Vikings take OT Ezra Cleveland in second round of 2020 NFL Draft
By Adam Carlson
The Minnesota Vikings added some talent to the offensive line in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft by selecting offensive tackle Ezra Cleveland.
Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft found the Minnesota Vikings looking to add more talent to their roster in the second and third rounds with their first scheduled selection coming up at pick No. 58 in the second round.
They waited patiently as several players, including former University of Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. went off the board, but the Vikings stood firm with their spot and used it to make their selection.
Minnesota used their pick to select former Boise State offensive tackle Ezra Cleveland. Standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 311 pounds, it was surprising to see the prospect still be available when the team was on the clock.
In fact, when the Vikings were on the clock, Cleveland was ESPN’s best available player, making the value of this selection excellent.
With a need for offensive line talent, it’s not a surprise to see Minnesota use a pick as early as the second round to grab a lineman. At this point, it is hard to assume where Cleveland will play on the offensive line considering the team still has Riley Reiff under contract at left tackle and Brian O’Neill has been playing well at right tackle.
The Vikings still need help on the interior of the line. Pat Elflein struggled at left guard in 2019 and last year’s starting right guard, Josh Kline, was released as a salary cap casualty earlier this offseason. Meanwhile, Garrett Bradbury looked like a rookie in his first year with the team last season and he could use more time to develop.
One interesting fact about Cleveland is that he blocked for current Minnesota running back Alexander Mattison at Boise State, making this pick an even better selection due to familiarity on the roster.
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Congratulations to Ezra Cleveland for being a second-round pick of the Vikings. Hopefully, he can help bring some stability to the team’s offensive line for many years to come.