Vikings Draft 2022: Seven-round bye week mock draft

Sixth Round (Pick No. 3)

Robert Cooper – DT (Florida State)

Adding to the defensive line interior could become a bigger priority than this for the Vikings if Michael Pierce and Sheldon Richardson aren’t brought back in free agency. The veteran duo has performed well this season, but money is tight and there are plenty of mouths to feed when it’s time for negotiations to begin.

James Lynch has flashed on the rotation in 2021. But a prospect like Robert Cooper could be a late-round steal with the scope to impact proceedings immediately providing his transition is smooth coming out of Florida State.

To say Cooper is a dominant force against the run would be understating things slightly. He is almost impossible to stop unless double-teamed and even though it’ll get tougher against bigger linemen at the next level, his power at the point of attack is impressive enough to cope with this challenge.

Cooper wouldn’t ever be classed as an elite pass-rusher from the defensive tackle spot. However, he is strong enough to collapse the pocket providing there is help from elsewhere, which the Vikings currently have in abundance.

Again, Cooper might go higher than this. But if he is around at this stage, Minnesota shouldn’t hesitate.