Minnesota Vikings: Mid-April 2018 mock draft roundup
By Adam Carlson
With the 2018 NFL Draft less than two weeks away, experts are still split on who the Minnesota Vikings will select with the 30th overall pick.
Fans won’t have to wait much longer to find out who will be joining the Minnesota Vikings at the 2018 NFL Draft. With less than 2 weeks until the April 26th kickoff of the first round, speculation is heating up as to who will be the team’s selection at #30 overall.
Strangely, not a lot of sports media outlets have updated their mock drafts recently. Still, it is always fun to see which players are being projected to land in Minnesota and which positions they believe need to be addressed.
Let’s take a look at some mocks to Minnesota accord to experts who have updated their selections within the last week sorted by the player believed to be selected in alphabetical order.
Orlando Brown, OT – Oklahoma
- NFL.com – MJD: “His performance at the NFL Scouting Combine didn’t help his stock, but the game tape shows Brown is a physical run blocker who flattens defensive ends.”
Taven Bryan, DT – Florida
- NFL Draft Scout – Dane Brugler: “Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer covets up-field players who can create disruption”
Will Hernandez, G – UTEP
- NFL Draft Geek – Logan Fredrickson
- NFL Draft Zone – Chris Nano
- NFL Mock: “He is strong, with a solid frame, positions well, able to regain stance and adjust to bull rushes and initial punch.”
- NJ.com – Darryl Slater: “He is the best guard in this draft not named Quenton Nelson. The Vikings will love him.”
- SB Nation – Dan Kadar: “Hernandez fits not only the scheme, but mean and nasty head coach Mike Zimmer will love Hernandez’s mean and nasty playing style.”
Mike Hughes, CB – UCF
- Walter Football – Charlie Campbell
Kolton Miller, OT – UCLA
- NJ.com – Ryan Dunleavy: “The Vikings redid their offensive line last offseason and are doing it again by picking offensive linemen in the first two rounds of the draft.”
Justin Reid, S – Stanford
- NFL Mocks – Sayre Bedinger: “Reid will be the heir apparent to Andrew Sendejo, and would make a scary Vikings secondary even scarier.”
Connor Williams, OT – Texas
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Charlie Casserly:
“Williams is an upgrade at the right tackle position, which hurt them late last season.”
Minnesota Vikings
Isaiah Wynn, G – Georgia
- CBS Sports – Chris Trapasso: “He can play either tackle spot or open up massive running lanes at guard.”
- NBC Sports Washington – Ben Standig: “Line help on both sides of the ball are primary needs for the Vikings.”
- NFL.com – Bucky Brooks: “The Vikings shore up the biggest weakness on their roster by adding a versatile lineman with a polished game.”
By looking at these mocks, it appears as though the offensive line is the primary need to be addressed in round 1 of the draft. It’s hard to disagree with that logic, but it will be interesting to see if it is an interior lineman or if a tackle is chosen.
Hernandez, Wynn, or another strong and versatile offensive lineman make total sense at #30 overall, but considering how the NFL Draft is unpredictable and some top prospects could slide to Minnesota, fans should expect the unexpected.
There are fewer defensive tackles and cornerbacks in these mocks than on previous versions, but it would be difficult to see the Vikings skip over a more talented player to reach for a position of need.
That said, fans should support Minnesota looking at offensive linemen or defensive help in the 2018 NFL Draft, especially if they come in the first round.
Next: 4 tight ends the Vikings could draft in 2018
Which players do you think the Minnesota Vikings will have their eye on during the 2018 NFL Draft? And who do you have the team picking at #30 overall? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.