Which offensive tackles are in play for the Minnesota Vikings in the 2021 NFL Draft?
The speculation of the Minnesota Vikings taking an offensive lineman early in the 2021 NFL Draft has never quieted down. With every mock draft basically placing a guard or tackle to the Vikings at 14th overall, it seems likely that they will address the biggest hole on the team in some capacity in the draft.
Luckily for Minnesota, they have a versatile piece in Ezra Cleveland that should make things a bit less stressful when filling out the line. To make things even better, this year’s class of offensive tackle prospects is pretty deep, and the Vikings have a chance to find an impact player throughout the draft.
Penei Sewell is the prize of the 2021 class and he will probably be the only tackle that is too far out of Minnesota’s range. But they can still find a handful of NFL-ready linemen in the first three, maybe even four, rounds.
If the Vikings do wish to take a shot at fixing the offensive line in this year’s draft, fans will not be upset. After all, the line was the biggest problem on the 2020 team. To be quite honest, it’s difficult to remember the last time the offensive line WAS NOT holding the rest of Minnesota’s roster back.
The Vikings have added some younger offensive linemen in the draft during the last few years to try and turn their fortunes around. Garrett Bradbury is still not quite that first-round player they drafted, but he is at least serviceable on the interior. If Ezra Cleveland pans out at guard, Minnesota will have three quality offensive linemen at the top of their depth chart, with Brian O’Neill being the most notable.
So who are some of the 2021 prospects they could add to the left side of the line to compliment O’Neill for the future?
Rashawn Slater (Northwestern)
Measurements:
- Height: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 315 pounds
This is where things will start to get interesting for the Vikings. Penei Sewell probably won’t be available at pick No. 14, or even in a trade-up scenario, but Rashawn Slater might be next in line, and still available.
While most people around the NFL agree that Sewell is the top tackle in this year’s class, there are still plenty who believe Slater is either on par with Sewell or even better as a prospect. His guard-tackle flexibility would be a welcome addition to Minnesota as they figure out where to play Ezra Cleveland in 2021.
Slater was a stud at Northwestern, where he handled some of the best talents in the country, including the 2020 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Chase Young, who was the top edge rusher in last year’s draft. Aside from his short arm length, there is nothing to scare away teams from Slater as a prospect.
His technique is clean for a player with little experience at the college level, and his athleticism is going to make him an All-Pro caliber player once he finds his rhythm in the NFL. If he is still available at pick No. 14, the Vikings should not hesitate to turn their card in with his name on it.
To go even further, it wouldn’t be a bad idea for the Vikings to trade up into the top-10 to secure him ahead of the New York Giants and Los Angeles Chargers, who could both be in the market for help in the trenches.
Teven Jenkins (Oklahoma State)
Measurements:
- Height: 6-foot-6 | Weight: 315 pounds
Teven Jenkins has witnessed a meteoric rise over the past month or so and he has now crept into the top-20 conversation. There haven’t been many to mock him to the Vikings just yet, but it would not be a surprise to see this happen more as the draft gets closer and closer.
Jenkins played all over the offensive line at Oklahoma State and he was one of the meanest linemen in the country.
He might be the best finisher in the class. Jenkins is absolutely dominant at the point of attack and he drives his man into the turf on a consistent basis. A competitive mean streak mixed with good-enough athleticism in space and you have the perfect fit for the Vikings’ offense.
The key for Jenkins landing in Minnesota will fall on a couple of other prerequisites. If the Vikings stick at 14th overall, but linemen start to fly off the board early, they could pull the trigger on Jenkins a bit earlier than projected and lock in their guy.
They could also trade back and try to land Jenkins in the 20s if they think he will make it that far. However, don’t expect the Vikings to take him at No. 14 unless a lot of unexpected picks force the board into a weird spiral.
Christian Darrisaw (Virginia Tech)
Measurements:
- Height: 6-foot-5 | Weight: 314 pounds
One of the players that will probably be part of the offensive tackle run we just alluded to is Virginia Tech’s Christian Darrisaw. Darrisaw is my third-ranked tackle in this class and he is very close to Penei Sewell and Rashawn Slater as a prospect.
He was a starting tackle at Virginia Tech as a true freshman and he added to his experience each year after. Now, his NFL dream is about to come true as he projects as a top-15 pick in a loaded tackle class. His starting experience, size, length, and mobility make him an almost perfect prospect along the offensive line.
