Grading the Minnesota Vikings selections in the 2020 NFL Draft

Blake Brandel – OL (Oregon State)

Grade: C+

Everyone knows that the Vikings need to get their offensive line built up and the only way to do it is to take shots like this one. Blake Brandel is very experienced, as he has started all 48 games that he played in for Oregon State. He’s big, standing at 6-foot-7 and weighing 307 pounds that he carries very well. He’s athletic and he should push for a depth role on Minnesota’s offense.

Josh Metellus – S (Michigan)

Grade: B

Josh Metellus brings the toughness to a defense as well as the smarts. He’s good in coverage and is quick to break on the ball. He’s aggressive and does well to wrap up and make the tackle. He’s not overly athletic and he doesn’t have a ton of speed, but he could be that box-safety that the Vikings are missing.

Kenny Willekes – EDGE (Michigan State)

Grade: B+

Kenny Willekes provides the gap shooting ability to be effective in run support. He has good snap anticipation and he does a good job to work his way inside to plug running lanes. He’s strong and physical with a hot motor. He’s someone that should find his way onto Minnesota’s defense in specific packages as an inside run stopper.

Nate Stanely – QB (Iowa)

Grade: C+

Stanely will simply be fighting for backup duties with the other quarterbacks the Vikings have on their roster. He’s a seasoned prospect that played 44 games for Iowa. He’s a bigger quarterback that is strictly a pocket passer. He’ll bring youth and he can be a seamless transition to this offensive scheme if something were to happen to Kirk Cousins.

Brian Cole II – S (Mississippi State)

Grade: B

Brian Cole II another versatile piece that should be able to at least make the practice squad as long as he can continue to show promise in camp. He’s going to be more of a sub-package linebacker type of player in Minnesota’s defensive scheme. At worst, he should be a very good special teamer throughout his career.

Kyle Hinton – OL (Washburn)

Grade: C

Washburn is from a small Division-II school in Topeka, Kansas. This is one of those last picks that you try to find any sort of upside you can in a player. Hinton wasn’t anything to scoff at in college though.

He earned First-Team All-American honors from d2football.com as well as second-team All-American honors from the American Football Coaches Association. There’s potential there, but he’s going to be a big project.