The 2021 NFL Draft is almost here and Minnesota Vikings fans need to be getting excited about who will be picked during the three-day event.
The Minnesota Vikings have a ton of options in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Their three biggest needs entering the three-day event are offensive tackle, guard, and edge pass rusher, with all three needs expected to be addressed over the course of the three-day event.
Outside of those needs, there are other spots the team could use help in a major way. Depth and competition would go a long way at every position on offense, defense, and special teams, meaning there is almost no position the team wouldn’t consider when they are on the clock in nearly every round.
That said, this is an important draft for Minnesota. If they get these picks right and they can add to the talent currently on the roster, the Vikings could be considered to be contenders to make the playoffs and make a push toward a Lombardi Trophy.
Let’s take a look at Rounds 1-4 of the 2021 NFL Draft to see which players the Minnesota Vikings could select with their picks if no trades were made and why they could help the team going forward.
NOTE: Stats via Sports Reference and analysis from NFL.com
First Round (No. 14 overall)
Kwity Paye – DE (Michigan)
This is a tough spot for the Vikings. At No. 14 overall, the team stays out of the shuffle at the top for the elite prospects at key positions as well as the positioning for quarterbacks. Still, there are some really great players who should be available when the purple and gold are on the clock.
Since there is quite a bit of depth at both offensive tackle and guard, waiting on those positions would provide the best value. It may feel wrong to pass on a lineman considering the team’s needs, but history has shown Minnesota has a very tough time drafting offensive blockers successfully.
The pass rush is still a need to address and has a huge drop-off after the first tier of talent. Grabbing someone to pair with Danielle Hunter is essential. For that reason, someone like Kwity Paye would be a great selection for Minnesota.
Despite a lack of eye-popping sack numbers, Paye has four years of experience at Michigan and may not have as high of a ceiling as other pass rushers in this class, but his floor is much higher thanks to having more polish and fewer red flags than other prospects at the position.
Selecting Kwity Paye is a bit of a safe pick and a touch of a reach at 14 overall, but to get someone that could be a long-term answer at defensive end is well worth it. Mike Zimmer will not allow the team to be in a situation like 2020 where opposing teams had all day to throw the football against Minnesota after only getting 23 sacks total.
Third Round (Pick No. 78)
Kendrick Green – G/C (Illinois)
Having Kendrick Green still be available in the third round is a testament to the depth of the talent when it comes to offensive linemen in this draft. Of course, his selection means the Vikings are looking at Ezra Cleveland and Brian O’Neill to be their starting offensive tackles for the 2021 season and Green would be on the interior of the line.
The 6-foot-2, 314-pound blocker is exactly what Minnesota needs to boost the play of their interior offensive line. He can immediately be plugged into the left guard position and be relied upon for his pass blocking skills while continuing to develop as a run blocker.
In a pinch, the Vikings have the ability to slide Green over to the center position. In the event of an injury to Garrett Bradbury, having that kind of versatility adds extra value to this pick but doesn’t take away the specific needs that come with success on the interior of the offensive line.
Even with Green as the second player selected by Minnesota in the 2021 NFL Draft, don’t expect the Vikings to be happy with only one offensive lineman being drafted this year. Odds are that two or three blockers will be added to the team’s roster by the end of Day 3.
Third Round (Pick No. 90)
Jamar Johnson – S (Indiana)
Even though the Vikings signed Xavier Woods to a one-year deal to be the team’s starter for the 2021 season, the question of depth past him as well as who could be a long-term answer at the position needs to be addressed in this draft.
Johnson is one of those players who seems to be coming into his own just as his college career comes to a close. His interception numbers doubled from 2018 to 2019 and doubled again for 2020, where he grabbed four passes.
Outside of the improvements in takeaways, Jamar Johnson registered 69 total tackles, with eight of those being for a loss and four being sacks. With the guidance of Mike Zimmer and the Minnesota coaching staff, the sky could be the limit for this young defensive back.
At 6-foot-1 and 197 pounds, Johnson has the frame to make some big hits without being too worried about durability but isn’t so bulky that it impacts his speed and ability to play anywhere on the field. If he doesn’t beat out Woods to start, he will be a great backup with huge special teams value.
Fourth Round (Pick No. 119)
Brady Christensen – OT (BYU)
If you’re someone who loves ticking boxes when looking at NFL prospects, there might not be a player who completes your checklist better than BYU’s Brady Christensen, who could develop into a quality NFL left tackle.
His starting experience is excellent, playing all 13 games in back-to-back campaigns in 2018 and 2019 at left tackle. He earned a First-Team All-American nod for his protection of Zach Wilson. He spent two years in New Zealand on a church mission and seems like the definition of a team player on and off the football field.
On the other hand, run blocking isn’t his major strength. Shorter arms and a lack of handwork can allow top-tier defenders to shed his blocks, where correction through bending and twisting his body is a work in progress.
Brady Christensen is a bit of a project at left tackle, but one that is definitely worth an investment in the fourth round of the draft. If nothing, at least Minnesota knows they’re got a squeaky-clean player with some upside.
Fourth Round (Pick No. 125)
Josh Palmer – WR (Tennesee)
Looking at the wide receiver depth chart for the Vikings can be both exciting and frustrating. It’s exciting to think about the combination of Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson returning for another season to the team, but the list of names past them has to be concerning to the team’s front office.
Bisi Johnson and Chad Beebe aren’t going to strike fear into anyone with their disappointing numbers from last season, and the Vikings should definitely want to add a player with the potential to be the team’s No. 3 receiver going forward.
