The last few days before the NFL Draft are the worst. Rumors and nonsense. It sure will be nice to finally get to the real thing. Until then, here's another 7-round Minnesota Vikings mock draft.
1. Isaiah Wynn, G, Georgia
2. Nathan Shepherd, DT, Fort Hays State
3. Nyheim Hines, RB, North Carolina State
5. Alex Cappa, OT, Humboldt State
6. Durham Smythe, TE, Notre Dame
6. Davontae Harris, CB, Illinois State
6. Vycint Smith, WR, Limestone College
7. Eddy Pineiro, K, Florida
1. The Vikings have a talented and deep roster. If one looks at a projected starting lineup, guard stands out as the biggest need. Improving the offensive line, in general, is the team's biggest need. The good thing about that is that this draft has solid guards into the second day of selections. Personally, I'd rather add Wynn, Frank Ragnow, Billy Price, or Willie Hernandez with the team's first pick than wait for the second day. The Vikings recent offensive line issues are partially due to relying on the development from later-round picks and undrafted free agents. Adding high-end talent might be a nice change in strategy.
2. Unlike the offensive line, the Vikings defensive line is is one of the best in the league. The offseason addition of defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson completes the starting lineup but depth is a concern. Shepherd would help that and create a terrific interior line rotation with Richardson, Linval Joseph, and Jaleel Johnson. Richardson only signed for one year so his stay in Minnesota could be a short one. Shepherd could step into the starting lineup after rookie season of seasoning and learning.
3. Hines is essentially a replacement for the departed Jerrick McKinnon in free agency. He has similar run/pass skills as well as returning kicks. The Vikings didn't get much in kick returns after Cordarrelle Patterson departed last offseason.
5. Cappa gives the Vikings more offensive line options. Who knows, perhaps he wins the right tackle job in training camp.
6. The Vikings could use another tight end. I'd like to pick one earlier but it didn't work out that way. There are several good tight ends in this draft and Notre Dame has often been a good place to find one.
6. Cornerback. A team can never have enough cornerbacks. As with tight end, I'd like to pick one earlier but that didn't happen. The Vikings have shown interest in Harris.
6. Vyncint Smith from itty-bitty Limestone is simply too intriguing to pass. Size and speed. He's got both.
7. The Vikings could use a kicker to challenge Kai Forbath in training camp.
The fourth-round hole in the Vikings draft makes a trade out of the first round a real possibility. General manager Rick Spielman sets an annual goal of at least 10 draft picks. They are scheduled to make eight picks so the best way to get to 10 and fill the that hole in the fourth round is to trade out of the first. Dabbling in draft trade predictions is a greater degree of lunacy than dabbling in draft pick predictions. So I won't do it here.
What this mock draft is missing:
Linebacker
Safety
Edge rusher
The Vikings might return all three starting linebackers but they don't have much depth. The four game suspension of Kentrell Brothers further reduces that depth. Linebacker needs to be addressed and I believe that it will. Trading out of the first and adding a fourth could give them the pick that gives them that linebacker. I really don't see the Vikings not addressing the position somewhere in the draft.
The real thing starts tomorrow.
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