NFL Draft 2018: Minnesota Vikings 7-round mock draft – 2.0
By Austin Erwin
Tennessee. player. Pick Analysis. S. RashaanGaulden. 3. 60. Scouting Report
The NFL’s top ranked defensive team in 2017 is landing another potential starter in the third round.
Minnesota chooses a safety not out of necessity, but for depth and versatility. Andrew Sendejo and Harrison Smith are a very formidable duo in the back end of the secondary, but adding Rashaan Gaulden into the mix would be an excellent fit to continue fueling the Vikings’ stout defense.
Gaulden is valuable because of his ability to play so many different roles. For a safety, he has the rare ability to line up in the slot and play solid, physical man-coverage.
At 6-foot-1, Gaulden is uniquely sized compared to his peers and will be able to matchup well as a nickel corner in the NFL.
He is also a very adept tackler, finishing plays with ferocity and physicality similar to a linebacker. It is difficult to come across turnovers in the NFL, but Gaulden is very active and opportunistic. He caused three fumbles in 2017 and hauled in one interception.