Vikings Draft 2021: Five-round immediate impact mock draft
By Luke Parrish
Fifth Round (Pick No. 168)
Shi Smith – WR (South Carolina)
If you are looking for a hard-nosed wide receiver that will risk it all over the middle of the field, look no further than Shi Smith. He is as tough as they come, and he displayed flashes of brilliance throughout his time at South Carolina, which should translate to the next level.
It may take some time for Smith to emerge into a starting-level slot receiver, but he should be able to come in and make some plays from Day 1. He is not a refined route-runner or nearly polished receiver, but he makes a lot of plays with the ball in his hands, and he will be a treat to watch in the middle of the field.
Chad Beebe and Bisi Johnson cannot continue to be Minnesota’s third and fourth receivers that are relied upon in dire situations. Even with Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen thriving, adding more weapons next to them will only make their jobs easier.
Drafting two wide receivers in a year that still has question marks regarding the offensive and defensive lines may be hard to grasp, but that’s where the immediate impact currently sits. Reaching for a guard is not going to solve the problems and the value simply did not match the board in this mock.
The Vikings will probably add more offensive linemen in the draft, and they could very well do that multiple times in the first few rounds, but they have to put need aside when making selections.