6 defensive ends the Vikings could pick in the 2021 NFL Draft
By Nik Edlund
Carlos “Boogie” Basham (Wake Forest)
Measurements:
Height: 6-foot-5 | Weight: 285 pounds
2020 Stats:
- 28 tackles (4.5 for a loss)
- 5 sacks
- 4 forced fumbles
If the Vikings address their offensive line in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft, an edge rusher who should be on their radar with their next choice could be Boogie Basham from Wake Forest.
Minnesota likely won’t see this guy slip into the third round. So they’ll either need to trade down in the first round to pick up a second-rounder or package some picks to move up and land Basham in the second round.
Basham was a productive player in his tenure at Wake Forest, accumulating 19.5 sacks over his four seasons with the program. He isn’t as explosive off the ball as Gregory Rousseau or Kwity Paye, but he keeps working until he gets to the quarterback, and he is a violent finisher.
Basham has great technique, he knows how to set up blockers to make his move around them, and he truly is a technician at the position.
His biggest knocks are his lack of initial burst and his overall closing speed. He may never be a double-digit sack guy in the NFL, but he is a player who seems capable of getting around five to eight sacks a season while also being a force against the run.
Basham would look real nice in purple, and he could compete in training camp to start in 2021, making him well worth trading up for if it comes to that.