4 prospects the Vikings might trade up for in the 2021 NFL Draft
By Dean Jones
Penei Sewell – OT (Oregon)
Just what the Vikings are going to do with Riley Reiff this offseason is unclear. The left tackle played really well in 2020 despite the obvious concerns on the offensive line interior. But the organization is up against it from a salary-cap perspective and the $13.75 million they would save with his release is simply too tempting to ignore.
If this proves to be the case, then Minnesota will be looking for a young blindside protector who is capable of filling the role long-term. The 2021 NFL Draft class is a deep one for offensive linemen and the best of the bunch is Penei Sewell, without question.
Simply put, Sewell has the potential to be the best edge protector entering the NFL in quite some time. His production was so good at Oregon in 2019 that he received a second-placed Heisman Trophy vote and although he opted out of the 2020 campaign due to COVID-19 health concerns, he should still be a hot commodity during the evaluation process.
However, there are some analysts who are predicting Sewell falls out of the top-five. If this is the case and he makes it past the Cincinnati Bengals, then the Vikings might be in with a shot if they can put the necessary package together in pursuit of acquiring the player.
Putting a prospect of Sewell’s caliber opposite Brian O’Neill would give the Vikings two bookend tackles that will stand them in good stead as they look to make a return to the playoffs.