Vikings Draft 2020: Post-Combine seven-round mock draft
By Chris Schad
First Round (Pick No. 25)
Xavier McKinney – Safety (Alabama)
Most mock drafts will have the Vikings going after a cornerback or offensive tackle in the first round, but both positions are deep and they can fill either hole by taking one of each in the later rounds. There’s also my train of thought that the best way for Minnesota to contend in 2020, is to load up on the offensive side of the ball.
With that in mind, I do not believe that the Vikings will re-sign Anthony Harris this year, instead opting to use whatever money they have on a free-agent offensive guard such as Joe Thuney. That leaves a massive hole at safety and with the overthinking season coming into play, that leaves Minnesota to swoop in and land Xavier McKinney with the 25th overall pick.
McKinney would be a terrific (and cheaper) replacement for Harris and a suitable tag team partner for Harrison Smith in the back end of the secondary. He a versatile player who can drop back into coverage (five interceptions in three seasons at Alabama) and he is a sure tackler (95 total tackles in 2019), both of which are specialties that Harris brought to the defense.
There is a chance McKinney doesn’t make it this far, but LSU’s Grant Delpit would be a fine consolation prize for the Vikings assuming he can improve his tackling at the next level. With the pending departure of Harris looming, Minnesota would be happy to bring either player aboard in the first round of this year’s draft.