7 prospects for the Vikings to watch on Day 2 at the 2020 Combine
By Dean Jones
Ezra Cleveland – OT (Boise State)
Another prospect who is going to raise eyebrows with his excellent athleticism at the NFL Scouting Combine on Friday is Boise State standout Ezra Cleveland.
A good performance in Indianapolis may see the prospect enter the NFL Draft’s first round this year. What he does during on-field workouts is going to go a long way in determining this.
Cleveland possesses an eye-catching quickness from the snap and he is mobile enough to cope with the rigors of the NFL. He has a fantastic versatility in either a zone scheme or coping alone with a pass-rusher in passing downs.
He also has a tremendous amount of natural strength and he improved his technique significantly during his college career. Cleveland is also more than capable of contributing at the second level thanks to his speed.
One thing Cleveland will need to work on to make a success of his NFL career is consistency. He struggles when he is not right on a defensive lineman from the snap and he does not have the best recovery traits once an opponent gets a step on him.
If he can rid himself of this problem and improve his composure in pressure situations, then Cleveland appears to be a good fit for the Vikings. He will be another prospect on Minnesota’s shortlist heading into a critical weekend for the team.