4 guard prospects the Vikings should already be thinking about

Trey Smith (Tennessee)

Trey Smith is another name to watch in the early stages of the 2021 NFL Draft. Smith was considered to be one of the top guards in the 2020 class before heading back to school for another year. He may not be a guaranteed first-round selection at this point, but he could work his way into that conversation.

Interior linemen are tricky because they rarely come off the board at the top of the draft. A guy like Smith, who very well may be the second-best guard in the class, could slide to the middle of the second round based on positional value alone.

Smith presents upside thanks to his experience at left tackle, giving him some flexibility wherever he plays at the next level. He is built to play inside as a power-dominant guard, but he has enough athleticism to slide outside should he need to.

The Vikings have questions regarding their future at tackle and guard, so Smith would not be the worst choice in the world. He can play virtually anywhere on the line with some success, which Minnesota desperately needs.