Recent mock draft has the Vikings selecting a corner in the first round
By Adam Patrick
WalterFootball.com believes the Minnesota Vikings will pick Colorado corner Isaiah Oliver with their first selection in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Unlike last year, the Minnesota Vikings actually have a first-round selection in the upcoming NFL Draft. Since the Vikings were one of the final four teams remaining in last season’s playoffs, Minnesota’s first opportunity to draft a player this year will come at pick number 30.
A number of players from a variety of different positions have been linked to the Vikings in some of the mock drafts that have come out since the 2017 season ended. But a recent mock draft from WalterFootball.com has Minnesota using their first-round selection on a player that is not necessarily a need.
With the 30th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, WalterFootball.com believes the Vikings will select Colorado cornerback Isaiah Oliver.
The site’s explanation for the pick is definitely interesting.
"“The Vikings have a huge liability at cornerback in Trae Waynes, who has failed to live up to his first-round billing. Terence Newman isn’t getting any younger either, as we saw when he tried to defend Alshon Jeffery in the NFC Championship. The Vikings could decide to go back to the drawing board next offseason.”"
The 6-foot-1, 190 pound corner would be a good addition to Minnesota’s defensive backfield. But this isn’t really a position group they need to add to with their first-round choice.
At the very least, the Vikings should just go with the best player available as there would likely be a more talented option than Oliver on the board when it comes time for them to make their pick.
Interestingly enough, WalterFootball.com also has Oliver ranked as the ninth-best corner in this year’s draft class and someone they see going in the second or third round.
Next: Vikings top 5 priorities for the 2018 offseason
If Minnesota wants to add a cornerback in the draft this year, that’s perfectly fine. It’s just not a position they should probably address in the first round.