5 prospects the Vikings should target on Day 3 of the 2021 NFL Draft

Ar’Darius Washington – S (TCU)

The Vikings have hit up a handful of needs so far in the 2021 NFL Draft. They upgraded the offensive line twice, found their backup quarterback, and added depth to their defensive line and linebacker corps. But one position Minnesota has yet to address is safety.

The Vikings did bring add Xavier Woods in free agency this year and he’s expected to start opposite Harrison Smith next season. While Woods will likely start this year, he’s probably not a long-term solution for the position. The Vikings need to bring in a young, promising player who can start opposite Harrison Smith in a year and eventually even replace him.

There are plenty of quality safety prospects still on the board, but one that has to be toward the top of the Vikings’ wish list is TCU’s Ar’Darius Washington.

Washington is an exceptional athlete who can play the nickel as well as safety. He can zero in on his receiver quickly and he isn’t shy about laying a bone-crunching hit.

The biggest knock on Washington is his size. The dude is just 5-foot-8 and that is likely the reason he’s still on the board. Yoda once said, “judge me by my size, do you?” This something that should be applied to Washington as he plays much bigger than his physical stature would indicate.