Vikings drafting WR at #5 overall in Todd McShay’s 2018 mock draft

Aug 12, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; A view of a Minnesota Vikings helmet at Paul Brown Stadium. The Vikings won 17-16. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 12, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; A view of a Minnesota Vikings helmet at Paul Brown Stadium. The Vikings won 17-16. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

According to Todd McShay’s 2018 mock draft, the Minnesota Vikings will be selecting a wide receiver in the first round…with the fifth overall pick.

Now that the dust has settled from the 2017 NFL Draft and fans have enjoyed a short period of time to check out the new players the Minnesota Vikings selected, mock draft season for next year has already begun.

One of the quickest to release a 2018 mock draft was ESPN’s Todd McShay, who released his way-too-early 2018 NFL mock draft behind the paywall of the ESPN Insiders. However, Vikings fans may not like it too much.

McShay has Minnesota selecting junior wide receiver Calvin Ridley from Alabama at #5 overall in his mock despite the team having some great young talent at the position. Meanwhile, Rotoworld isn’t quite feeling the player in that spot:

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"“You can expect a reasonable amount of variance in draft projection for Ridley, but even at this early juncture, No. 5 seems a little lofty for the speedy wideout. Then again, the Titans just selected WMU’s Corey Davis at No. 5, so maybe not?”"

The one part that could rub fans of the wrong way is having Minnesota picking at #5 overall. that would mean that a horrendous season is in store for the purple and gold.

However, it isn’t McShay making this predection. Instead, he explains in the mock that the draft order is based on the Football Outsiders prediction of 2017 records.

Next: Vikings 2017 schedule breakdown

It’s way too early to get worked up about a 2018 mock draft, but it would be exceptionally painful if the Minnesota Vikings drafted that high and were forced to draft a wide receiver with Diggs, Thielen, and Treadwell all on the roster. Fingers crossed that McShay and Football Outsiders are off the mark on this one.

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