Minnesota Vikings: Whose stock improved at the Senior Bowl?

The Senior Bowl puts some of the biggest stars of college football on display, and the Minnesota Vikings evaluated those players for the 2016 NFL Draft.

The offseason is an interesting time for fans of the NFL. Although NCAA players had their entire collegiate careers to impress NFL teams for the draft, they still have hoops to jump through, including the NFL Combine, East-West Shrine Game, and the Senior Bowl.

Still, there are serious opportunities available for young players hoping to make a good impression on NFL teams. Along with meeting with the players, practices, and watching them show off some of their skills, the game itself is a great way to learn a lot about these young men.

Here are three players that the Minnesota Vikings could be interested in who improved their NFL Draft stock during the Senior Bowl.

Braxton Miller, wide receiver – Ohio State:

• During the week of Senior Bowl practices, there wasn’t a name spoken more often than Miller. Fresh off a positional change from quarterback to wide receiver for the NFL, he was expected to be raw and struggle a bit. Although he did appear to be raw, Miller impressed by showing off a great work ethic and desire to make the positional change work. During the game, he only caught two passes for 8 yards and one kick return for 31 yards, but he’s giving potential teams hope for his future.

Harlan Miller, cornerback – Southeastern Louisiana:

Small-school players have a tendency of making a name for themselves at the Senior Bowl, and Miller is no exception. He was a relative unknown entering the game and may have propelled himself into a day 2 selection at the NFL Draft by solid in coverage against much more high-profile players. At 6’1″ and 180 pounds, rumors are that the Oakland Raiders are already expressing interest in Miller.

Vernon Butler, defensive tackle – Louisiana Tech:

• The broadcasting team of the Senior Bowl showed some real love for Butler when he was compared to a current Minnesota Vikings player. When watching him on the field, it was hard not to draw comparisons to run-stuffing and quarterback disrupting big man Linval Joseph. He ended the game with two tackles, one of which was a sack-fumble on quarterback Jake Coker. Standing 6’4″ and weighing 325 pounds, he could be an early day 2 selection in the NFL Draft.

These three gentlemen made a big impact at the Senior Bowl and will get another shot at their Pro Day and NFL Combine leading up to the NFL Draft. But, for now, these guys should have made themselves much more appealing to teams on draft day.

Related Story: Should the Minnesota Vikings keep or cut WR Mike Wallace?

Do you think any of these three prospects would be good fits for the Minnesota Vikings? Are there any other players from the Senior Bowl who you feel would be a great selection for the team in the 2016 NFL Draft? Discuss them in the comments below.