Vikings seven round 2019 NFL mock draft: Mid-February edition

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: Kolton Miller of UCLA poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being picked #15 overall by the Oakland Raiders during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: Kolton Miller of UCLA poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being picked #15 overall by the Oakland Raiders during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBIA, MO - SEPTEMBER 08: Defensive back Adam Sparks #14 of the Missouri Tigers congratulates defensive lineman Terry Beckner Jr. #5 after a tackle during the game against the Wyoming Cowboys at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, MO – SEPTEMBER 08: Defensive back Adam Sparks #14 of the Missouri Tigers congratulates defensive lineman Terry Beckner Jr. #5 after a tackle during the game against the Wyoming Cowboys at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Round 3: Terry Beckner, Jr., DT – Missouri

With the chances of the Minnesota Vikings bringing back Sheldon Richardson or Tom Johnson being slim-to-none based on their salary cap situation, the team will have to look to the NFL Draft for a starter or possibly a backup or competition for the spot next to Linval Joseph.

Honestly, Beckner should be a second rounder at the latest based on his talent, but there are some reasons he could fall to the third round or later. He was caught with marijuana during a traffic stop in 2016 but it’s his injury history that could be a red flag.

He tore his ACL and MCL in the right knee in 2015 as well as his ACL in his left knee in 2016. However, his production during his 2017 and 2018 campaigns should help keep Beckner high on the list of defensive tackles for some teams.

In those two years, Beckner played all 26 games and registered 69 combined tackles, 22 tackles for a loss, 10.5 sacks, three pass defenses, and one interception. It’s all a matter of how much Minnesota is willing to roll the dice.