5 needs the Vikings could double-dip at during the 2021 NFL Draft

Guard

For the second year in a row, the Vikings have failed to upgrade this position in free agency. All they’ve done is move a sixth-round pick for a player who grades out just as bad as the players they currently have and then they also re-signed arguably the worst guard in the NFL.

According to Mike Zimmer’s most recent press conference, Ezra Cleveland is still their right guard despite most assuming he was drafted a year ago to be the team’s left tackle of the future.

It’s mind-boggling how Minnesota’s front office can ignore this position in free agency again, and the only option left to improve it is through the draft. The Vikings are expected by some to take a guard with their first choice this year at pick No. 14 in the first round, with Alijah Vera-Tucker being a very popular option.

While Minnesota could definitely take a guard with pick No. 14, they can’t be done there. If Vera-Tucker is the first choice, there’s a solid chance that Cleveland then gets moved over to left tackle. This would create an opening at right guard and the Vikings will probably need to double-dip to find a starter to replace Cleveland.

The third round would be a great place for Minnesota to look for help. There should be plenty of options still on the board like Quinn Meinerz, Ben Cleveland, Trey Smith, and Aaron Banks. These guys are arguably just as good as the talent currently topping the Vikings depth chart and they would likely be favored to win a starting gig.

Minnesota’s guard situation is a complete mess right now, so it wouldn’t be shocking to see them use three of their 10 choices on this very dire area of need.