The only concern with Darrisaw has nothing to do with him, but with the draft order and how the board will shape up.
There are currently six teams ahead of the Vikings that could take a tackle in the first round, including the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, and Los Angeles Chargers. My gut tells me the Chargers will take a tackle with pick No. 13, leaving Minnesota left with no choice but to reach or trade back.
In no universe should Darrisaw make it past the 14th overall pick and that’s simply because the Vikings would be silly to pass up on him if he is still available. If I had to put my stamp on one player for Minnesota to walk away with on Thursday night, it’s Darrisaw.
Dillon Radunz (North Dakota State)
Measurements:
- Height: 6-foot-5 | Weight: 304 pounds
If the Vikings fail to land a starting tackle in the first round, they are certainly not out of luck on Day 2.
If they trade back from 14th overall and acquire a second-round pick, Dillon Radunz would be the name to monitor. His preseason hype was not quiet, and that’s for good reason. Radunz was a stud at North Dakota State. Obviously, the competition is going to be a question, but his traits are off the charts.
He is an excellent mover in space and he does a great job in the run game as a mauler. His body stays in position and he keeps his frame at a good level in order to hit the second level as a blocker. While he may struggle at times to pick up oncoming defenders or meet them in space, it is not something that should be too worrisome as he has shown the ability to do it.
Radunz will be an excellent tackle in the NFL if he is put in a run-first offense that can unleash his power as a run-blocker. And yes, the Vikings are fine in the run game, and the biggest concern with the offensive line is protecting Kirk Cousins, but that’s also not an area of weakness for Radunz by any means.
Finding a player that excels in the run game and has the frame to become a solid pass protector is worth taking a chance on. He can start right out of the gate for Minnesota and he would be a nice replacement for Riley Reiff on the left side.
Having three outstanding athletes on the offensive line would do wonders for Dalvin Cook, who is already doing quite well for himself.
Jalen Mayfield (Michigan)
Measurements:
- Height: 6-foot-5 | Weight: 319 pounds
If the Vikings do not wind up with a pick in the second round, there are two names to keep an eye on in the third or fourth rounds.
The first is Jalen Mayfield, a raw but exciting tackle prospect out of Michigan. His early tape at Michigan is hurt by his workload and expectations, as he was thrown into the mix against some of the top pass rushers in the country as a freshman.
Mayfield was very good for the Wolverines in 2020 despite having a shortened season and he has a lot of traits to love as a developmental piece. He could land a starting spot in camp if he performs well enough, but he could also be a very good piece in a year as he gets reps and coaching at the NFL level.
His ceiling might be highest as a guard, but that does not mean he should immediately make the move inside. In fact, Mayfield should be given a chance to prove himself as a tackle and have the move inside as a backup plan just in case he can’t hit his stride on the outside.
Mayfield did not test well this year and that is going to scare some teams away, but it should not be that big of a deal. His tape still shows an excellent athlete that can play pretty much anywhere but center and with success.
Even if the Vikings take a tackle earlier in the draft, adding Mayfield in the middle rounds as a depth piece and potential starter after camp should still be something worth considering.
James Hudson (Cincinnati)
Measurements:
- Height: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 302 pounds
James Hudson shot up out of nowhere after a strong season with Cincinnati and he has earned himself a nice payday. He is still a raw prospect at left tackle, but he has a ton of size, power, and mobility that will make him a fun piece to develop up front.
It may be a while before he is ready to start on the line, but if he is forced into action as a swing tackle, or even at guard, he could have some moments.
Hudson’s footwork is going to require a lot of work, as well as his general technique and timing, but the raw skills and body frame are there. If he can get developed, and that’s always a big if, Hudson can be a formidable tackle.
It may be another year or two before Hudson can be comfortably put on the starting line, which will not be enjoyable for fans, but not every draft pick is ready right away.
If the Vikings do land Hudson, they would have someone with every trait they seem to want in their linemen, and they can try to get him into any position that works.
4 late-round quarterbacks the Vikings could draft in 2021
The Minnesota Vikings have been rumored to be in the market for a quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft. Which late-round options could be on the table?
The stipulation with being an offensive tackle and nothing else is long gone, and we’ve seen that lately. A year after drafting Ezra Cleveland, we still do not know for sure where his future resides in the NFL, and that leaves the door open for other moves.