Tennessee’s Josh Palmer played in 42 games over four years and never quite reached his potential. Three years of at least 450 receiving yards in each season and only seven total touchdowns might scare off some looking for bigger production from a receiver at this point in the draft.
At 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, Palmer has the body type and desire to win one-on-one battles. With consistent quarterback play around him, he has the potential to be a steal in this draft if he can tighten up his routes and increase his burst out of breaks.
Fourth Round (Pick No. 134)
Benjamin St-Juste – CB (Minnesota)
What would a Vikings draft be without the team taking a cornerback? Even though the purple and gold will have Patrick Peterson, Cameron Dantzler, Mike Hughes, Mackensie Alexander, and Kris Boyd available for the 2021 NFL season, the question marks surrounding Jeff Gladney’s future as well as fears of a lack of depth will see the team draft a cornerback.
So far, many of the picks in this draft have been safe bets. Here is where the Vikings can roll the dice on a prospect and hope for a big win. At one point, Benjamin St-Juste retired from football after a knee injury while playing with Michigan, but a transfer to Minnesota and a renewed focus on the game brought him huge success.
St-Juste was a machine when it came to breaking up passes for Minnesota, but he couldn’t seem to get his hands on passes for an interception. He had ten pass breakups in ten games played during the 2019 campaign, thanks to an aggressive attack when recognizing where the football is headed.
However, he will need to be reigned in a bit for the NFL level if he wants a consistent role. Mike Zimmer and the Vikings coaching staff would offer a great place for him to learn, especially since he wouldn’t be asked to do much for Minnesota early on.
Fourth Round (Pick No. 143)
Dax Milne – WR (BYU)
Not one, but two wide receivers in this draft within the first four rounds?! Absolutely. Especially when Dax Milne’s major role on the team will be in special teams, playing a part that the Vikings had no answer for in 2020.
Milne should immediately enter a competition to take over punt return duties. Last season saw K.J. Wright struggle in a huge way to haul in punts, and Chad Beebe did no better in the role when he got his opportunity. Now, it’s time to give someone else a try.
Even if Milne is only able to provide fair catches, he would be an upgrade. He only returned 12 punts at BYU and managed to gain 60 yards on returns, but not turning over the football is the priority.
As for being a receiver, Milne has a 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame and one breakout season in 2020 where he caught 70 passes for 1,188 yards and eight touchdowns. He will need to prove to be consistently good at getting separation, but he is a willing blocker and shows potential to move up a depth chart.
Fifth Round (Pick No. 157)
Derrick Barnes – LB (Purdue)
Every NFL team should pick at least one linebacker during their draft. Whether looking for a starter, wanting to add depth, or looking for a special teams player, linebackers are a welcome addition to any locker room.
For this draft, Derrick Barnes is an interesting prospect for the team to look at in the fifth round. One look at him will bring back memories of the old-school thumping linebackers of days past with the power and work ethic to deliver powerful hits on a regular basis.
Unlike those linebackers of old, Barnes is more athletic than players of his frame typically are. A refreshing Pro Day saw him put up respectable numbers to go with his 6-foot-1 and 238-pound frame, making him a fun project for a team looking to add a solid-tackling defender.
However, Minnesota might not want to have him in a position where he needs to drop back into coverage. Plus, time in the film room to help identify play development would be a huge help. And that would be okay with the Vikings since he wouldn’t need to contribute immediately.
Fifth Round (Pick No. 168)
David Moore – G (Grambling State)
Expect the Vikings to look at the offensive line early and often during this 2021 NFL Draft since they not only need to figure out their starters, but they need to establish depth behind whoever ends up winning a spot in the starting lineup.
David Moore is a big boy, standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 330 pounds. His blocks come with a mean streak and his size allows him to create an anchor that can be tough for opposing interior defensive linemen to get through.
The two reasons he is low on many big boards is because he is a bit of a project and he hasn’t faced off against elite levels of competition during his time at Grambling State. Despite that, he could easily prove his worth and earn a spot on the team’s roster or practice squad.
Honestly, just about anyone from the 2021 NFL Draft class would be an interesting addition to the offensive linemen of the Vikings. Minnesota’s need for interior players means they should roll the dice on a few prospects and not push all their chips in on one player to be the answer.
Sixth-Round (Pick No. 199)
Jose Borregales – K (Miami)
As I am typing this potential pick, I can hear the groans from many Vikings fans who clicked all the way through this mock draft only to see a kicker be the team’s final selection of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Minnesota does need to figure out their situation at kicker. At the moment, they only have Greg Joseph on the roster and will either move forward with him or bring in some competition to make sure they get the situation right.
Jose Borregales is by far the best kicker in this draft class, having a big leg that can boot kickoffs into the end zone on a regular basis as well as put some distance behind field-goal tries. The Florida International and Miami (FL) connected on 20 of his 22 field goals in 2020 to go with all 37 of his extra-point tries. He would have some stiff competition for Joseph, who has made 17 of his 20 field goals in the NFL and 34 of his 38 extra-point attempts.
The loser of this competition would be a great option for Minnesota to slide onto their practice squad and tuck away in the event of a rainy day. It will look a bit odd without Dan Bailey booting the ball this season, but hopefully, the team made the right call moving on from the NFL veteran and can find an answer heading into the 2021 NFL season.
5 prospects the Vikings should avoid in the 2021 NFL Draft
The Minnesota Vikings need to add talent to their roster during the 2021 NFL Draft but should hesitate before selecting any of these players.
Which players would you like to see the Vikings come away with during the 2021 NFL Draft? And what other needs should be addressed earlier or later when the team is on the clock? Let us know your opinion in the comments.