Minnesota Vikings: Redrafting the team’s 2020 NFL Draft class
By Nik Edlund
Original Pick (169): Harrison Hand – CB (Temple)
Harrison Hand has been fine for the Vikings this season. He has seen more action recently and has been able to put up decent numbers in his limited appearances. Like many of the corners on the Vikings’ roster, Hand was forced into action earlier than planned due to injuries.
He has been learning on the fly and has been fairly productive with seven tackles and a pass breakup on the season.
Redraft: Mike Onwenu – G (Michigan)
While Harrison Hand hasn’t been bad, if the Vikings would’ve taken Mike Onwenu instead, they wouldn’t have had to suffer through the Dru Samia fiasco and the offensive line would’ve been much better earlier in the year.
Onwenu has started all eight games for the Patriots and has played at a high level. The Patriots got a steal on their hands with this guy and there’s no doubt he would’ve started for the Vikings at either right or left guard this year.
Original Pick (176): K.J. Osborn – WR (Miami)
K.J. Osborn has been okay for the Vikings this season. He was a bit of a surprise pick in the fifth round as not many had him pegged as a draftable player. Osborn was taken to be the Vikings primary punt and kick returner. While he has secured that role, he definitely hasn’t flourished in it.
Osborn shows little burst or explosion in his returns and lacks the necessary wiggle to squeak out of tackles when returning punts. It’s unclear what Spielman saw in this kid to need to have him in the fifth round.
Redraft: John Penisini – DT (Utah)
The Vikings still need a defensive tackle in this draft and why not take the big Penisini from Utah. While the stats don’t necessarily show it with just 11 tackles, but Penisini has been a force against the run. He’s started four games and his play has improved a usually porous Lions‘ run defense.
The Vikings’ run defense has been loose at times this year and putting this massive human next to Shamar Stephen or rotating him with the veteran, would’ve definitely have tightened that up.