6 defensive tackles the Vikings could pick in the 2021 NFL Draft

Daviyon Nixon (Iowa)

Measurements:

• Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 305 pounds

2020 Stats:

• 22 tackles
• 5.5 sacks
• 13.5 tackles for loss

Much like the situation with Tommy Togiai, the Vikings would need a little bit of luck if they want to bring Daviyon Nixon to the organization. They don’t have a second-round pick and the Iowa stud is expected to be right on the fringes of this area according to most analysts’ projections.

There is a lot to love about the sort of skill set Nixon brings to the table. He is a tremendous force against the pass and can more than hold his own on running downs, so this would be a useful piece that Minnesota could utilize on the rotation if he somehow falls into their laps.

One thing that stands out where Nixon is concerned would be an aggressive approach to almost every down. He finishes plays extremely well and has an encouraging technique, so the prospect seems to fit the mold of Mike Zimmer’s defenses of old in this regard.

Considering Nixon enjoyed a relatively quiet start to his college career with the Hawkeyes before making more of an impact in 2020, he could still be scratching the surface of what he’s truly capable of. Much will depend on how the draft plays out in the second round as to whether he is a realistic proposition for Minnesota, but the ceiling is incredibly high.