Todd McShay’s Latest Mock Draft Is a Swerve for Vikings
Until now, ESPN’s Todd McShay consistently envisioned the Minnesota Vikings selecting a cornerback in the 1st Round of the 2022 NFL Draft because, well, the team needs corners.
In McShay’s first edition of the draft cycle, he predicted the Vikings as a landing spot for Ahmad Gardner, a corner from the University of Cincinnati. After that, the forecast shifted to Trent McDuffie as Garnder’s stock continued to rise, leaving him unavailable at Minnesota’s 12th spot.
This time, in McShay’s 3.0 mock, he totally switched positions while staying on the same side of the ball — defense. The latest edition sends Jermaine Johnson II to Minnesota, an EDGE rusher from Florida State.
McShay explained the choice for Minnesota:
“The Vikings have a tenacious pass-rush duo in Danielle Hunter and D.J. Wonnum, but Johnson can be a third impact player on their front. His 12 sacks and 45 pressures were both top-15 numbers in the country last season, and he’s a great value pick for Minnesota at No. 12. In Indianapolis, the 6-foot-5, 254-pounder ran a 4.58 in the 40-yard dash and impressed with a 10-foot-5 broad jump. New Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell watched a great pass rush help his former team, the Rams, to a Super Bowl. So he’d happily welcome another smooth-moving explosive end to the mix.”
Todd McShay | ESPN
Notably, McShay afforded some high praise to D.J. Wonnum in his remarks, musings not necessarily widely believed by the masses.
Regardless, yes, the Vikings need pass rushers, especially if the team cannot finagle a deal with Danielle Hunter this offseason. Even with Hunter back — and hopefully healthy — Ed Donatell must find players to rush the passer. Everson Griffen is probably past the age of regular-starter dependability, and the rest of the EDGE rushers on the Vikings roster (Kenny Willekes, Patrick Jones II, Janarius Robinson) are unproven.
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Indeed, Johnson is projected by most pundits to fly off the board in the 1st Round, probably somewhere in the middle, so Minnesota taking the plunge at #12 is sensible.
Here’s how The Draft Network, per Joe Marino, describes Johnson:
“The biggest question Johnson had to answer in 2021 was what type of impact he could make in a featured role and he absolutely aced the test. Overall, Johnson has good size, athleticism, technique, and functional strength while playing the game with tremendous urgency and features a high football IQ. Johnson has the makings of an impact starter at the next level.”
Joe Marino | The Draft Network
Also in McShay’s mock draft, the Vikings passed on Derek Stingley Jr., a player often theorized to join the Vikings. And Jordan Davis, who performed freakishly [good] at the NFL Combine.
The draft begins on April 28.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. His YouTube Channel, VikesNow, debuts in March 2022. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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