4 Vikings players who will benefit most from a strong draft in 2021
By Dean Jones
Which Minnesota Vikings players could be the ones to benefit most from a strong series of NFL Draft selections in 2021?
The Minnesota Vikings are now in their final stages of planning before the all-important NFL Draft weekend. This year’s event has the potential to make-or-break the team’s chances of challenging the Green Bay Packers for the NFC North crown next season, with Mike Zimmer’s men way off the required standard from a defensive standpoint during the previous campaign.
Achieving success via the draft has been something the Vikings have done well under Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman, on the whole. There has been the odd dud here and there, but one would be hard-pressed to find any NFL team that can boast home runs with all their selections in recent years.
The 2021 season will be big for Minnesota and one that will clearly have a lot at stake for their head coach. Although Zimmer recently signed a contract extension, it will not take long for the team’s owners to get restless if they start poorly once again.
A strong draft would also benefit some current members of Minnesota’s roster considerably. Who are some of these current players that could benefit from the team adding an impressive amount of talent during this year’s draft?
Player No. 1
Garrett Bradbury – C
The Vikings have a strong presence snapping the football in Garrett Bradbury. He has steadily grown in stature over the last two seasons and enjoyed a fine 2020 campaign despite protection from the two players immediately around him on the interior, leaving a lot to be desired.
Fortunately for Minnesota, this is projected to be a deep draft class for interior offensive linemen. So it wouldn’t be the biggest shock in the world to see two or three prospects taken to address this need of the team.
If the Vikings can get some plug-and-play starters to put alongside their talented young center, it would be highly beneficial for Bradbury and the team itself.
Even if Minnesota is planning to start Ezra Cleveland at one of the two guard positions, there is little in the way of depth that could be considered efficient if he doesn’t make the necessary strides in his second year in a professional environment.