Minnesota Vikings seven-round mock draft
By Dan Zinski
Round Two, Pick 54
Kenny Clark – DT – UCLA
UCLA DT Kenny Clark is viewed by many as a first-round talent but with so many good defensive tackles on the board, Clark may easily slide into the second round. Or Vernon Butler may slide into the second, or Andrew Billings. In all honesty, there are several defensive tackles you could mock to the Vikings at this point, it’s simply a matter of picking which one you think will sneak out of the top 53 picks and still be there for Minnesota. It seems Billings and Butler are getting more first-round steam right now so I’m choosing Clark as the man who will “fall” to #54.
Clark is an attractive prospect for a number of reasons. He has a lot of versatility, having been asked to play multiple positions at UCLA. He has some burst and plays with power and leverage. He showed at the combine that he is a very good athlete. The question on Clark is whether he will be an effective pass rusher at the next level. Going on the premise that Mike Zimmer knows how to maximize the talent of any defensive tackle he chooses to draft, I’m saying Clark could be a player who offers initial value as a run-stuffer but could grow into the kind of all-around player Zimmer is seeking, a man who can play the nose in certain situations, or play 3-tech, or even move outside on occasion and still get after it.