Round 1: Wyatt Davis, guard – Ohio State
There were two positions of need for the Minnesota Vikings that could have been filled in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. The team was likely hoping that Michigan pass rusher Kwity Paye would fall to them, but that seems highly unlikely with teams needing help on the edge ahead of them.
Instead, Minnesota fills their other biggest need by picking arguably the best interior lineman in the draft class. Wyatt Davis will immediately be an upgrade to any of the guards on the Viking roster and has the potential to be a long-term answer at a position the team has struggled so much to fill.
Choosing a right guard this early in the draft might raise a few eyebrows due to positional value, but Davis is totally worth it. The six-foot-four, 315-pound junior was an essential part of a Buckeyes offensive line that helped protect quarterback Justin Fields and make holes for the combination of Trey Sermon and Master Teague III.
If that’s not convincing enough, one look at his accolades will pop some eyes open. Wyatt Davis was an All-Big Ten and All-American in 2020 and 2019, winning the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year for his efforts in 2020. The game is in his blood, with his grandfather Willie being a dominant defensive lineman for the Packers back in the day and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.