Adam New’s Vikings Mock Draft | A Prediction
Adam New
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We are finally there. After three long months of speculation, it’s draft week.
Of course, there’s time for a little more speculation and a Vikings mock draft. Often you will have some idea of what a team will do in a draft, especially position-wise in the first round. That’s not the case this year, and the only positions I think you can safely rule out are offensive tackle and tight end.
I used the mock draft simulator over at Pro Football Focus and made two trades, but I still only made five selections, all coming in the first five rounds.
Adam New’s Vikings Mock Draft | A Prediction
Trade: Minnesota traded the 23rd pick and the 119th pick to New Orleans for the 29th pick and the 71st pick.
Pick 29 – Mazi Smith, IDL, Michigan
I pass on several options at 23, including Deonte Banks, Brian Branch, Quentin Johnston, Bryan Bresee, and Calijah Kancey. The reason? The Vikings need a dominant nose tackle. Not just a good one, but the type of player to build the rest of the defense around, knowing he’s going to be unmoveable in the middle.
Khyiris Tonga showed enough potential last season to be re-signed as a good depth player, but Mazi Smith is the guy to take the Vikings defense to a different level. A better pass-rusher on the interior like Bresee and Kancey is an option, but I believe Brian Flores can scheme pressure up the middle. Smith gives you the solid foundations of the defense and the bonus of the extra draft pick via the trade.
Pick 71 – Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss
There were three positions I looked at for the two third-round picks, CB, LB, and WR. I decided to go WR at 71, and there were a few good options, including Marvin Mims, Rashee Rice, and Kayshon Boutte. I decided to go with the big, physical Jonathan Mingo, who gives the Vikings a different type of receiver. He is perfect for quick screens and jet sweeps, something the Vikings tried without any great success last season.
Pick 87 – Cory Trice, CB, Purdue
The Vikings could look to trade back again here, as there were several good options at CB and LB, and Minnesota could do with both. No trade is made is forthcoming in my mock draft. I opt to bolster the secondary with Corey Trice, a big corner (6’3, 206 lbs) that adds depth to the secondary as a man coverage cornerback suited to take on the bigger, more physical wide receivers who could also play at safety.
Pick 158 – Olusegun Oluwatimi, IOL, Michigan
I have had the fifth round as an IOL pick in my mind all off-season. It might not be the biggest priority (though debatable), but it certainly needs attention – this seems the suitable range to do it. I’ve like Anthony Bradford at this pick, but his draft stock is rising, and he might be long gone by this point. So after taking the man in the middle of the Michigan Wolverines defensive line, we do the same with the offensive line. Olusegum Olawatimi is a four-year starter ready to come in as a starting center.
With Garrett Bradbury back, there isn’t an immediate need, but if Olawatimi can usurp Bradbury as the starter by next season, the Vikings can save millions of dollars.
Trade – Minnesota trades the 211th pick and a 2024 5th to Dallas for the 169th pick and a 2024 7th
Pick 169 – Dorian Thompson-Robinson, QB, UCLA
Life after Kirk Cousins needs to be addressed. That starts here with a move up into the fifth to take a flier on Dorian Thomson-Robinson. I like the UCLA quarterback’s potential. He has the arm strength, athleticism, and character that is an excellent base to build from. He is a great option for the Vikings to take a look at before the need for drafting a QB in the first round next year becomes a necessity.
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