3 prospects the Vikings could select in the 2021 NFL Draft

Xavier Thomas – DE (Clemson)

The Minnesota Vikings had a good class of defensive linemen in the 2020 NFL Draft. They landed D.J. Wonnum from South Carolina, James Lynch from Baylor, and Kenny Willekes from Michigan State, just to name a few.

Each guy has a chance to have a role in year one, despite certain draft capital. But that shouldn’t mean the Vikings should ignore the defensive edge position early in the draft. Xavier Thomas, out of Clemson, should get some round one talks just based on his potential.

He has a lot of tools in his toolbox, but there are a few things he needs to clean up before he is cemented as a first-round prospect, which is why the Vikings could find them snagging Thomas in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Thomas is a stocky player, and he plays with a ton of power. He wins with his heavy hands and pure strength. Thomas is a guy that was meant to destroy the edge as a 5-tech at the next level. He’s good at stunts and works well inside.

Thomas is not a guy that needs to be pigeonholed into one side of the line of scrimmage and shows some versatility. He needs to display more of a consistent motor overall, but Thomas is an exciting prospect.