Vikings Draft 2021: Pre-Super Bowl five-round mock draft

Third Round (Pick No. 79)

Marvin Wilson – DT (Florida State)

The Vikings defense was pathetic in 2020 as they ranked toward the bottom of the NFL in most categories. Minnesota couldn’t generate any sort of consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks and it wasn’t just the defensive ends who were at fault.

The Vikings have been looking for that penetrating three-technique defensive tackle ever since Sheldon Richardson made his brief one-year appearance with the club in 2018. Mike Zimmer’s defense lives and dies by pressure created upfront and there was a major lack of it this past season.

If Minnesota does go with an edge rusher with their first-round pick, they could look to find an interior disruptor in the third round.

Marvin Wilson from Florida State would be a huge score for them. He measures in at 6-foot-5 and 305 pounds and he is explosive off the ball. He’s got 9.5 career sacks with 15 tackles for a loss and he is also solid against the run thanks to having a great motor.

Wilson can power through opposing offensive lines and still make a tackle while a guard is attempting to block him. He would thrive playing next to Michael Pierce and having Danielle Hunter on the outside. Wilson would rarely see double teams and could just be given the green light to take off and disrupt every time the ball is snapped.

Wilson could make it to the third round as there are concerns he wasn’t as productive in college as he should’ve been. He was one of the highest recruits in the country when he left high school and many figured he’d put up astronomically high numbers at the college level.

If he does fall down the board in this year’s draft and he lands in the Vikings’ lap, it could turn out to be a huge steal for the purple and gold.