5 prospects the Vikings hope fall to the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft
By Nik Edlund
Richie Grant – S (UCF)
There are a lot of very good safeties in the 2021 NFL Draft. The Vikings should be able to land a quality one who could push to start in the third or fourth round, but boy would they love to see Richie Grant slide to them when they finally go back on the clock.
Grant is widely regarded as the second-best safety in this class, and it would shock no one to see him sneak into the end of the first round. While that’s a slim possibility, there’s also a chance he doesn’t hear his name called until round three. The reason for his fall wouldn’t be for anything he has failed to do on the field, but just because teams could choose to address other positions first.
There are a handful of wide receivers, cornerbacks, offensive linemen, running backs, and even quarterbacks who could be taken in the second round. This could force Grant down the board and potentially into the Vikings’ laps.
If Grant did fall to the Vikings, they’d be getting a hell of a player. He is extremely versatile, able to play anywhere in the backend of the Vikings’ defense. He’s also an aggressive hitter who can cover, and has shown some ball-hawking ability with 10 career interceptions.
If the Vikings do get lucky and Grant is there at pick No. 78, Xavier Woods’s time as a starter in purple will be over before it begins.