Vikings Draft 2020: Post-Combine seven-round mock draft
By Chris Schad
Third Round (Pick No. 89)
Thaddeus Moss – TE (LSU)
One year ago, Vikings general manager Rick Spielman pulled off a series of trades in the third round to help land more picks in the later rounds of the draft. With Minnesota not having a fifth-round pick in this year’s draft (Thank you, Kaare Vedvik!), this is a similar scenario that could play out in 2020.
Here, we’ll keep the pick and get back to loading up on the offensive side of the ball. After the Vikings coaching staff went full nepotism by promoting Klint Kubiak (QBs coach) and Adam Zimmer (co-defensive coordinator) this season, why don’t we tap into the family tree of one of the greatest Vikings of all-time by selecting Thaddeus Moss.
Kyle Rudolph isn’t getting younger at 30-years-old and Minnesota could save $8 million by designating him as a post-June 1 cut in 2021. This would create a perfect heir apparent role for Moss, who is limited in his route tree, but he is an absolute monster as an inline blocker.
After selecting Irv Smith Jr. in the second round last year, the Vikings could go get the road grader they were missing when David Morgan sat out the entire 2019 season due to injury.
Moss will need to bulk up from his 6-foot-2, 250-pound frame. But by getting a younger version of Rudolph in terms of skill-set, Minnesota’s two-tight end sets would be more lethal, creating more opportunities in the running game and perhaps freeing Smith to do more in the passing game.