The first round of the NFL Draft gets underway on Thursday night in Chicago, and just about every time you turn around someone else has released another mock draft guessing which team is going to pick which player.
The Vikings have pick No. 11 in this year’s draft and when they get on the clock it will be very interesting to see what their options will be. If history teaches us anything, there’s a good chance Vikings general manager Rick Spielman will be looking to trade the pick.
Spielman has become known for his wheeling and dealing, and in each of the last three drafts the Vikings have come out with multiple first round picks.
But if the Vikings do make the selection at No. 11, the two biggest names associated with the team are Louisville receiver DeVante Parker and Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes.
Even after trading for Mike Wallace during free agency, the Vikings are still looking for another receiver.
At 6-foot-3, Parker has good size for a receiver. After missing the first seven games of his senior season with a foot injury, Parker finished with 43 catches for 855 yards and five touchdowns.
NFL.com notes that taking Parker would make sense, because he was the favorite target of Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater at Louisville.
“Consistently plays with outstanding body control. Soft hands and elite concentration are his calling cards. Credited with just three drops since 2012. Comfortable with a man on his hip. Maintains focus on downfield throws despite hand fighting and bumps. Daunting catch radius.”
But even with a need for another receiver and Parker’s familiarity with Bridgewater, ESPN’s latest mock draft has the Vikings leaving him on the board and taking Michigan State corner Trae Waynes instead.
https://twitter.com/GoesslingESPN/status/592758220030107648
ESPN’s Ben Goessling thinks that even with the steps the Vikings have taken to improve their secondary in recent years, the opportunity to select another physical corner to play with Xavier Rhodes is too good to pass up – especially in the NFC North.
NFL.com, who has Waynes going to Chicago at No. 7, notes that he thrives in man-to-man coverage.
“Asked to play on an island and did so successfully. Allowed just two touchdowns over the last two seasons. Bump-and-run specialist.”
The draft will begin on Thursday night and continue on Friday, before concluding on Saturday evening.
