5 prospects the Vikings could trade back into the first round for

Jeffery Simmons – DT (Mississippi State)

The chances are pretty high the Vikings will take a defensive tackle at some point in the 2019 draft. Minnesota signed Shamar Stephen this offseason, but he’s better against the run and after Sheldon Richardson left, they don’t really have that penetrator who can get behind the line of scrimmage and disrupt plays.

Simmons did exactly that during his time in college. He’s got a rare blend of power and speed and he can blow by his blockers and close in on the quarterback or ball carrier in a hurry.

There are a couple of concerns when it comes to Simmons. He has some domestic assault history in his past, which to his credit he has addressed and it seems to be an isolated incident, and he’s coming off a major injury. Simmons tore his ACL training for the draft in February and his status for the 2019 season is in question.

Prior to the injury, the 6-foot-4, 301-pound specimen was considered by pretty much everyone to be a top 15 pick. Rick Spielman could sniff a steal here if Simmons begins to slide.

If he’s available late in round one, it would be wise for the Vikings to move up and take him. They won’t remember the second, third, and future fourth-round pick they gave up to get him when he’s making the Pro Bowl every season for the next decade.