Without a first-round pick in next week’s NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings will have to find players that fit their biggest needs on days two and three of the draft.
Biggest needs: Offensive line, running back, defensive tackle
After signing tackles Riley Reiff and Mike Remmers in free agency, the Vikings No. 1 area of concern is right guard. Names being floated to the Vikings with the 48th overall pick (second round) in deep mock drafts are Indiana guard Dan Feeney and Temple guard Dion Dawkins.
Dion Dawkins, Dan Feeney
ESPN’s Todd McShay has Dawkins to the Vikings while SB Nation’s Vikings writer went with Feeney.
Dawkins has some major upside with Pro Football Focus suggesting he “demonstrates physical tools necessary to be a Pro Bowl player in the right system.”
Feeney is rated just ahead of Dawkins in the guard rankings from CBS Sports.
Marcus Maye
NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah has the Vikings going away from an immediate need and taking Florida safety Marcus Maye: “I’m starting to hear some buzz about Maye moving up the board,” writes Jeremiah. “He’s a physical tone-setter in the secondary. I love the energy he brings to the field.”
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Maye totaled 132 tackles, 12 pass break-ups, 3 interceptions and 5 forced fumbles the last two seasons. Florida coach Jim McElwain told the Sentinel that Maye is versatile enough to cover receivers and stop the run.
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According to https://t.co/JYExA1Ibe7, @alldayMAYE was credited with a PBU or INT on 21% of his targets as a starter. pic.twitter.com/3UDDzaRv1m
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) April 18, 2017
If Maye goes to the Vikings he would likely enter training camp with a chance to compete with Andrew Sendejo for the starting free safety job.
Joe Mixon
Minnesota’s running back situation is currently in the hands of Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon, but Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon might have too much talent to pass on if he’s available when the Vikings go on the clock. It’s a scenario that CBS Sports’ Dane Brugler can see happening.
“It is anyone’s guess where Mixon and his baggage land, but the Vikings have shown interest,” Brugler says.
Mixon was suspended as a freshman in 2014 after punching a female student in the face.
