5 prospects who could fall to the Vikings at pick No. 22
By Nik Edlund
Henry Ruggs III – WR (Alabama)
The Vikings need a new No. 2 receiver after trading away Stefon Diggs to the Buffalo Bills this year. If they could somehow land Henry Ruggs III, that would be huge.
Ruggs is one of the fastest receivers available in the 2020 NFL Draft. He can get behind defenders and stretch the field vertically. Ruggs is also very dangerous after the catch. He can shake off defenders and break tackles and pick up that extra yardage.
His route running could use a bit of fine-tuning. But overall, he’s ready to make an immediate impact and it’s easy for one to close their eyes and picture Kirk Cousins dropping 40-yard bombs into Ruggs’ outstretched hands.
Ruggs falling to pick No. 22 would be a stretch, but it isn’t impossible. Teams like the Broncos would have to choose to go with an offensive lineman over a sexy option in the passing game.
The Las Vegas Raiders would also have to pass on the receiver twice and the Dolphins would need to go another route as well. Right in front of the Vikings stands the biggest obstacle and that is the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Eagles addressed their need at cornerback this offseason after acquiring Darius Slay, so that puts wide receiver at the top of their list. Maybe Jerry Jeudy falls too and Philadelphia goes with him, putting Ruggs in purple.
It’s the NFL Draft and anything can happen. The Vikings can sit back, hold their breath, and keep hope alive that Ruggs falls to them at pick No. 22. If another team snatches him up, Minnesota can take solace that this is a deep receiving class and another promising player can be had later.