Vikings Draft 2022: Seven-round bye week mock draft
By Dean Jones
Sixth Round (Pick No. 1)
Tyler Johnson – DE/OLB (Arizona State)
Everson Griffen is back to his dominant self opposite Danielle Hunter on the Vikings defensive front. The Pro Bowler is not getting any younger though, so it might be worth the organization acquiring another dynamic edge rusher for the long-term despite the presence of D.J. Wonnum.
Griffen is out of contract in 2022 and the future of Hunter could come under scrutiny. Losing both would be nothing short of a disaster and something Minnesota will look to avoid at all costs.
That being said, a prospect like Tyler Johnson represents a solid value pick at this juncture. The Arizona State star was a former four-star recruit at wide receiver before switching over to the defensive side of the football, which has been the making of him in no uncertain terms.
Johnson has 21 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and three sacks from six games this season. He is a force to be reckoned with once early momentum is generated and has the athleticism to enter backfields consistently.
He sets the edge well in run support, but his technique is still raw. This isn’t unexpected from someone still learning his craft at the position.
There is a lot to like about Johnson, who could end up going much higher than this with a strong assessment process.