4 luxury prospects the Vikings could pick in the 2021 NFL Draft

Jay Tufele – DT (USC)

Again, the Vikings haven’t got anything in the way of need at defensive tackle following the signing of Dalvin Tomlinson this year and the impending return of 2020 free-agent signing Michael Pierce. Their depth is a little concerning behind the starting duo, but it would be a surprise to see the position addressed during Minnesota’s first few selections.

If they were to go against the grain and pick up someone with tremendous upside that is going to be somewhat under the radar, then Jay Tufele could be someone worth considering. The USC product came into the 2020 campaign with a first-round projection, but opting out due to COVID-19 health concerns seems to have hurt his stock more than most.

This could represent a big opportunity for anyone looking at bringing in a defensive tackle capable of generating pressure on Day 2. Tufele is a commanding presence on the interior that comes up with the goods more often than not in pass-rushing situations. So providing he can improve his run-stopping potential once the former Trojan gets to the NFL, someone could have a real player on their hands.

Minnesota needs a couple of edge rushers to complement their new defensive tackle tandem and the obvious return of Danielle Hunter. But if Tufele falls into their laps, he would be hard to pass up.