3 needs for Vikings to target with top draft pick after first free agency wave
By Nik Edlund
Safety
The Vikings have made moves in free agency at linebacker, cornerback, and defensive tackle this year, but they’ve failed to do any upgrading at the safety position.
Anthony Harris recently signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, which puts Josh Metellus as the current starter opposite Harrison Smith. Nothing against Metellus, but he’s better off as a reserve and a special teamer right now, so Minnesota should still be looking for a different starter.
This is something the Vikings could address with their top pick in this year’s NFL Draft. There are plenty of safeties in the 2021 draft that could help Minnesota out next season. With their current lack of safety depth on their roster, they’ll likely take at least two in this year’s draft, but the one player who is seen as the best in the 2021 class is TCU’s Trevon Moehrig.
Moehrig has an ideal frame at 6-foot-2 and 202 pounds. He’s a smart player who sees the field well and he can play on the line, in the slot, or cover the deep back portion of the field. Moehrig also has natural ball instincts, as he had seven interceptions in his college career.
He’d be an ideal prospect to pair with Smith and he would really shore up the already improved back end of the Vikings secondary.
Some may say that Minnesota drafting Moehrig at pick No. 14 this year is too high. But in a draft where many of the available prospects sat out the 2021 season or a portion of it, there really is no sure thing when it comes to most of them.
If the Vikings feel he’s the player who can have the biggest impact on their defense from this year’s draft pool, then they should pull the trigger.
Minnesota could also look to move down a few spots and still get him. Whether or not they do, there’s no doubt safety is currently one of the Vikings’ biggest needs after the first wave of free agency.