Vikings Draft 2020: Offseason seven-round mock draft

Sixth Round (Pick No. 186)

Isaiah Hodgins – WR (Oregon State)

This pick is a definite need for the Vikings. No matter what some may think, Minnesota needs more depth in their receiver room for next season.

When Adam Thielen went down this year, the Vikings’ passing game just was not the same. Bisi Johnson looked solid during Thielen’s absence, but he was not the answer to be a future No. 2 receiver for Minnesota.

Isaiah Hodgins brings that big-bodied, long frame, type of receiver that the Vikings desperately need. He attacks the ball at the high point very well. He has very good all-around strength in his hands, arms, and legs. He fights off contact very nicely and he has some good explosiveness in and out of his breaks. He’s going to burn defenders with his double move all the time.

With questions surrounding Stefon Diggs‘ interest in remaining in Minnesota and Thielen starting to get up there in age, the team needs to address the receiver position in this year’s draft.

The Vikings have enough around these key players that they don’t need to reach in the first two or three rounds for a receiver. But the sixth round seems to be a very good time to grab one. The  2020 class of receivers isn’t necessarily tremendous, but it’s deep with very good and solid talent.

Hodgins measures in at 6-foot-4 and 209 pounds with all the length in the world. He came onto the scene during his sophomore season in 2018 when he caught 59 passes for 876 yards and five touchdowns in 11 games.

This year was his breakout season though. As a junior, he caught a whopping 86 passes for 1,171 yards and 13 touchdowns in 12 games. Some really tremendous stats from a kid who played at Oregon State.

Hodgins may start to get talked about as an earlier Day 3 pick, but where things sit now, the sixth round is a great spot to land him. He could easily take over one of Minnesota’s outside receiver spots and have Thielen kick inside to a full-time slot role.