Stay up to date with all of the picks and trades made by the Minnesota Vikings this year with our 2021 NFL Draft tracker.
After months upon months of mock drafts, the Minnesota Vikings will finally get to make an actual selection in the 2021 NFL Draft on Thursday.
Currently, the Vikings have the No. 14 pick in the first round of this year’s draft. There have been rumors of Minnesota having interest in both trading up and trading down from their current selection. So don’t be surprised if the Vikings end up making their first pick in this year’s draft from a different spot.
Heading into the opening round of the 2021 draft, Minnesota is sitting with a total of 10 selections. This amount is also something we shouldn’t expect to remain the same, especially with Vikings general manager Rick Spielman still being in control of the ship.
Follow along with our Minnesota Vikings 2021 NFL Draft tracker
With the jobs of Spielman and head coach Mike Zimmer potentially in limbo, this 2021 draft feels much more important for Minnesota than it has during the last few years. If the Vikings are unable to find the right pieces to help them get back to the playoffs next season, it could result in Zimmer and Spielman being shown the door.
Do yourself a favor and bookmark this article to stay on top of all the moves Minnesota will make during the 2021 draft. Updates will be posted before, during, and after their selections and trades, so make sure to check back frequently during the next three days.
Minnesota Vikings 2021 NFL Draft picks
- First Round
- No. 14
- Third Round
- No. 78
- No. 90
- Fourth Round
- No. 119
- No. 125
- No. 134
- No. 143
- Fifth Round
- No. 157
- No. 168
- Sixth Round
- No. 199
- Day 1 (First Round)
- Thursday, April 29 – 7pm CT
- Day 2 (Second and Third Round)
- Friday, April 30 – 6pm CT
- Day 3 (Rounds 4 – 7)
- Saturday, May 1 – 11am CT
- ABC
- ESPN
- NFL Network
- fuboTV (watch for free)
- Round 3: 66 overall
- Round 3: 78 overall
- Round 3: 86 overall
- Round 3: 90 overall
- Round 4: No. 119 overall
- Round 4: No. 125 overall
- Round 4: No. 134 overall
- Round 5: No. 157 overall
- Round 5: No. 168 overall
- Round 6: No. 199 overall
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Streaming:
The next three days should be very eventful for the Vikings and the rest of the NFL. Hopefully, Minnesota can ignite some excitement about the upcoming season with some of their 2021 draft selections.
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) Christian Darrisaw Day 1 was wild for the Minnesota Vikings
If you thought you would have to wait until the Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback for drama related to the Minnesota Vikings, you would be sadly mistaken. There was plenty of news and some rumors to keep things interesting.
To start things off, there were rumblings that if the Denver Broncos selected a quarterback in the draft that Drew Lock might be an option to be traded to a team like Minnesota to become the backup for Kirk Cousins.
As if potential Vikings quarterback news wasn’t enough, a report surfaced about Aaron Rodgers not being happy with his situation in Green Bay re-emerged, and they have apparently escalated to the point that there is a possibility Aaron Rodgers might not be the Packers quarterback in 2021 and may not have to face Minnesota at all this coming season.
Trading down from No.14 to 23
The Minnesota Vikings traded down from 14 to 23 to the dismay of many fans who were hoping to see the team take an offensive lineman. When the Jets used that pick to select USC guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, the frustration amplified among the fan base and criticism of the trade was loud. Even though the team got great compensation, it was hard to see the team pass on a top prospect.
The #Jets/#Vikings trade: No. 14 and No. 143 for 23, 66, 86. And NYJ takes #USC OL Alijah Vera-Tucker. A scout’s favorite.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 30, 2021With each passing selection, nerves tightened up for fans of Minnesota. The idea of missing out on an elite-level blocker to protect Kirk Cousins and open holes in the run game should be a scary concept for everyone involved.
At No. 23 overall, the Vikings select Christian Darrisaw, OT – Virginia Tech
Even with many great players going off the board until Minnesota was back on the clock at 23 overall, the Vikings were able to land a potential franchise left tackle. The best pass-blocking left tackle and exceptional run blocker immediately becomes the team’s starting left tackle.
The fact Minnesota was able to trade back and pick up some great capital while also getting a player of need at a great value is amazing and should be considered a bit win for the team.
(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) Kellen Mond The Vikings were patient on Day 2 of the 2021 NFL Draft
The Minnesota Vikings had to be happy with what they were able to accomplish in the first round of the draft. Thye filled their biggest need on the offensive line while grabbing some more ammunition to grab more talent at multiple positions heading into Day 2.
A lack of draft picks in Round 2 didn’t mean Minnesota was going to be quiet on Friday. In fact, the team had a flurry of picks available in Round 3, with four selections available to grab players or move around the draft board.
Here is what the team had available:
The team’s biggest needs at this point are guard, defensive end, wide receiver, linebacker, and safety. With plenty of depth available at many of those positions, there was seeming no rush to give up picks to trade up into the second round.
It felt like an excruciating wait for the Vikings to make a selection when so many talented players were coming off the board, but the team was able to stay put and wait for the third round to roll around.
