Vikings Draft 2019: Realistic three-round mock draft

Second Round

Jeffery Simmons – DT (Mississippi State)

The Vikings and Mike Zimmer have never been shy to take a chance on a young player with a questionable background (see Dalvin Cook, Holton Hill, Mike Hughes, Roc Thomas). Minnesota would be doing the same thing again if they went ahead and selected Simmons with their second-round pick this year.

Simmons was arrested after he was caught on video punching a woman back in 2016 before he even began playing for Mississippi State. He hasn’t been involved in any trouble since, but the incident will still be in the back of teams’ minds when they see him on the board.

Also playing a factor in where Simmons is drafted this year is that he just tore his ACL in February during a workout. Prior to his injury, he was projected by many to be selected in the first round.

Simmons is one of the players the Vikings have met with in private this offseason. This normally seems like a good indicator of Minnesota’s interest being high on a prospect.

At 6-foot-4 and 301 pounds, Simmons has the potential to be a great fit in the Vikings’ defense. Whenever he is able to get healthy, it’s not hard to envision him as Minnesota’s starting three-technique next to Linval Joseph.