Round 1: Dalton Risner, offensive lineman – Kansas State
Since the Vikings will likely be selecting near the end of the first round, odds are that many of the players who are considered to be elite level talent will be gone and the team will be searching for players who best fit their needs going forward.
That doesn’t mean they can’t get a great player. In fact, Dalton Risner is considered by Pro Football Focus to be one of the best offensive linemen in this draft class and projects to be an offensive tackle or a guard at the NFL level.
He has earned quite an enormous group of accolades at the college level, including multiple All-American nods from multiple organizations as well as All-Big-12 honors in addition to appearing on both Outland Trophy and Wuerffel Trophy watch lists.
Even more impressive is his devotion to the community and charitable efforts, meaning he’d likely fit right in with Minnesota Vikings, who are known for their generosity and contributions through the organization and individual players.
Even if the Vikings don’t land Risner, they should definitely be looking at an offensive lineman. Here are some other options:
- Beau Benzschawel, OG – Wisconsin
- Ross Pierschbacher, OG Alabama