have offensive needs beyond that quarterback. They need immediate help on the interior offensive line and all-around depth. Oh boy, so many needs and so few picks. At least, there’s the undrafted free agents. With Ivan Pace Jr., Najee Thompson, and perhaps Andre Carter, the Vikings did well in that market last year. They could use another undrafted windfall.
One more day.
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