Which prospects are moving up the draft board of the Minnesota Vikings after the 2021 Senior Bowl?
The 2021 Senior Bowl wrapped up with the official game on Saturday and there are a handful of prospects from the contest that the Minnesota Vikings should have interest in.
These prospects stepped up when the spotlight was on them and their play should have grabbed the attention of scouts and teams from the NFL that watched the game.
While the practices are the most important elements of the Senior Bowl each year, the game is a great measuring stick for how these players perform in real-time situations. It also gives a good indication of how quickly they picked up the playbook and took to the coaching.
The Vikings are a team that always drafts a couple of players from this game and this year will be probably no exception. Who are some of the prospects from the 2021 Senior Bowl that should be rising up Minnesota’s draft board after their performance during the week and in the game itself?
Quinn Meinerz – G/C (Wisconsin-Whitewater)
Quinn Meinerz wasn’t able to play in the game due to breaking a bone in his hand, but no player in Mobile generated more buzz about themselves than this guy from the northern forests of Canada.
This guy played for Division III Wisconsin-Whitewater, but instead of hiding from the big boys, this cat decided to draw attention to himself in a couple of big ways. First of all, he drew the attention of the media as the only player to tuck his jersey up under his shoulder pads exposing his giant belly and letting it all hang out.
Not only did he have the belly hanging out, but Meinerz also had some crazy locks flowing out of his helmet, and he looked like someone you’d find at the local bar who decided to put on a football uniform for Halloween.
Meinerz stood out in another way by simply being one of the best interior offensive linemen down in Mobile last week. The guy rotated between playing center and guard, he was extremely quick out of his stance, and he attacked the man he was assigned to block with aggression and tenacity. He was flat-out dominant.
It’s hard for a center or guard to have swagger but Meinerz has this in spades. The guy has a look and a certain air about him and backs it up with some great play on the field.
Coming into the 2021 Senior Bowl, Meinerz was probably a guy who would’ve been lucky to be drafted. Now he could come off the board as early as the third round and he will for sure will be taken during the early portions of Day 3. He would be a great addition to the Vikings‘ troubled offensive line.
Grant Stuard – LB (Houston)
Grant Stuard plays linebacker and the Vikings don’t have a huge need there. The team is probably going to lose Eric Wilson in free agency this year, but they have a couple of studs in Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks still on the roster. Minnesota also has Troy Dye returning for year two and some decent depth behind those three.
Where the Vikings could really use a player like Stuard is on special teams. Stuard was flying all over the field during the game on Saturday. He almost had a blocked punt and he was often the first man down the field making the tackle on punts.
The guy has flowing locks and he looks like a wild-man on the field and he plays that way as well. Minnesota’s special teams unit is going to have an overhaul this offseason and Stuard could be a key part of that revamping.
He’d also provide decent depth at linebacker in addition to his primary role as a special teamer. He will likely come off the board sometime on the draft’s third day. It’s unclear where the Vikings would’ve had him ranked prior to the Senior Bowl. But after his performance in the game, his stock is definitely shooting upward.
Benjamin St. Juste – S (Minnesota)
The Vikings have to find help in their secondary this offseason, especially at safety. Anthony Harris is likely going to sign elsewhere this year and the team needs to find a starter opposite Harrison Smith in addition to some competent depth behind him.
While the team definitely got close looks at players like Richie Grant, Hamsah Nasirildeen, and Ifeatu Melifonwu, one guy who has to be shooting up their draft rankings after his performance at the 2021 Senior Bowl is Minnesota’s own, Benjamin St. Juste.
St. Juste usually sticks out because of his size. He’s 6-foot-3 and he has extremely long arms, but his play on Saturday was what got the attention of scouts and general managers across the league.
This former Golden Gopher was tight in coverage and he made a handful of plays during the Senior Bowl with his long arms to swat away passes. He did get penalized a couple of times in the matchup, but he can work on his technique and eliminate those little mistakes.
St. Juste also proved to be a willing tackler as he wasn’t afraid to come up to support the run and jump in the fracas of a gang tackle. The Vikings need to fill out the depth chart at safety this offseason and if they are able to land St. Juste somewhere on Day 3 of the 2021 draft, he could be a player who has a real chance to see playing time in year one.
Amari Rodgers – WR (Clemson)
The Vikings are definitely in the market to add another wide receiver either through free agency or through the draft. One player that has to be rising up their draft board after the Senior Bowl is Clemson’s, Amari Rodgers.
Rodgers was a man amongst boys during the game itself. Talent-wise he just looked a step above the rest with his ability to run routes, his overall speed, and his hands. This guy is a playmaker and he was clearly one of the best talents on the field in Saturday’s game as he finished with four receptions for 23 yards and a score.
Rodgers is only 5-foot-10, but he is extremely fast. He would give Minnesota a guy who could get deep on a secondary and he would be someone a defense would always have to be ready for.
He’d likely work out of the slot and with his quick twitch ability and his sharp route running, which would be very difficult to cover. His presence on the field would probably open things up even more for Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen.
Rodgers could also be utilized on jet sweeps and give the Vikings’ offense a new wrinkle as opponents would always need to be aware of where he lines up.
Rodgers showed well for himself during the week of Senior Bowl practices and during the game itself. He should now be targeted by Minnesota toward the back end of the second day of the draft.
Michael Carter – RB (North Carolina)
The Vikings really don’t need to select a running back in the 2021 NFL Draft. They have Dalvin Cook, who is one of the best in the NFL, and two very capable backups in Alexander Mattison and Mike Boone.
However, if Minnesota is sitting on the clock in say, the fourth round, this guy is on the board, and there isn’t any value at a need position, they shouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger.
Carter, like Amari Rodgers, just looked like he was playing on another level on Saturday. He was smoother running the ball than the other running backs and he showed great vision, burst, toughness, and overall speed.
Carter racked up 60 yards on eight carries with a score that included a long scamper of 27 yards. He also showed soft hands catching a couple of passes for 15 yards. He certainly looks the part of a player who could carry a full load at the next level.
While the Vikings are set at running back, Carter could have a role even if the top of the depth chart is kept as is. Perhaps he takes over the Ameer Abdullah role as the primary kick returner and fourth running back. He does have experience as a kick returner, racking up 650 yards in his days as a Tar Heel.
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The Vikings do definitely need help in that area so this would be a mid-round pick well spent. The chances of Carter becoming a member of Minnesota’s roster in April are slim, but he’s definitely a player moving up the board after his Senior Bowl showing.