Vikings select a long snapper with their final pick in the 2019 NFL Draft

With their final selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings added former Air Force long snapper Austin Cutting in the seventh round.

Entering the 2019 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings only had a total of eight selections. But if anyone is familiar with the work of Vikings general manager Rick Spielman, the team was likely going to find a way to add even more picks this year.

So to no one’s real surprise, Minnesota ended Saturday’s draft with a total of 12 new players. The Vikings’ final addition came in the seventh round when they selected former Air Force long snapper Austin Cutting.

Cutting spent the past three years as Air Force’s starting long snapper. He measures in at 6-foot-3, 245 pounds and his chances of actually making Minnesota’s active roster in 2019 seem pretty slim.

Even though he was taken in the seventh round, it’s still a bit of an odd pick by the Vikings. Especially since Cutting may not even be able to play for Minnesota until 2021 due to his commitment to serve in the Air Force for the next two years.

As for the rest of the Vikings’ draft class this year, they showed a commitment to the offense as seven of their picks in 2019 come from the offensive side of the ball. Three of these selections were offensive linemen, the most Minnesota has selected in a single NFL Draft since 2015.

In addition to finding more talent for their offensive line, the Vikings also filled a number of other roster needs during this year’s draft. Minnesota added a potential No. 1 tight end in Irv Smith Jr., a possible No. 2 running back in Alexander Mattison, depth in the defensive backfield with Marcus Epps and Kris Boyd, a pair of receivers in Dillon Mitchell and Olabisi Johnson, and more help on the interior defensive line with Armon Watts.

The Vikings should be happy with the players they have added during the 2019 NFL Draft and a number of them should be able to help them get back to the playoffs next season.