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

Tyler Shelvin (LSU)

Measurements:

• Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 362 pounds

2019 Stats:

• 13 tackles
• 0 sacks
• 3 tackles for loss

The Vikings endured some real struggles stopping the run last season. Releasing Linval Joseph ahead of time as part of cost-cutting measures is something that clearly had a detrimental impact in this statistical category, and if things don’t improve next season, it will be a big problem again.

Having Michael Pierce and Dalvin Tomlinson as a tandem will help enormously. However, if the Vikings want another big body that takes up some significant space on the interior, then Tyler Shelvin is a name to monitor closely.

The LSU standout was last seen on the field during the Tigers’ national championship triumph in 2019 before opting out the following season. Shelvin has encouragingly been keeping himself in shape away from the gridiron, which is one concern that comes with players of this sort of stature.

A lot of Shelvin’s good work on the line of scrimmage doesn’t show up on the stat sheet, which is why teams will have to look beyond all that to see what he could bring to the next level. He is a mammoth against the run who forces teams to go off the edge simply by his mere presence, with his lack of pass-rushing ability indicating a two-down role is awaiting him in the NFL.

This is still a vital component in any successful defense. And there would not be any pressure for Shelvin to make an immediate contribution in Minnesota, even though the possibility of this is high.