INSTANT REACTION: In The Sixth Round The Vikings Select OL Tyrus Thompson
In the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft the Minnesota Vikings added their seventh rookie to their roster by selecting offensive lineman Tyrus Thompson out of Oklahoma.
Tyrus Thompson is tagged as an athletic left tackle prospect that is inconsistent enough to see himself thought of as nothing more than a Day Three prospect. At 6′ 5″ and 324 pounds, though, he certainly has the appearance of a prototypical NFL tackle.
Some have called his effort and character into question prior to the Draft, which makes him the first Vikings selection of the year with these types of concerns.
For his size, Thompson is agile and quick, resulting in a blocker that can be effective all the way to the second level. His athleticism also makes him a competent pass blocker that causes rushers to struggle getting past him.
The struggling starter Matt Kalil tops the left tackle depth chart, but Thompson seems likely to replace Antonio Richardson as the primary backup. Paired with T.J. Clemmings, the Vikings have now added two offensive linemen on Day Three of the NFL Draft.