Minnesota Vikings Draft 2019: Worst case scenario

Choose the Best Player Available

While it makes the most sense for the Vikings to take an offensive lineman at pick No. 18 this year, they don’t necessarily have to. Minnesota could just do what all NFL general managers say they do and take the best player available at another position.

In this scenario, the best player available would be former Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson. This guy is an excellent receiving tight end and one who would create mismatches over the middle of the field with his size and speed. Hockenson is also a tenacious blocker who relentlessly harasses his opponent until the whistle sounds.

The Vikings could also take a defensive player in this scenario. Former Clemson defensive tackle Christian Wilkins is still available and he could be the choice.

Minnesota could still use a true 3-technique, penetrating defensive tackle and Wilkins would be exactly that. He is incredibly quick off the ball and he can be unblockable at times. He’s the type of disrupter Mike Zimmer would love to have in the middle of his defensive line.

It would be a little more out there but a case could be made for the Vikings to go and get a playmaker on offense with their first-round pick in this scenario. Minnesota could get a big wide receiver like former Iowa State pass catcher, Hakeem Butler.

He measures in at 6-foot-6 and 227 pounds and he ran a 4.48 second 40-yard dash at this year’s NFL Combine. That is freakish athletic ability right there.

The Vikings could also shock everyone and take the best running back in the draft in former Alabama rusher, Josh Jacobs with their first-round selection.

With Latavius Murray gone and Dalvin Cook‘s inability to stay healthy for a full season, Minnesota could pull the trigger on a running back early in this year’s draft. While it’s unlikely the Vikings would do this in round one, it is still in the realm of possibility, even if it’s on the very outer edge of it.