Recent mock draft has the Vikings adding depth inside the trenches
By Adam Patrick
In a recent four-round mock draft from USA TODAY’s Luke Easterling, the Minnesota Vikings added players to both their offensive and defensive line.
It may be hard for some to believe, but the 2018 NFL Draft is less than three months away. After their NFC Championship loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Minnesota Vikings locked up the 30th overall selection in this spring’s draft.
Since the Vikings do not have many glaring needs, it’s a little tougher to predict who they may decide to select this year than it has been in the recent past. Minnesota still needs a starting quarterback for 2018, but it is believed that the team will fix that issue by re-signing a signal caller from 2017 or by adding someone from free agency.
Considering how quickly this year’s draft is approaching, it seems like new mock drafts are being released every other hour.
In a recent four-round mock draft published by USA TODAY’s NFL Draft website, DraftWire, analyst Luke Easterling believes the Vikings will add more talent to their offensive line by selecting Ohio State interior lineman Billy Price in the first round.
Easterling provided his reason for why Minnesota could use their first-round pick on Price.
"“There aren’t too many glaring needs here, but the Vikings could use some help along the interior of the offensive line. What better way to do that than partnering rookie gem Pat Elflein with his running mate from Columbus, who has similar versatility.”More from The Viking Age6 biggest draft steals in Minnesota Vikings historyFormer Vikings first-round pick could reportedly return to NFC NorthBears analyst has extremely embarrassing Kirk Cousins take6 Vikings who (maybe) won’t make the 53-man roster in 2023Predicting what the Vikings will do in the 2023 NFL Draft based on 2022"
Listed at 6-foot-4 and 312 pounds, Price spent his college career at Ohio State playing center, left guard, and right guard. With Joe Berger’s expected retirement, Price would have a shot at starting in Week 1 if he were to actually land with the Vikings.
For Minnesota’s second-round selection, Easterling has the team picking Florida State defensive lineman Derrick Nnadi. Ranked as the ninth-best defensive tackle in this year’s draft class by WalterFootball.com, Nnadi would be a good option to increase the Vikings’ defensive line depth that may be without defensive tackle Tom Johnson in 2018.
In the third round, Easterling believes Minnesota may take Clemson linebacker Dorian O’Daniel off the board. O’Daniel is a little undersized for his position (6-foot-1, 225 pounds), but he is a versatile player that is also capable of sticking his hand in the dirt to rush the passer.
Next: Where will Sam Bradford end up in 2018?
Since the Vikings do not have currently have a fourth-round pick this year (was sent to the Philadelphia Eagles during the Sam Bradford trade), Price, Nnadi, and O’Daniel were the only three players that went to Minnesota in this specific mock draft.