When the Vikings did make their pick, it dropped some jaws around the fan base.
Vikings take Texas A&M QB Kellen Mond at No. 66 overall
Kirk Cousins may be the man in Minnesota, but with no clear backup and a lack of top talent to evaluate on the roster behind him, the Viking made an effort to not only get a high-potential backup while adding some planning for the future. This should guarantee that Sean Mannion won’t return to the purple and gold to back up Cousins this year.
Minnesota takes North Carolina LB Chazz Surratt at No. 78 overall
The Vikings have seen two offensive players join the team during the 2021 NFL Draft and the first defender finally gets his name called to come to Minnesota. Quarterback-turned-linebacker, Chazz Surratt should provide some depth at linebacker and help prepare for the eventual exit of Anthony Barr.
More offensive line help at No. 86 overall with Ohio State guard Wyatt Davis
The Minnesota Vikings are serious about fixing that offensive line. After grabbing one of the top offensive tackles in the first round, the team picks a sliding Wyatt Davis in the third round to be one of the starting guards moving forward.
Finally, the Vikings take Pitt DE Patrick Jones II at No. 90 overall
Minnesota closes out their second day of the draft by filling another big need for a pass rusher. Patrick Jones II has a huge motor that should remind people of Everson Griffen and be an interesting pairing with Danielle Hunter on the defensive line.
Iowa’s Ihmir Smith-Marsette – Syndication: HawkCentral Vikings fill out the roster on Day 3
There wasn’t much to complain about when looking at the draft so far for the Minnesota Vikings. The team’s major needs were addressed well and a focus on fixing the offensive line should pay dividends for Kirk Cousins and the offense.
Minnesota’s focus so far has been improving in the trenches. Talent has been added on both sides of the ball while looking to win now as well as looking forward to the future, providing a good balance of talent.
Minnesota came into Saturday with six picks. Those selections will bring in some high-potential players the Vikings hope will develop into contributors or slipped through the cracks during the draft process to become stars in the league.
Here are the picks the team had available.
Now, let’s see what the Minnesota Vikings did with those picks.
A running back goes first at No. 119 overall
Kene Nwangwu won’t have to go very far. The Iowa State rusher comes to Minnesota to compete for a spot in the running backs room as well as on special teams, where he flashed as a kickoff return specialist.
The 6’1 and 201 pound running back only had four touchdowns in 48 games played and never had more than 400 rushing yards in a season, but his average of 5.2 yards per carry could make him interesting on offense.
Mike Zimmer gets a defensive back at No. 125 overall
It wouldn’t be a Vikings draft without a defensive back coming to Minnesota. Cal defender Camryn Bynum will likely move to safety for the NFL where he will compete for a backup role with the Vikings.
Standing six feet tall and weighs 200 pounds, Bynum defended 28 passes in 32 games while totaling 184 tackles (eight for a loss) and grabbing six interceptions.
More pass rush arrives with No. 134 overall
Minnesota will have a ton of talent available at defensive end for preseason and Janarius Robinson out of Florida State will be one of the individuals fighting for a post on the roster or the Vikings practice squad.
In his final 21 games with FSU, Robinson had 73 tackles with 16 of those being for a loss and six registered as quarterback sacks.
Pick No. 157 overall is used on an Iowa wide receiver
Considering a lack of depth at wide receiver for the Vikings, it is a bit surprising to see the team wait so long to choose one. However, there is a lot to love with the speedy Ihmir Smith-Marsette out of Iowa.
Standing 6’1 and weighing 179 pounds, Smith-Marsette caught 110 passes for 1,615 yards and 14 touchdowns in 43 games played while gaining 1,520 on 53 kickoff returns and adding two more scores.
Tight end (and maybe punter) is addressed at No. 168
Central Missouri prospect Zach Davidson should be a fun one to watch. A punter converted to tight end thanks to his athleticism and basketball background isn’t something fans see every day, but there are some good reasons to be excited about him.
Being nearly 6’7 could help him become an easy mismatch against smaller NFL defenders and provide a massive target for Kirk Cousins in the red zone or short-yardage situations. As he grows and develops as a tight end, he could become a monster.
Pick No. 199 sees the Vikings land an interior defensive tackle
Minnesota invested heavily in a beefy defensive line and bringing in Pitt defender Jaylen Twyman is quite a value at this point in the draft. He is one heck of a name to finish up the Vikings draft class with since he is built like a brick house.
Twyman sat out in 2020 but had an amazing 2019 campaign. In his 13 games, he accumulated 41 total tackles with 12 of those being for a loss and 10.5 resulting in a quarterback sack. If he was bigger than his 6’2 and 290-pound frame, odds are that he would have been selected much sooner.
What the Vikings can expect from Christian Darrisaw in 2021
What should fans of the Minnesota Vikings expect from first-round pick Christian Darrisaw and what are his strengths and weaknesses?
The 2021 NFL Draft is complete and the Minnesota Vikings seem to have been content in letting the players fall to them without moving around too much with their picks outside of the first round. Congrats to all the new members of the Minnesota Vikings!
How to watch the 2021 NFL Draft
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