Picks will start flying off the board in rounds 2 and 3 of the NFL Draft Friday at 6 p.m., and it’ll be another opportunity for the Minnesota Vikings to add look for offensive line help, among other areas of need.
Minnesota passed on offensive linemen in round one, instead selecting University of Central Florida cornerback Mike Hughes with the 30th overall pick.
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The Vikings have the 30th pick in the second and third rounds, so they’ll go on-the-clock with the 62nd and 94th overall selections, respectively Friday night.
Minnesota’s immediate need on the offensive line is at right guard since Joe Berger retired and Jeremiah Sirles signed with the Panthers.
But the Vikings could take a tackle and move Mike Remmers inside to guard if they want, it’s all dependent on the best linemen on the board when they make their pick.
Best remaining offensive linemen, per ESPN.
- James Daniels, C/G, Iowa
- Will Hernandez, G, UTEP
- Connor Williams, G, Texas
- Austin Corbett, G, Nevada
- Tyrell Crosby, T, Oregon
Not mentioned is Braden Smith, a 6-foot-6, 315-pound guard from Auburn who Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller describes as a player with the “ideal size, athleticism and technique to play” for the Vikings.
Another need for the Vikings, according to The MMQB’s Albert Breer, is defensive end.
Brian Robison, 35, is entering his 13th season and Everson Griffen will turn 31 years old in December, leaving Danielle Hunter, 23, as the only defensive end with regular playing time under 30.
Best available defensive ends, per ESPN:
- Rasheem Green, USC
- Sam Hubbard, Ohio State
- Josh Sweat, Florida State
- Kemoko Turay, Rutgers
- Breeland Speaks, Ole Miss
CBS Sports’ mock draft has the Vikings taking USC pass rushing specialist Uchenna Nwosu where he could develop as a hybrid edge rusher under Anthony Barr.
Nwosu had 9.5 sacks for the Trojans last season while leading the nation with 10 batted passes at the line-of-scrimmage, according to USC Diehards.
Tight end is another position that has quality depth and could be a need if the Vikings feel that Kyle Rudolph’s age and injury history is catching up to him.
The draft wraps up with rounds 4-7 starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, during which the Vikings have five additional picks.
- 5th round, No. 167
- 6th round, No. 204
- 6th round, No. 213
- 6th round, No. 218
- 7th round, No. 225
Philadelphia owns Minnesota’s fourth-round pick as part of the Sam Bradford trade, which also gave Philly the Vikings’ 2017 first-round pick.
