In this and my upcoming mock drafts, there will be a bit of theme. We will play out a few different scenarios of trade downs as well as no trades at all. There are six trade-down possibilities with teams looking to trade up for a wide receiver or quarterback.
In this first mock draft, we play out a scenario in which we traded with the Buffalo Bills. The Bills traded up with the Vikings to draft Jameson Williams at 12th overall. In exchange, the Vikings received picks 25 and 57 and a 2023 2nd-round pick.
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The concept in trading down here is to pass on Derek Stingley Jr. and seek out Trent McDuffie or Andrew Booth Jr.
- 25th overall pick – The Vikings select Trent McDuffie. This is an excellent choice for the cornerback needy Vikings. McDuffie is not necessarily the exact size you look for in a lockdown outside cornerback. However, he plays much bigger than he is, and he is explosive.
In this simulation, the Vikings walk away with an extra pick in the second round and another 2023 2nd-round pick. This is on top of Patrick Peterson’s heir apparent. Overall, Day 1 of the NFL Draft is an absolute win for the Vikings.
Day Two – Rounds 2 and 3
The Vikings walk into the second day of the draft with three picks in tote. They have their original picks of 46 and 77, along with the Bills’ pick number 57.
- 46th overall pick – The Vikings select Lewis Cine, safety out of Georgia. Cine is a fast riser late in the draft process, and it is not likely he will be available when the Vikings are on the clock here. However, if he is, they should slam this pick. They need to replace Harrison Smith at some point, and Cine is an excellent choice to do that.
- 57th overall pick – The Vikings select Christian Harris, a linebacker out of Alabama. I think linebacker is a bigger need than most other people. Outside of Kendricks and Hicks, they don’t have much depth. Christian Harris could be that third linebacker and the heir apparent to Kendricks. He is an excellent blitzer and can run down running backs in the flats.
- 77th overall pick – The Vikings select John Metchie III, a wide receiver out of Alabama. Metchie is more of a want than a need here for the Vikings. He is a true burner who can be utilized to take the top off the defense. While Jefferson is capable of doing this, having Metchie can open up the passing game to be so much more.
Overall, the second day here was a success. While I really would have liked to get an edge rusher, it was hard to pass up Cine sitting there at 46. With Cine, McDuffie, and Dantzler, the Vikings’ secondary looks like it could rock solid for years to come.
Day Three – Rounds 4 through 7
On day three of the draft, if the Vikings make no more trades will walk in with 5 draft picks. However, they will not have a single pick in round 4.
- 156th overall pick – The Vikings select Jelani Woods, a tight end out of Virginia. Ok, this dude is a freak. He is 6’7″, 253 pounds, and scored a perfect 10 RAS. He is a solid backup to Irv Smith Jr. and adds an element for when they run 12 personnel.
- 184th overall pick – The Vikings select Joshua Williams, a cornerback out of Fayetteville State. At 6’2″ and 200 pounds, Williams is the prototype you look for in a cornerback. He went to a small school where his competition was not great. However, he dominated his competition.
- 191st overall pick – The Vikings select Marcus Jones, a cornerback out of Houston. Jones is an interesting prospect. He played well for Houston, but man, is he short, which is why he will be available this late in the draft. Although, he plays much bigger than he is, which could allow him to excel in the NFL. If not, he can still contribute to special teams.
- 192nd overall pick – The Vikings select Abram Smith, running back out of Baylor. Smith is a big running back who can set up his blocks. However, he lacks the instincts you look for in starting running back.
- 250th overall pick – The Vikings select Eyioma Uwazurike, a defensive tackle out of Iowa State. Uwazurike is a shot in the dark here, which you would expect in the 7th round. He is not necessarily a dominant player, but he has improved over the years.
Overall, I am happy with this mock draft. The Vikings were able to address several needs this year and in future years. If this were to occur in real life, I would be happy with the result.
Mitch Massman is a life-long Vikings fan. His first heartbreak was the 1998 NFC championship game. His full-time job is as an economic development professional in rural Minnesota. He fantasizes about the Vikings winning a Super Bowl one day, but until then he will write about the Vikings. Follow him on Twitter @skol_vikings3
