NFL.com Moves off Will Levis Idea for Vikings
Dustin Baker
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Three weeks ago, NFL.com’s Charles Davis predicted a fall down the draftboard by Kentucky quarterback Will Levis — all the way to the Minnesota Vikings at No. 23.
He explained on March 23rd, “Finally! Teams picking as high as No. 4 overall will likely consider the big-armed passer from Kentucky, but he lands with QB-friendly coach Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota as the franchise’s signal-caller for the future.”
NFL.com Moves off Will Levis Idea for Vikings
Well, that’s apparently yesterday’s news because Davis revamped his mock-draft theories, and this time, Levis re-climbed the board, landing with the Indianapolis Colts at the third overall pick. The Levis plunge was evidently too premature or a flavor of the week in March.
In this go-around from Davis, the Vikings acted defensively, selecting Pittsburgh defensive tackle Calijah Kancey.
“The Vikings select the quick interior lineman and hope that he develops into a disruptor like Hall of Fame DT John Randle. New defensive coordinator Brian Flores will help the Pitt product,” Davis wrote.
While the Vikings could indeed stand to improve the middle of the defensive trenches, it’s a packed house at the moment for non-NT defensive tackles:
- DE1: Harrison Phillips
- DE2: Dean Lowry
- DE3: James Lynch
- DE4: Jonathan Bullard
- DE5: Ross Blacklock
- DE6: Kenny Willekes
- DE7: Esezi Otomewo
Minnesota has more pressing and long-term roster needs at other positions, for example, cornerback, wide receiver, and off-ball linebacker.
Kancey wouldn’t be a silly pick, though. His draft stock has risen considerably in the last month and is close to a shoo-in as a 1st-Round commodity. Kancey’s toughness, motor, and intense pass-rushing technique lead many to believe he could emulate Aaron Donald, in time.
The Draft Network describes Kancey as “a spark plug on the interior of the defensive line. He plays with incredible urgency and fires into the neutral zone with quickness and intent. He’s extremely physical and tough, willing to exchange power with blockers that have 30-plus pounds on him on a weekly basis.”
The Vikings have a litany of options in Round 1, including trading up for a quarterback, selecting a cornerback to strengthen a currently weak CB room, finding a replacement for Adam Thielen, bolstering the linebacker room, or getting truly wild with a running back, Bijan Robinson.
When the dust settles on folks’ draft predictions, the Vikings will likely trade back from the 23rd pick, stockpiling more picks in the draft’s sweet spot, the 20 to 100 range. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah utilized the same strategy last year.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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