Minnesota Vikings 7-Round Mock From The Athletic’s Big Board

The Athletic released their Consensus Big Board for the 2021 NFL Draft. This very big board is a list of the Top 300 prospects and is pulled from more than 50 big boards across the draft-evaluating landscape. That’s more players than will be drafted. One of the things that caught my attention is the players that are ranked in the spots in which the Minnesota Vikings are currently scheduled to pick. It results in the following mock draft for the Vikings.

1(14) Kwity Paye, Edge, Michigan

3(78) Amari Rodgers, WR, Clemson

3(90) Brady Christensen, OT, BYU

4(119) Benjamin St-Juste, CB, Minnesota

4(125) Ambry Thomas, CB, Michigan

4(134) Cade Johnson, WR, South Dakota St.

4(143) Jaylen Twyman, DT, Pittsburgh 

5(157) Keith Taylor, CB, Washington

5(168) Daelin Hayes, Edge, Notre Dame

6(199) Chris Evans, RB, Michigan

If I were to repeat the tiresome, old joke, this is a draft that Mike Zimmer would love. Three cornerbacks. Other than the abundance of cornerbacks I like this draft. I like it but there is a disappointing lack of offensive linemen. Brady Christensen is a nice addition but the Vikings are in great need of more reinforcements on the offensive line. They need a guard, maybe guards. They could use a safety too. 

A guard that I like a lot is Grambling State’s David Moore. The Athletic’s Big Board has him at #183. I’d rather “reach” for Moore at 157 than take a third corner. 

A safety cure could be found in Divine Deablo. The Virginia Tech safety is ranked #123 by The Athletic’s Big Board. A safety at 119 would benefit the Vikings more than the first of a three-cornerback haul. 

Those two tweaks give the Vikings the following mock. 

1(14) Kwity Paye, Edge, Michigan

3(78) Amari Rodgers, WR, Clemson

3(90) Brady Christensen, OT, BYU

4(119) Divine Deablo, S, Virginia Tech

4(125) Ambry Thomas, CB, Michigan

4(134) Cade Johnson, WR, South Dakota St.

4(143) Jaylen Twyman, DT, Pittsburgh 

5(157) David Moore, OG, Grambling State

5(168) Daelin Hayes, Edge, Notre Dame

6(199) Chris Evans, RB, Michigan

It still feels light on the offensive line. That tends to happen when a team’s greatest need isn’t addressed until their third pick. This mock is growing on me. If the Vikings don’t go offensive line with their first pick, edge is the most likely alternative. Kwity Paye and Miami’s Jaelan Phillips are at the top of that list. Amari Rodgers, Ambry Thomas, Cade Johnson, Jaylen Twyman, and David Moore are often mock draft targets of mine. 

Eight more days...