Minnesota Vikings Draft 2017: Final rankings and grades – Offense

• Joe Mixon – Oklahoma

One of the most polarizing prospects in recent memory, Mixon’s on the field talent is not the biggest question. Everyone knows what happened off the field, now the biggest question surrounding Mixon is if he has learned from it.

No one knows where he will be drafted, but if not for his off-the-field incident he would’ve been a first-round selection. He is the modern-day NFL runner. He can run between the tackles, on the perimeter and catch the ball out of the backfield. It still looks as if he will be a top-75 selection.

Age: 20  (7/24/1996)

NFL Comparison: Fred Taylor

• Alvin Kamara – Tennessee

The running back the Vikings have spent the most time with during the pre-draft process has been the former Tennessee rusher. Originally starting his career at Alabama, Kamara then transferred to Hutchinson Community College (Kansas), before eventually ending up in Knoxville where he went on to revive his career.

What makes Kamara so attractive to teams is the limited amount of carries in his career (210), combined with still only being 21-years-old. Due to these factors, many believe that he is loaded with potential and that his best years are ahead of him.

Kamara’s very versatile, as he’s shown to be a threat as a pass catcher out of backfield and as a natural runner. The biggest question marks surrounding Kamara though are his long speed and has he truly moved on from his off-the-field issues during his time at Alabama.

Age: 21  (7/25/1995)

NFL Comparison: Lamar Miller

• Kareem Hunt – Toledo

A favorite among draft Twitter, Hunt was a relatively unknown coming into the 2016 season. As the year went along, many began to take note of him.

With questions surrounding the talent he was matched up against, Hunt stamped his status as a legitimate prospect with his superb performance at the Senior Bowl, finishing the game with 118 yards on 15 carries and taking home North Most Outstanding Player honors.

Hunt has shown to go 100 mph every carry, while still showing great balance and stop-start ability. He also has the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, totaling a career high 41 catches in his final collegiate season.

Age: 21  (8/6/1995)

NFL Comparison: Thomas Rawls

• Curtis Samuel  – Ohio State

Arguably the most versatile offensive weapon in this draft class, Samuel spent time at running and receiver under head coach Urban Meyer. Samuel saw the bulk of his success at receiver (74 catches, 865 yards, seven touchdowns) last season, but scouts believe that his upside is best in the backfield.

He is the ultimate chess piece in that he can be used in the backfield or out wide, which is what the team that drafts him must understand to maximize his skill set.

The factor that scares you about Samuel is that players who don’t have a clear defined position sometimes get lost in the shuffle as was evident with Percy Harvin and DeAnthony Thomas. He doesn’t have the frame to hold up as a full-time running back, but also isn’t a polished enough route-runner to be just a receiver, but his versatility will help him be a top-50 selection.

Age: 20  (8/11/1996)

NFL Comparison: Percy Harvin

• Wayne Gallman – Clemson

QB Deshaun Watson and WR Mike Williams garnered all of the spotlight, but the unsung hero of Clemson’s national championship run was arguably Gallman. Clemson’s prolific offense requires a lot from its running backs.

They must be unselfish as they require them to block on multiple runs for the QB. Gallman consistently proved to be up to the task.

Gallman does not have any elite traits, or perform one thing exceptionally well. All traits are on an even plain and he does all of them good. Labeled as a “slasher”, he’s a violent runner that treats every carry he gets as if its his last. There are questions about his upright running style and if he can be a true number one option.

Age: 22  (10/1/1994)

NFL Comparison: DeMarco Murray

• Samaje Perine – Oklahoma 

Following a 427 rushing yard performance against Kansas, Perine burst onto the scene as a true-freshman, breaking the record of now Los Angeles Chargers RB Melvin Gordon’s FBS single-game performance. Despite that moment, Perine proved to be a very productive rusher for the Sooners.

The school’s all-time leading rusher, he is widely known as a “bruiser”. He doesn’t have home-run hitting speed, but for a 233 pounds runner, he has ideally enough. The biggest question mark with him though is if he can be a three-down runner or if he is just a rotational two-down prospect.

Age: 21  (9/6/1995)

NFL Comparison: Michael Turner

• D’Onta Foreman

Before the 2016 season, Foreman’s sample size was small, only recording 110 carries in two seasons. In his first year as a starter he went on to rush for 2,028 yards and 15 touchdowns. Foreman excelled despite the team’s performance (5-7).

He proved to be a bell cow runner after having 30-plus carries in six of Texas’ final seven games, including a 51-carry game against Kansas. There’s no question that Foreman can handle a full workload.

Even though Foreman is 233 pounds, there are questions about his overall physicality and willingness to go down on first contact from defenders. The biggest question mark though is that he only caught 15 passes in his career.

Scouts question his overall ability to catch out of the backfield. Foreman has the ability to be a workhorse runner, but is probably best suited in a running back by committee role due to his receiving questions.

Age: 20  (4/24/1996)

NFL Comparison: Latavius Murray

• Marlon Mack

The focal point of the explosive South Florida offense was Mack, as he played both running back and routinely flexed out as a receiver. He is an elusive and twitchy runner. Possessing the unique trait of having different gears of speed, he has the ability to accelerate once he gets to the second and third level of the defense.

Mack is at his best when he is involved in runs on the perimeter, particularly outside zone. What scares you about him though is that he’s created a bad habit of bouncing interior runs prematurely to the perimeter. It’s a habit that you see routinely with college rushers that have an extreme amount of speed.

They feel as if they can outrun defenders to the perimeter, eventually getting down the sideline. If Mack can correct this habit and trust what he sees between the tackles, while also staying consistent with runs to the perimeter, he has a chance to be a productive scat back.

Age: 21  (3/7/1996)

NFL Comparison: Reggie Bush