Vikings Prospect Player Card: James Daniels | C | Iowa
As the NFL Draft approaches, Vikings Territory is taking a look at prospects that may interest the Minnesota Vikings. Since it’s evident the team would like to add a long-term offensive line starter at some point in the early rounds, let’s examine the players who could fit that mold.
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- School: Iowa
- Position: C/G
- Projected round: 1-2
- Age: 20
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- Height: 6-3
- Weight: 303 lbs.
- Arm: 33 3/4″
- Hand: 9 1/2″
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- Bench press: 21 reps of 225 pounds
- 40-yard dash: DNP (hamstring injury)
- Vertical jump: 30.5 inches
- Broad jump: 9 feet
- 3-cone drill: 7.29 seconds (2nd among OL)
- 20-yard shuttle: 4.40 seconds (1st among OL)
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Vikings Interest: 9/10
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- Very athletic offensive line prospect who is physically gifted.
- High football IQ. Consistent performer.
- Has a football knowledge and pedigree that can’t be taught. His brother and father have played in the NFL.
- Daniels is very young. He’ll be 20 years old when the 2018 season begins.
- He has experience playing guard.
- Impressed at the NFL Combine, clocking in among the top offensive linemen in quickness/speed drills.
- Excels in a zone-blocking scheme.
- Has an impressive wing span with above average arm length.
- Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded run blocker among draft-eligible centers in 2017.
Iowa's James Daniels dominated as a run blocker in 2017 pic.twitter.com/iEfNHI7ZdF
— PFF (@PFF) April 24, 2018
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- According to his NFL draft profile, Daniels needs to add functional weight to his frame.
- As evidenced by his bench press performance at the combine, he needs to add strength in order to handle being bull-rushed by nose tackles at the next level.
- Needs to improve in pass protection and screen blocking.
- Vikings already have a center. Daniels, who projects as a center in the NFL, would likely be moved to guard with the presence of Pat Elflein.
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Bottom Line:
Daniels is a young prospect that with added strength has the chance to become a Pro Bowl starter.
Potential OL starters:
LT Riley Reiff – LG Nick Easton – C Pat Elflein – RG James Daniels – RT Mike Remmers
More Prospects:
- Billy Price | C | Ohio State
- Frank Ragnow | C | Arkansas
- Quenton Nelson | OG | Notre Dame
- Will Hernandez | OG | UTEP
- Isaiah Wynn | OG | Georgia
- Braden Smith | OG | Auburn
- Connor Williams | OT | Texas
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