Minnesota Vikings: 7 options if they pass on WR in first
By Dan Zinski
6. Taylor Decker – OT – Ohio State
Jack Conklin isn’t the only Big 10 offensive tackle who might be an option for the Vikings if they elect to go away from the wide receiver position in the first round. Taylor Decker of Ohio State is another.
Decker (6-7, 310) is a very large man and also a very strong man. Despite his size, Decker bends at the knees very well and maintains his balance. One word you hear a lot in association with Decker is “nasty.” That fits well with the new demeanor the Vikings are trying to instill in their offensive line with Tony Sparano on the coaching staff instead of the too-cerebral Jeff Davidson.
On the negative side, some scouts think Decker is a bit inconsistent and worry that the NFL game will be too fast for him at least initially. With his size, you would really prefer that Decker stay at tackle but he might need to play at guard.
Considering how many tackles they have playing on one-year contracts, I’m thinking that Minnesota will bring in an OT within the first three rounds of the draft. Would they really consider passing on a wide receiver and taking a guy like Conklin or Decker in the first? Or perhaps Texas A&M OT Germain Ifedi? It’s possible but I think unlikely. There’s a lot to like about some of these offensive tackles but the Vikings have enough depth right now that they can afford to wait until the third to address the position.