7 games that will impact the Vikings draft position in Week 16

Minnesota Vikings fans hoping for a better pick in the 2021 NFL Draft should keep an eye on these games.

Now that the Minnesota Vikings have been eliminated from the playoffs, the season feels like it is over for fans. The crushing defeat to the Saints was the final nail in that coffin but now there are more reasons to watch games other than those where the purple and gold are on the field.

According to Tankathon, the Vikings hold the number 14 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. That pick can improve if some teams with worse records can pick up some wins in Week 16 since Minnesota has already taken their loss on Christmas Day and currently have a record of 6-9.

Let’s take a look at eight games that will be played in Week 16 that will have an impact on Minnesota’s draft pick.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-5) vs. Detroit Lions (5-9)

• Game time: Saturday at 12:00 pm CT (NFL Network)
• Who to root for: Lions

Currently, the Lions sit at 11 in the draft order. However, a win against the Buccaneers would tie them with the Vikings with six wins and make the Week 17 game between Detroit and Minnesota a must-watch in terms of draft positioning.

This will be a tough game for the Lions. Tampa Bay is a 9.5 point favorite according to ESPN Pickcenter and are still playing for their position in the postseason. This would be an unlikely game to go Minnesota’s way, but it’s not impossible.