Mock draft has the Vikings selecting a wide receiver with their first pick
By Adam Patrick
A recent mock draft published on NFL.com has the Minnesota Vikings choosing want over need with their very first pick this year.
Based on the fact that the Minnesota Vikings have drafted four wide receivers in the past four years, one could safely assume that adding another pass catcher to their roster is not a top priority for the team heading into this spring’s draft.
However, that was not the thinking of NFL.com draft analyst Chad Reuter when he recently forecasted the Vikings to use their first pick of the draft in the second round (46th overall) on Eastern Washington wide receiver Cooper Kupp.
Seems like a bit of stretch since Minnesota just used a first round selection on Laquon Treadwell during last year’s draft. Plus, the Vikings have a more than formidable group of young receivers in Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, and Cordarrelle Patterson (assuming that the team re-signs Thielen and Patterson this offseason).
It just seems a bit puzzling Chad, that is all.
For Minnesota’s next four picks (two in the third round and two in the fourth round), Reuter has the team selecting Houston linebacker Tyus Bowser, Bucknell offensive tackle Julie’n Davenport, Clemson running back Wayne Gallman, and Miami guard Danny Isidora. These four selections seem a little more believable since they are positions that the Vikings actually need to improve in this offseason, but they are still a little perplexing.
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Bowser is a pass-rushing linebacker and Gallman is an undersized running back. Two players that would not really benefit being in Minnesota over the next few years.
With Anthony Barr being the Vikings’ primary pass-rusher in the middle of team’s defense, Bowser would likely struggle to get on the field. And with Gallman, his skills are not much different than a running back that is already on Minnesota’s roster in Jerick McKinnon.
As for the Vikings’ projected selection of Kupp in the second round, the team already has a receiver like him in Diggs so this pick would be immensely confusing if it actually came to fruition.
Next: What is Adam Thielen's biggest goal for 2017?
But let’s not forget, this is mock draft season and a variety of players are going to be projected to land on the Vikings’ roster over the next few months leading up until the event actually takes place at the end of April.