Top 3 Vikings needs for the 2020 NFL Draft: Early season edition

Left Tackle

The Vikings found their right tackle of the future in the 2018 NFL Draft in Brian O’Neill and it may be time for them to do the same on the left side in the 2020 draft.

Riley Reiff is still a slightly above average left tackle in the league. For the most part, he does his job. But when Kirk Cousins is pressured or sacked it often comes from the left side.

At age 30, it’s fair to wonder if his play is beginning to decline. Reiff is signed through 2021, so he could stay around and help groom a young rookie and Minnesota’s depth at tackle would be vastly improved. Or if the youngster catches on quickly, the Vikings could cut Reiff and take an early cap hit, but eventually save money in the long term.

So who do the Vikings look at with pick No. 32 in the 2020 NFL Draft? While that may be wishful thinking, the chances seem high that Minnesota will be picking somewhere in the 20s unless disaster strikes.

It is only September and guys are obviously going to rise and fall between now and next spring, but there are some names to keep an eye on at the tackle position.

Andrew Thomas from Georgia is the top of the offensive tackle crop this year, and the Vikings likely won’t have a shot at him. Some others who could go early are Stanford’s Walker Little, Washington’s Trey Adams, and rising Tristan Wirfs from Iowa.

Remember, Minnesota landed Brian O’Neill in the second round, so this tackle does not have to be a first-rounder. With that in mind, a lot more names could be added to this list.