Vikings select D-II guard Kyle Hinton in seventh round of 2020 NFL Draft

The Minnesota Vikings tapped the small school guard with their final pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, but what do we know out about the Washburn lineman?

The Minnesota Vikings took a flier with their final pick in the NFL Draft, selecting Washburn University lineman Kyle Hinton with the 253rd overall selection on Saturday.

Hinton’s selection had to have been a “who is that guy?” moment for Vikings fans, but with athleticism and some potential, the Vikings took the low risk gamble to add him to the offensive line.

Hinton played college football at the D-II school in Topeka, Kansas, but wasn’t on anyone’s radar until the offseason. Attending the Kansas State pro day, Hinton put together a ridiculous performance that included a 4.70 time in the 40-yard dash according to Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network.

The Athletic’s Arif Hasan also doubled down on Hinton’s potential, noting that his weight adjusted score in the event would have been second among this year’s offensive linemen if it happened at the NFL Scouting Combine. The lone improvement would have been Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs, who was selected with the 15th overall pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

As a D-II prospect, Hinton will have some adjustments to make upon entering the NFL. After playing tackle in college, he’ll have to shift to guard, but with 34 reps in the bench press, he should have adequate strength once to make the transition.

Hinton’s workout went so well that several teams wanted to get him in for an official visit before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down team facilities. With some scouts giving Hinton a Brian Waters comparison, it’s clear he has potential if Vikings offensive line coach Rick Dennison can coach it out of him.

Hence the decision to take him with a seventh-round pick. If he doesn’t pan out, the Vikings are out nothing. If he figures it out, the Vikings could have a steal on their hands.