First Round (Pick No. 14)
Christian Darrisaw – OT (Virginia Tech)
It appears that the Vikings could be moving on from Riley Reiff this offseason. The left tackle actually played pretty well in 2020 all things considered, but the financial savings involved with his release in the current climate might be too good for Minnesota to turn down.
If he is let go, it would make getting a long-term replacement for him a top priority for the Vikings this offseason. Minnesota doesn’t have a second-round pick in this year’s draft, so it wouldn’t be the biggest shock in the world to see them use the No. 14 pick on a potential franchise left tackle of the future.
Christian Darrisaw checks all the boxes in this regard. The former Virginia Tech star has three years of solid college production under his belt and the way he’s developed in recent months from a technical standpoint is incredibly pleasing.
Darrisaw is powerful, he has the quick-footwork needed to deal with speedier edge rushers, and he possesses the range to keep opposing defensive ends at arm’s length on obvious passing downs.
Another standout feature of Darrisaw’s game is mobility. He can get out and block both on the move and at the second level should the opportunity arise, which would come in handy for the Vikings and their star running back Dalvin Cook, in particular.