The Viking Age
FanSided

Four 2020 NFL Draft prospects for the Vikings to watch in Week 13

By Luke Parrish

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 05: Jake Paulson #80 and Seth Green #17 of the Minnesota Gophers congratulate teammate Tyler Johnson #6 on a touchdown against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the second quarter of the game at TCF Bank Stadium on October 5, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Gophers defeated the Fighting Illini 40-17. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 05: Jake Paulson #80 and Seth Green #17 of the Minnesota Gophers congratulate teammate Tyler Johnson #6 on a touchdown against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the second quarter of the game at TCF Bank Stadium on October 5, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Gophers defeated the Fighting Illini 40-17. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Tyler Johnson
(Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Tyler Johnson /

Tyler Johnson – WR (Minnesota)

at Northwestern

  • When: Saturday, November 23 at 12:00 p.m. ET
  • Where: Ryan Field in Evanston, IL
  • TV: ABC

Locals know all about Minnesota star wide receiver Tyler Johnson. Johnson is on fire and is trending towards a sure first-round selection in April.

His Gophers have shocked the nation and became a top-10 team in the country before losing to Iowa last weekend. Johnson is averaging 15.5 yards per catch over the course of his career and 15.3 yards per catch this season. He leads the team with 59 catches and nine touchdowns while racking up 900 yards.

Johnson’s routes are exquisite for a college receiver. He also creates well after the catch and can be a matchup nightmare thanks to his size and leaping ability.

Johnson has struggled with drops throughout his career. For every huge play, there is the risk that he takes his eyes off the ball and drops it. No prospect is without error, though.

The upside of Johnson is going to draw interest from a lot of NFL teams and someone just might pull the trigger in the first round.

The Vikings are still in search of a third wide receiver and the absence of Adam Thielen has slowed down the offense quite a bit over the last few weeks. The first half of the Denver game was a prime example of that. Why not bring in the hometown product and make the state of Minnesota happy?

Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III, and the rest of the loaded wide receiver class will likely push some wide receivers down the board. This could result in Johnson still being around at the end of the first round if the Vikings are interested.

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