Vikings Draft Interest Round-Up: Non-QBs
By Ben Gotz
Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Yesterday, I wrote about all the different quarterbacks the Vikings have visited so far leading up to the draft. Today, I tackle every other position.
Listed below is the different prospects the Vikings have met with and where the meeting took place. I’ve also listed my source for the information. This list is not meant to be exhaustive, as not every visit gets reported by the media. The Vikings probably like a lot of prospects they haven’t met with as well, as the team drafted Xavier Rhodes in the first round last year after not talking to him throughout the draft process.
I’ll keep this post updated as more and more visits are made public, but here’s the players we know the Vikings are interested in right now, listed in alphabetical order:
Anthony Barr, UCLA – LB (Ian Rapoport of NFL Network)
Visit to Winter Park
Lamin Barrow, LSU – LB (Baltimore Sun)
Visit to Winter Park
Luke Bowanko, Virginia – G/C (Star Tribune)
Visit to Winter Park
Preston Brown, Louisville – LB (Ben Goessling of ESPN)
Visit to Winter Park
Deone Bucannon, Washington State – S (Baltimore Sun)
Visit to Winter Park
Ka’Deem Carey, Arizona – RB (himself, Carey talked to media at the Combine)
Combine Interview
Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh – DT (Walter Football)
Combine Interview
Bruce Ellington, South Carolina – WR (NFL.com)
Viking Age Story
Devonta Freeman, FSU – RB (Star Tribune)
Visit to Winter Park
Demarcus Lawrence, Boise State – DE/LB (Adam Caplan)
Visit to Winter Park
Khalil Mack, Buffalo – LB (Ian Rapoport)
Visit to Winter Park
Kareem Martin, North Carolina – DE (Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press)
Visit to Winter Park
Chris Smith, Arkansas – DE (Walter Football)
Senior Bowl Meeting
Billy Turner, NDSU – OT (Gil Brandt of NFL.com)
Visit to Winter Park
Brock Vereen, Minnesota – S (Ian Rapoport)
Visit to Winter Park
Terrance West, Towson – RB (Tony Pauline of draftinsider.net)
When looking through the names, a pretty clear pattern emerges. The Vikings are really doing their due diligence when it comes to linebackers and running backs, and they are checking out some safeties and offensive lineman as well. It’s a little surprising that more cornerbacks aren’t on this list, given that the position is still one of the team’s top needs.
What do you think Vikings fans? Do you think the Vikings are gong to draft the people on this list? Who isn’t on the list that you think should be? Sound off in the comments below or hit me up on Twitter @Goatman102!