Some Minnesota Vikings Draft Thoughts

The Minnesota Vikings are scheduled to enter the 2020 NFL Draft with 12 selections.

1. (22)-from Buffalo
1. (25)
2. (58)
3. (89)
3. (105)-compensatory
4. (132)
5. (155)-from Buffalo
6. (201)-from Buffalo
6. (205)
7. (219)
7. (249)-compensatory
7. (253)-compensatory

Considering the draft day dealing ways of general manager Rick Spielman it's a good bet that about half of the players that the Vikings do select will not be with the above picks. He'll move around the draft. Spielman has often targeted making 10 selections in a given draft. With 12 picks to start, he has the pre-draft capital to move up if there's a player that the team really likes.

The Vikings enter the 2020 NFL Draft with the following needs:

overall offensive line improvement
cornerbacks
receivers
defensive end
defensive tackle-three technique
safety

Offensive line improvement has been a need in Minnesota for far too long. Far. Too. Long. The starters for 2020 are pretty wide open after Brian O'Neill at right tackle and Garrett Bradbury at center. If the Vikings were to add a left tackle early in the draft (first round) the remaining three positions might fall into place. A rookie starting at left tackle, incumbent left tackle Riley Reiff slides to left guard, and 2019 4th round pick Dru Samia competes with returning players and/or potential rookies at right guard. In that scenario, the Vikings might finally have the building blocks for a solid offensive line. Reiff isn't a long term solution at left guard but he's the best solution now. This line of thinking has led me to believing that one of the two first round picks has to be an offensive tackle and it has to be an offensive tackle that can start immediately. No projects needed.

Offseason roster departures have created significant needs at cornerback and receiver. It's a good thing that this will be an excellent draft for both positions. Both positions are strong at the top with good depth into later rounds. Receiver is a little stronger and a little deeper. I also like the potential of several corners that should be available at #22 and #25. For that reason, I'm currently favoring cornerback with the first round pick that isn't an offensive tackle.

The realistic offensive linemen and corners that I like in the first currently look like this:

Offensive Tackles
Josh Jones, Houston
Austin Jackson, USC
Isaiah Wilson, Georgia
Ezra Cleveland, Boise State

Corners
Jeff Gladney, TCU
Kristian Fulton, LSU
Noah Igbinoghene, Auburn
A.J. Terrell, Clemson
Jaylon Johnson, Utah

For the past month, my internal tackle debate has been between Josh Jones and Austin Jackson. In recent days, Isaiah Wilson has stormed into that debate. So much so, that I'm really liking the thought of the big guy on the left side of the Vikings line.

With that in mind, I like the following start to the Vikings' 2020 NFL Draft:

22. Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU
25. Isaiah Wilson, OT, Georgia

Throughout the draft evaluation process, everyone eventually lands on some favorites. With the Vikings' needs in mind, the following have become my favorites among the players that could/should be drafted in rounds 2-5.

Receivers
Michael Pittman Jr., USC
Van Jefferson, Florida
Tyler Johnson, Minnesota
Isaiah Coulter, Rhode Island

Conerbacks
Amik Robertson, Louisiana Tech
Cameron Dantzler, Clemson
Damon Arnette, Ohio State
Darnay Holmes, UCLA

Defensive Tackles
Jordan Elliott, Missouri
Justin Madubuike, Texas A&M
Davon Hamilton, Ohio State
Raekwon Davis, Alabama

Defensive Ends
Terrell Lewis, Alabama
Bradlee Anae, Utah
Jabari Zuniga, Florida
Julian Okwara, Notre Dame
Darrell Taylor, Tennessee

Of the above, I've grown especially fond of the following:

Van Jefferson
Amik Robertson
Jordan Elliott
Jabari Zuniga

I'm not sure that the Vikings can get all four in the picks that they have in rounds 2-4. But one can dream.

1 (22) Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU
1 (25) Isaiah Wilson, OT, Georgia
2 (58) Jordan Elliott, DT, Missouri
3 (89) Amik Robertson, CB, Louisiana Tech
3 (105) Van Jefferson, WR, Florida
4 (132) Jabari Zuniga, DE, Florida
5 (155) Isaiah Coulter, WR, Rhode Island

The following is probably less dreamy and slightly more realistic.

1 (22) Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU
1 (25) Isaiah Wilson, OT, Georgia
2 (58) Michael Pittman Jr., WR, USC
3 (89) Amik Robertson, CB, Louisiana Tech
3 (105) Jabari Zuniga, DE, Florida
4 (132) Tyler Johnson, WR, Minnesota
5 (155) McTelvin Agim, DT, Arkansas

The second five-round mock might hold more potential than the first but I sure do like Jordan Elliott.

The final two rounds (currently five picks) will likely be peppered with safeties, more offensive linemen (perhaps Louisiana guard Kevin Dotson), a speedy little running back or receiver that can return kicks, and the usual long, raw, freakish defensive end.

Those are a few of the Minnesota Vikings draft thoughts that have been banging through my head. Most, if not all, will evolve over the remaining days before the 2020 NFL Draft.