Draft 2018: Minnesota Vikings select TE Tyler Conklin in the fifth round

After making a trade with the New York Jets, the Minnesota Vikings added a tight end with the 157th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Looking for a bit more firepower on offense for next season, the Minnesota Vikings went out and got themselves a tight end in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. After making a trade with the New York Jets that allowed them to move up 10 spots, the Vikings selected Central Michigan tight end Tyler Conklin with the 157th overall pick.

Measurements:

• 6-foot-3
• 254 pounds

2017 Stats:

• • 35 catches, 504 yards
  • 5 touchdowns

Overview:

A former basketball player, Conklin is a tight end whose skills are best utilized in the passing game. His 14.4 yards per catch average in 2017 shows that he can be a sneaky deep threat in the right offense.

Due to him breaking a bone in his foot before the start of last season, Conklin was only able to appear in eight of Central Michigan’s 13 games in 2017. His 38-inch vertical was the second-best among tight ends at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine.