Vikings Draft 2019: Seven-round dark horse mock draft
By Chris Schad
Round 6
Alex Bars – OG (Notre Dame)
The Vikings already have a guard and a tackle in this mock. But the best way to upgrade Minnesota’s offensive line may be strength in numbers. One of the sleeper prospects the Vikings could go after is Bars, who was part of a strong offensive line at Notre Dame that once featured 2018 top-10 draft picks Quenton Nelson and Mike McGlinchey.
On the field, Bars has the balance of power at the point of attack, while also possessing enough mobility to be a fit for Minnesota’s scheme. The problem has been his ability to stay on the field as he ended last season on the sideline due to a fractured ankle.
Despite the durability issues, the traits seem to be there for Bars to be coached up and sit behind Josh Kline (and in this mock, Erik McCoy) until he eventually enters the Vikings’ lineup.
Stanley Morgan Jr. – WR (Nebraska)
Another major need for Minnesota heading into this year’s draft is someone who can be their third wide receiver for Kirk Cousins. Last season, the hopeful leap of Laquon Treadwell never panned out and the rest of the depth chart resembled plenty of wishful thinking with Brandon Zylstra and Chad Beebe.
Morgan’s numbers tailed off a little bit between his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons at Nebraska. But he has a knack for finding the end zone with 17 of his 22 touchdowns coming in the last two years and he also posted his first 1,000-yard season for Nebraska last year.
Morgan would be an intriguing pick up for the Vikings here as he is a superb route runner, but he still needs to work on his separation and beating press coverage. Even as a work in progress, he may have enough to develop into a third option over Beebe, Zylstra and the recently acquired Jordan Taylor.