The Viking Age
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Vikings may need to trade up for an offensive lineman at 2019 NFL Draft

By Adam Carlson

NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 014: Offensive lineman Cody Ford #74 of the Oklahoma Sooners engages the crowd before the game against the Florida Atlantic Owls at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners defeated the Owls 63-14. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 014: Offensive lineman Cody Ford #74 of the Oklahoma Sooners engages the crowd before the game against the Florida Atlantic Owls at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners defeated the Owls 63-14. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /
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If the Minnesota Vikings are serious about fixing their offensive line they may need to trade up during the 2019 NFL Draft to get the prospect they want.

With the Minnesota Vikings choosing at number 18 in the 2019 NFL Draft, the team will be waiting around for a bit while 17 of the top NAA prospects are selected by other teams unless they trade up to a higher pick.

Since the team has a huge need on the interior of their offensive line, it should be pretty clear that their top priority should be filling that hole. But what if other teams grab the guards Minnesota had valued highly before they select in round 1?

CBS Sports NFL draft expert R.J. White envisions a scenario in his recent mock draft where it happens that several offensive linemen go off the board, leaving Minnesota with guard/right tackle prospect Cody Ford from Oklahoma.

"“It’s an offensive line run in the middle of the first round. There could be as many as seven O-linemen taken in the first round, as a surprisingly deep class meets a clear need around the league.”"

In his mock, Alabama’s Jonah Williams, Florida’s Jawaan Taylor, and Washington State’s Andre Dillard all go off the board before Minnesota selects, going to the Giants, Panthers, and Browns respectively.

Even with those players going off the board early, Putting the Vikings in a situation where they could choose from great prospects like Cody Ford and Kansas State’s Dalton Risner without needing to make a trade to move up in the draft. The team should be patient and take the best guard available when they are on the clock.

However, there is always the chance that Minnesota gets its sights set on a certain prospect. If that happens and the team wants to make a bold move to ensure they get their target, a trade up makes sense. But with the team having several needs to fill in terms of starters and depth, using picks to in this way wouldn’t be the wisest way to go about things.

Next. Vikings 2019 7-round mock draft. dark

No matter which path the team takes during the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings need to make sure they get out of the first with a starting caliber prospect…and hopefully one who can be an immediate starter on the offensive line. However, the team and fans will need to wait until Apr. 25 to find out what happens.

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