Vikings Could Truly Go Best Player Available in Draft
The Minnesota Vikings have navigated the offseason and free agency to a relative level of perfection. ESPN is already deeming them the winners, and the dust has yet to settle. It’s hard to fault them for coming to that conclusion.
Vikings Could Truly Go Best Player Available in Draft
There were few areas that Kevin O’Connell’s roster needed to improve more this offseason than in the trenches. Both the interior offensive line and defensive line left plenty to be desired. The guard positions were problematic, and the tackles lacked any real push or punch.
In the early going of free agency Kwesi Adofo-Mensah addressed all of those issues and then some. Heck, at this point, he is adding depth to the offensive line. The Vikings still have plenty of money to spend and significantly fewer holes than they had when they entered the offseason.
The Vikings have limited pick capital when April comes around, and the focus turns to the NFL Draft. They were afforded a third-round pick thanks to Kirk Cousins, but they still have just four total picks to their credit. It’s possible they make a selection at 24th overall, but they could also trade back and look to add additional ammunition to their arsenal.
What seems more plausible than ever is that the Minnesota Vikings truly could draft the best player available. They don’t have a serious need or hole to be prioritized. O’Connell could afford to upgrade multiple positions, but the team isn’t locked into a situation where they must target a group more than any other.
That also benefits the Vikings when it comes to draft strategy. They are far enough down in the first round that their board will largely be dictated to them. It’s unlikely that Minnesota’s top priority will remain when they are finally on the clock. If they aren’t sold at whoever is left at that point, it provides even more incentive to trade back.
The draft has not been a strength of Adofo-Mensah’s to this point. If there is an ideal opportunity to get it right, it’s one where any specific stipulations don’t hamstring him. The general manager has voiced an idea where talent is analytically and developmentally based. Quantity won’t be the determining factor this time around, but there will be no need for something specific on the roster.
If there’s a draft that plays into the Vikings’ hands, especially considering available depth at multiple positions of need, this is it. Take your swings and feel good about it.
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Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes daily for Minnesota Sports Fan. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
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