After sitting idle during round one of the NFL Draft, the Vikings will be players on Day 2 with three picks in rounds two and three. Minnesota is set to go on-the-clock with pick 48 in the second round and picks 79 and 86 in the third round.
In a deep draft, the results could be bountiful.
“I think 10 to 50 is really similar. Even though you don’t have a first-round pick, you’re gonna be living in the second, third and fourth rounds,” NFL Network’s Mike Mayock said in an interview with Vikings.com. “There’s gonna be a ton of comparable talent, especially deep at certain positions like running back – where I think the Vikings would be very interested. I think the Vikings are going to get a talented player in each of those rounds. That’s why I’m so bullish on this draft.”
Expect a run on running backs tonight
Only two running backs went in the first round: Leonard Fournette to the Jaguars and Christian McCaffrey to the Panthers. That leaves a ton of talented backs available, including Dalvin Cook, Joe Mixon, Alvin Kamara, Kareem Hunt, Jamaal Williams, D’Onte Foreman, Marlon Mack and Samaje Perine.
The MMQB’s Peter King is on record saying the Vikings are one of four teams showing the most interest in Mixon, but the latest MMQB mock draft has Mixon going to the Bengals with the 41st pick. That’s right around the time MMQB expects the run on running backs to begin, with Cook and Kamara also going before Vikings pick at 48.
If Minnesota doesn’t go running back at 48, MMQB projects Foreman, Mack and Hunt to all go in the late-second or third rounds. They have the Vikings using the 86th overall pick on BYU’s Jamaal Williams.
Plenty of O-line available
Only two offensive linemen went in the first round: Garrett Bolles to the Broncos at 20 and Ryan Ramczyk to the Saints at 32.
According to Fox Sports, it was the first time in NFL history that an offensive linemen wasn’t drafted with one of the top 15 picks.
That leaves plenty for the taking, including all of the top guards, which is arguably the Vikings’ biggest position of need with only Alex Boone under contract beyond 2017.
Per the Washington Post, these are the best linemen remaining:
- Forrest Lamp, G, Western Kentucky
- Cam Robinson, T, Alabama
- Dan Feeney, G, Indiana
- Dion Dawkins, G, Temple
- Pat Elfein, G, Ohio State
It’s not considered a deep draft for linemen.
D-backs to go in a hurry?
Cornerback is another position that will likely impact where the running backs go.
CBS Sports expects a run on cornerbacks and safeties to begin with six solid players still available, including Kevin King, Budda Baker, Sidney Jones (injured), Quincy Wilson, Marcus Maye and Teez Tabor.
Minnesota has a need at cornerback although it’s not as big of a need as offensive line.
