Which 2021 prospect has been mocked to the Vikings the most?
By Adam Patrick
Which prospect from the 2021 draft pool keeps landing with the Minnesota Vikings in mock drafts this year?
With the No. 14 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings currently have their highest selection since Mike Zimmer’s second year as the team’s head coach back in 2015.
There are multiple paths the Vikings can take when it comes to their first-round pick this year. They have a bunch of needs that they can choose to fill, especially on the defensive side of the ball, or they could potentially trade back to acquire more draft capital.
If they do end up sticking with their current selection in the first round, which prospect do most draft analysts believe will land with Minnesota?
Pass rushers highlight majority of Minnesota Vikings top picks in 2021 mock drafts
According to NFLMockDraftDatabase.com, former Michigan edge rusher Kwity Paye is the prospect that has been mocked the most to the Vikings this year.
More than 60 mock drafts that have been published online recently by places including Sports Illustrated, CBS Sports, Draftwire, and the San Diego Union-Tribune have Minnesota selecting Paye with the No. 14 pick this year.
Paye is the top-rated edge rusher in the 2021 draft pool according to The Draft Network’s current prospect rankings and he’s coming off an impressive college career at Michigan.
Another edge-rushing prospect isn’t too far behind when it comes to being mocked to the Vikings this year as former Miami pass rusher Gregory Rousseau is someone who has landed with Minnesota in 18.5 percent of the mock drafts analyzed by NFLMockDraftDatabase.com.
Paye was the Vikings’ selection in 20.2 percent of the mocks, so draft experts clearly feel that he and Rousseau have a good chance to end up with Minnesota this year.
Former Northwestern offensive lineman Rashawn Slater came in third with 7.1 percent of the 2021 mock drafts having Minnesota select him in the first round.
While this year’s NFL Draft is still two months away from taking place, the direction the Vikings could take in the first round is clearly beginning to narrow down more and more.