We’re a month away from the April 23-25 NFL Draft, which is about the time of year when the mock draft “experts” have a decent handle on what teams will be looking to do when they go on-the-clock in the first round.
The Vikings have two first-round picks, Nos. 22 and 25, and the latest mock drafts from around the country are heavy on wide receivers, defensive linemen and defensive backs.
22nd overall mock picks
Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN: Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State
Will Brinson, CBS Sports: Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State
Kevin Hanson, Sports Illustrated: Patrick Queen, LB, LSU
Dan Kadar, SB Nation: Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU
Jordan Reid, The Draft Network: Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
Charley Casserly, NFL Network: Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
25th overall mock picks
Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN: A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: Ross Blacklock, DT, TCU
Will Brinson, CBS Sports: Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU
Kevin Hanson, Sports Illustrated: Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
Dan Kadar, SB Nation: Patrick Queen, LB, LSU
Jordan Reid, The Draft Network: Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Auburn
Charley Casserly, NFL Network: Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State
Recap
Of all the players mocked to the Vikings above, no player ranks higher on Matt Miller’s top-100 list than Iowa defensive end A.J. Epenesa, who is 10th overall on the Bleacher Report rankings.
The wide receivers being linked to Minnesota are Denzel Mims and Justin Jefferson.
Yetur Gross-Matos is commonly linked to the Vikings as a possible replacement for defensive end Everson Griffen, although Minnesota may already have his replacement on roster in Ifeadi Odenigbo.
Two mock drafts suggest the Vikings will take Stefon Diggs’ younger brother, Trevon Diggs.
