Vikings take DT James Lynch in fourth round of 2020 NFL Draft

The Minnesota Vikings added to their pass rush by selecting Baylor defensive lineman James Lynch in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Day 3 of the 2020 NFL Draft saw the Minnesota Vikings enter with 13 selections available and a lot of talent available. While the fourth to seventh round doesn’t get nearly the attention of fans, this is when many teams fill out their roster and look for diamonds in the rough to make a difference for many years to come.

The team’s second pick on Saturday was used in Round 4 and found the Vikings adding to the defensive line. The Vikings selected Baylor defensive tackle James Lynch with pick No. 130 overall and could see him compete early for a role in the team’s defense.

Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 289 pounds, Lynch will compete for a role next to recently signed defensive tackle Michael Pierce who is replacing the recently departed Linval Joseph on the interior of the defensive line. However, his versatility could see him used in other spots as well.

Lynch played 33 games at Baylor where he accumulated 100 total tackles, 33 tackles for a loss, 20 sacks, seven pass defenses, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. The Vikings will like his production with the Bears and see potential in him to become an even more effective pass rusher and disruptor.

Considering Minnesota has been taking care of its biggest needs early in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Vikings have to be happy to land a disruptive presence in the middle of the defensive line who might be able to develop into a starter while being a rotational or situational pass rusher during his rookie year.

Congratulations to Baylor defensive lineman James Lynch on landing with the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Hopefully, he can find a great role in the team’s defense to make a strong unit even better.