Minnesota Vikings 5-round 2021 mock draft: Post-Pro Day

Jaelon Darden – WR, North Texas

The Vikings have four choices in the fourth round of the draft this year and can address many needs with those picks. One need they have to focus on is at wide receiver, as they need a better option at the number three spot on the depth chart.

The team did re-sign Chad Beebe, but while he’s a favorite of the coaching staff, he is undersized with inconsistent hands and average speed. Bisi Johnson is also on the depth chart but he took a bit of a step backward in 2020 and looks better suited for that number four or five receiver spot. Jaelon Darden is a player who could be available in the fourth round and would be an excellent choice for the Vikings.

Darden is just 5’9 and 174 pounds, and while he isn’t a burner, he’s extremely shifty.  This guy is like a slimy fish that just came out of the water. He slips through tackles and can wiggle away from defenders adding tons of yardage after the catch.

These traits will also come in handy if the Vikings try him as their punt returner. His shiftiness is reminiscent of that of Marcus Sherels’ and he could give the Vikings a much-needed boost in their return game.

Darden is coming off a crazy productive season in 2020 where he caught 74 balls for nearly 1200 yards and 19 touchdowns. This guy has what it takes to succeed in the NFL, and could work his way into becoming a very productive option out of the slot for the Vikings this season.