With the 225th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings took a chance on a talented linebacker who is coming off a major knee injury.
With their eighth and final pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings provided head coach Mike Zimmer with another prospect to mold for his defense. The Vikings selected California linebacker Devante Downs with their one and only pick in the seventh round on Saturday.
Measurements:
- 6-foot-2
- 252 pounds
2017 Stats:
- 65 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss
- 3 sacks, 2 interceptions
Overview:
Downs was off to a great start in 2017 before he unfortunately suffered a season-ending knee injury in Cal’s seventh game of the year against Washington State.
Despite only playing in a handful of games last season, the linebacker was still able to rack up an impressive amount of tackles. Downs finished with at least 13 total tackles in three of his seven appearances last year.
The linebacker does have a history of knee injuries in his young career. Before he even began his college career at Cal, he had to recover from a torn ACL he suffered in high school.
Devante Downs’s fit with the Vikings:
With Downs still rehabbing from his knee injury, it’s possible he may not make Minnesota’s roster this year. If the linebacker is able to recover in time for training camp, he could possibly take Kentrell Brothers spot on the team, especially with Brothers being suspended for the first four games of the 2018 season.
The Vikings already have a group of young linebackers on their current roster that includes Brothers, Ben Gedeon, Reshard Cliett, and Eric Wilson.
It will be difficult for Downs to standout from the pack if his knee injury prevents him from participating in the team’s offseason practices and training camp.
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If he is able to get out on the field and impress Minnesota’s coaching staff this summer, the practice squad is likely the best-case scenario for Downs in 2018.