5 defensive ends the Vikings could select in the 2019 NFL Draft
By Nik Edlund
L.J. Collier (TCU)
Measurements:
Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 283 pounds
2018 Stats:
- 42 tackles (11.5 for a loss)
- 6 sacks, 4 pass deflections
Watching tape on Collier one word comes to mind, and that is relentless. This guy just battles and battles until the quarterback is on the ground or the whistle blows. He isn’t afraid to take on a block and then shake it off with his long arms on his way to crush the ball carrier.
Collier doesn’t exactly have the frame most teams look for in an NFL caliber defensive end and he actually looks more like a defensive tackle. This guy is quick and shifty though and he has a wide array of pass rushing moves that confuse blockers and allow him to get around them.
Collier only has one year as a full-time starter under his belt, as he was used mostly in a rotational basis during the majority of his college career at TCU. So his stats aren’t that impressive.
For his career, he’s amassed 82 tackles, 20.5 tackles for a loss, and 14. 5 sacks. The plus side is that in his one year as a starter, he had the best season of his tenure at the school. While he doesn’t look it, Collier should develop into an above average NFL starting defensive end.
If the Vikings want this guy they would have to pull the trigger in round two. He’s been gaining steam since an impressive Senior Bowl performance and he is a guy that many teams who run a 4-3 front think would be an ideal fit on the outside.
The question for Minnesota would be if they believe this guy can be good enough to justify passing on a bigger need to take him with the 50th overall choice in the second round.