Could Vikings Look Close to Home in Draft with Boye Mafe?
Adam New
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It was a great week for the Minnesota Golden Gophers edge rusher Boye Mafe.
He impressed throughout the week at the senior bowl, finishing off with a great display on game day — a performance of the caliber to see him named as the National player of the game. With the Minnesota Vikings possibly concentrating on defense in this year’s draft, could the Vikings draft Boye Mafe?
The Minnesota Vikings defense needs a lot of work during this offseason. Kevin O’Connell will come in as head coach and try and put his stamp on an already talented offense. A key decision in the success of his reign will be based on who is appointed as his defensive coordinator.
At one time, the defense was the Vikings strength under Mike Zimmer, but that fell apart over the past two seasons. It’s hard to say where the rebuild starts at the moment because without the defensive coordinator in place. We just can’t be sure which scheme the Vikings will employ in 2022. O’Connell comes from the Los Angeles Rams where they use a 3-4 front.
Will he bring someone in to use that with the Vikings? The only name that has been rumored so far is Mike Pettine and Aubrey Pleasant from the Rams staff.
Pettine, the former Cleveland Browns head coach and Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator, runs a 3-4 front, which would leave the Vikings needing to find some outside linebackers. That would bring names like David Ojabo, Minneapolis-born Jermaine Johnson, Nik Bonitto, Drake Jackson, and of course, Boye Mafe comes in.
Mafe was pegged as a day two probably third-round pick before this week. Following his impressive performance, his draft stock is certain to rise. Daniel Jeremiah is already claiming he is a first-round talent.
So what’s all the fuss about? The Draft Network’s Kyle Crabbs wrote:
“Minnesota EDGE defender Boye Mafe is a high-tools prospect on the edge who projects best to the pro game as a traditional 3-4 rush outside linebacker. Mafe offers great athleticism on the edge and his flashes of effortless movement skills in space are an easy sell when projecting his pro game to the next level…this is a high-ceiling prospect who should not be overlooked in the middle rounds as someone who can be an every-down player by year three if the light bulb comes on at the next level.
– Kyle Crabbs | The Draft Network
It seems unlikely the middle rounds are still the destination for the Vikings to draft Boye Mafe after a real showcase of his athleticism and ability to get to the quarterback in the senior bowl. He is still raw and has lots of room to develop, making him an even more exciting prospect. If he is still on the board when the Vikings are on the clock in the second round, then he is a player I’d snap up if we are looking at a 3-4 front next season.