On Thursday night, Minnesota Vikings fans will get their long-awaited verdict — who the team will pick in Round 1 after months of deliberation. The betting market suggests it will be a defensive player, probably a safety, defensive lineman, or cornerback. Now, it’s our turn to take a stab at how the whole draft will shake out.
This is the full forecast before Minnesota goes on the clock.
The final mock draft has absolutely nothing to do with VikingsTerritory‘s preferences; this is about how we think the picks will happen — as a prediction.
Who is your prediction for the Vikings’ first pick?
We start the party with a trade, but not a bombastic one. The Philadelphia Eagles will move up a few spots to pick their favorite EDGE rusher, whereas Minnesota will bank two mid-round picks.
**TRADE**Vikings Get:23rd Overall Pick (Round 1)98th Overall Pick (Round 3)114th Overall Pick (Round 4)— for —Eagles Get:18th Overall Pick (Round 1)244th Overall Pick (Round 7)
Philadelphia may grab Keldric Faulk or Akheem Mesidor at No. 18.
We’re using this logic: Minnesota booted Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave in March, and those two men were established starters in the Vikings’ defense. If the Vikings do nothing in the draft, they’ll trust the DT roles with Jalen Redmond, Levi Drake Rodriguez, and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins. That just doesn’t seem like enough, unless Brian Flores and Co. sign Christian Wilkins, who has ties to Flores from the Miami days.
Woods is the top defensive tackle in this class, and either via trade down or stick-and-pick, he’s our final prediction for the Vikings’ first draft pick.
Bernard is tall-ish, fast, smooth, and dependable. The Vikings have been scouting wide receivers for weeks, and although they didn’t expressly meet with Bernard, he’d fit nicely in Kevin O’Connell’s offense.
Minnesota needs a WR3 after Jalen Nailor left in free agency, and Bernard can fill the role. He’s a playmaker who goes and gets the football.
Rest in peace, Khyree Jackson: Igbinosun is quite similar stylistically. He’s long, loves physicality, and his only weaknesses are his tendency toward too much aggression, which leads to penalties and/or handsiness.
For now, Minnesota has Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, James Pierre, and Dwight McGlothern as the top four corners on the spring roster. Igbinosun might be next. The Vikings haven’t drafted a productive cornerback in a decade. It’s time. Like overdue.
The Vikings have about 6-7 gettable running backs to choose from in this weekend’s draft. Coleman gets the call for one reason: he’s the best pass-blocker in the class after Jeremiyah Love, who will likely be picked in the Top 8.
In time, when Coleman takes over the RB1 job, he won’t have to come off the field on 3rd Down. That’s invaluable. O’Connell covets tailbacks who block. Ever wonder why Ty Chandler never took off in Minnesota? He didn’t block. Cam Akers did (does), and that’s why the Vikings always find a way to sign him or trade for him.
If we’re wrong about the running back’s identity, the pick will be Emmett Johnson, possibly in Round 3.
O’Connell claimed a couple of weeks ago that Blake Brandel could start at center. That’s fine; it might work. But tackles-turned-guards-turned-everything-O-linemen don’t typically wake up one day in their late 20s and decide they’ll be a lifelong center.
Enter Jones. He’ll be 25 during the regular season — yes, he’s old — meaning he’s the most game-ready center in this class.
No, we did not forget about safety. It’s just that the position isn’t premium, and starting safeties can be found later in the draft, more than other premium positions. For example, it’s easier to bet on a 4th-Round safety turning into a contributor than a 4th-Round quarterback.
Smith is big at 6’2″ and can be used as a blitzing piece for Brian Flores.