Vikings Draft 2020: Seven-round dark horse mock draft

Seventh Round (Pick No. 249)

Alex Taylor – OT (South Carolina State)

Throughout this draft, we’ve pretty much neglected the opportunity to draft an offensive tackle. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, a lot of tackles have already been linked to the Vikings, which makes this opposite draft kind of moot. Second, we’ve already upgraded the guard situation, which is more top-heavy in this draft.

Because of this, we’re looking at more developmental prospects because the Vikings already have Riley Reiff and Brian O’Neill on the roster. Because they’re both starting-level tackles, we can take a chance on a developmental prospect such as Alex Taylor this late in the draft.

Standing at 6-foot-8 and weighing 308 pounds, Taylor is crazy huge for his position. As a former high school basketball star, he also has the athleticism that many at his height don’t have. Although he’s been playing against sub-par competition, he hasn’t been playing football for long, which means there’s a lot of work to be done.

But much like the selection of Oli Udoh last year, Minnesota would do well trying to coach Taylor up and seeing what they can get out of him. If they can add some weight and strength, there could be something there to polish up, giving the Vikings an unlikely diamond in the rough.