With the 22nd pick in the NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings selected LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson.
Most experts consider Jefferson the fourth-best receiver in the draft class behind CeeDee Lamb, Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs. Jefferson, 6-foot-1, ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine after racking up an FBS-leading 111 receptions for 1,540 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Minnesota then traded to the 25th overall pick to the 49ers for the 31st overall pick in the first round, the 117th pick (fourth round) and the 176th pick (5th round). They turned the 31st overall pick into TCU cornerback Jeff Gladney.
More on Jefferson
Jalen Reagor, another wide receiver in what’s considered by many to be the deepest wide receiver class in draft history, went one pick before the Vikings to the Eagles at No. 21. That left LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson on the board.
@Vikings please draft Justin Jefferson LSU, he’s got a chance to be as good as any Wr in this years Draft.
— Cris Carter (@criscarter80) April 24, 2020
Jefferson, who was taken with the pick the Vikings got from Buffalo in the Stefon Diggs trade, will undoubtedly be expected to come in and immediately be the No. 2 receiver on the team behind Adam Thielen, with the likes of Bisi Johnson, Tajae Sharpe and others providing depth behind him.
Minnesota entered the draft with big needs at wide receiver, defensive back, offensive tackle and defensive line, but the consensus top-four tackles and the consensus top-three wide receivers were all taken in the top 20 picks.
Meanwhile, the Vikings still own the 25th overall selection and are still rumored to be a possible trade candidate for seven-time Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams, who has sought a trade out of Washington since last year.
The other teams reportedly “most interested” in trading for Williams, according to the Washington Post, were the Browns, Jets and Eagles, but the Browns and Jets took offensive tackles with their first-round picks and the Eagles are reportedly out of the equation.
I'm told just now the #Browns are now out of the Trent Williams market after drafting Alabama T Jedrick Wills tonight at the #10 spot, at this time, per source.
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) April 24, 2020
