Minnesota Vikings: Grades and analysis for the 2019 NFL Draft
By Adam Carlson
Round 4 – Pick 144 overall
Dru Samia, guard – Oklahoma
Considering the lack of talent the offensive line had as a group during the 2019 NFL season, it’s not a surprise to see the Minnesota Vikings double dip into those positions in the first four rounds of the draft.
While Bradbury looks to be the team’s day one starter at center, the two guard spots are now debatable as to who will start. Pat Elflein, Josh Kline, and others will be fighting for those two spots, and now Dru Samia can be added to the mix.
Samia is a four-year starter in college who should make the adjustment to the NFL pretty well. His ability to block at the next level and his excellent footwork make him an intriguing option for the team, but beating out a veteran in Kline and starter in Elflein will be tough.
If nothing, having Samia ready at a moment’s notice to enter the game as a backup would be a big value to the team. While he could be a starter down the road, having a gritty blocker available for depth and talent to build is a nice luxury for the team to have.
NFL.com saw Samia as a fourth-round value while CBS Sports saw him as their 27th best offensive lineman.