Why the Vikings should draft an offensive lineman in the first round

Best value at pick No. 14 could be offensive line

When the Vikings are on the clock at pick No. 14 this year, the best value on the board could be with an offensive lineman.

If Minnesota is truly going to go with the best player available approach, as they often state that they will, then that player could end up being a tackle or a guard, and they’d be filling a major need in the process.

Five quarterbacks could potentially come off the board during the first 10 picks this year, and it’s safe to assume that the three wide receivers will as well. Kyle Pitts and Penei Sewell seem to also be locks to be selected with one of the first 10 picks, so by the time the Vikings are on the clock, the best options available could be between Christian Darrisaw, Alijah Vera-Tucker, and Kwity Paye.

These players are all very similarly ranked, even in what has been a class whose rankings differ greatly from one draft expert to the next.

Paye is widely seen as the edge rusher who will likely come off the board first, and while there is plenty to love about his game, he’s coming off an injury-plagued season, and his overall production in college doesn’t really seem worthy of being selected with the No. 14 pick.

That could be enough of a separator for Minnesota to choose an offensive lineman in the first round, and with all the names coming off the board already, it’s safe to assume either Darrisaw or Vera-Tucker would be available and be the best option for the team from a talent and need perspective.