Now that the Vikings have filled a major need, what does their draft plan look like?
When all hope seemed lost for the Minnesota Vikings, they landed a dangerous veteran pass rusher in free agency. After spurning the Baltimore Ravens of a potential reunion, Za’Darius Smith chose to stay in the NFC North with the Vikings and create one of the best pass rushes in the league when healthy.
His arrival will surely open up a ton of options in the upcoming NFL Draft as the Vikings cleared up any chance of reaching due to a need on the defensive line. Pass rushers are going to fly off the board in April and the Vikings were in that mix of teams searching for help but Smith alleviates that area for Minnesota in a big way.
The Vikings can now shift their focus to the secondary in the NFL Draft with glaring needs at both cornerback and safety as they build the roster. Even after signing Chandon Sullivan on Friday, Minnesota needs to add several quality starters to the back end of the defense.
With the NFL Draft just about a month away, how do things shape up for the Minnesota Vikings as they close out the offseason? Here is a mock draft that adjusts to the signing of Za’Darius Smith in the second wave of free agency.,
First-round pick:
Andrew Booth – CB (Clemson)
In this scenario, Ahmad Gardner is off the board and the Vikings are left with a very tough decision as they plan for the future. They can either go after the best player available, which would likely be an interior defensive lineman or a wide receiver, or they can still attack the cornerback position.
A player like Derek Stingley could be available at this spot but his injury history does merit some concern. His Lisfranc injury is something that can hang around for his entire career but the risk is probably worth it. The other cornerback in play would be Trent McDuffie but his size limitations should ultimately knock him off of Minnesota’s board.
That leaves Clemson’s Andrew Booth, a fiery defender who is not shy as a tackler though he could clean up his misses as he moves forward. He is an aggressive defender with a ton of speed and length that will help him survive on the perimeter.
Booth will be a Day 1 starter on the outside with the frame and skillset to fit any scheme. He does best in man coverage and when sticking to the hip of the receiver but he does have the speed and range to fit into a zone scheme.
The Minnesota Vikings need a cornerback that can anchor down one side of the field with Cameron Dantzler likely holding down the fort on the other side. Andrew Booth can be a productive starter from the jump with a lot of experience under his belt already.
If the board falls this way and the Vikings refuse to trade back, Booth makes the most sense at this moment. Medicals will be a huge factor for the cornerback class and teams have to be comfortable with their assessments. There is still a lot to learn about this group heading into April.
Second-round pick:
Jalen Pitre – SAF (Baylor)
The secondary continues to get better with the addition of Jalen Pitre in the second round. After a strong week down in Mobile for the Senior Bowl, Pitre emerged as an early Day 2 selection with a ton of versatility in the secondary. For the Vikings, getting someone with coverage and run-stopping abilities in the second round will clean up the secondary.
Harrison Smith needs another safety next to him that can handle the deep zones while Smith lives near the line of scrimmage. Cameron Bynum showed flashes as a rookie but there is still a lot of room for growth as he transitions to the position. Pitre gives them flexibility right away.
He can serve as a traditional deep safety or as a nickel defender that provides sticky coverage in space and can tackle down near the box when needed. In his final two seasons at Baylor, Pitre recorded nine pass breakups, four interceptions, and two touchdowns.
After starting his career as a linebacker, Pitre has developed into a promising defensive back and after just two seasons of playing in the secondary, he looks like an NFL safety. With safeties flying off the board in this mock draft, the Vikings still find a starter without having to reach for it.
Other needs exist at this spot in the draft but the value simply does not fit as well as taking Pitre with the 46th overall pick. The Minnesota Vikings will once again have to wait to address the interior offensive line.
Third-round pick:
Calvin Austin III – WR (Memphis)
The Minnesota Vikings go for a home run swing and use their third-round pick on a dynamic weapon for Kevin O’Connell’s offense. O’Connell was with the Rams when they spent a second-round pick on wide receiver Tutu Atwell despite having a crowded wide receiver room already. The Vikings have a lot less depth at wide receiver and Calvin Austin III is a much better player than Atwell.
This is not the most pressing need on the roster but the Vikings cannot afford to fall into the trap of only drafting for need. That mistake caused them to spend their first two picks on Garrett Bradbury and Irv Smith back in 2019.
Calvin Austin III is an absurd athlete that can do a ton of damage with the ball in his hands. His speed and explosiveness creates problems for opposing defenses and his track background becomes apparent when Austin hits his stride.
The NFL has become an arms race with teams often looking for gimmicky players that can stretch the field vertically and horizontally. The Vikings, for what it’s worth, do not have a player like Austin that can do damage on manufactured touches.
Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen make up an incredible pass-catching duo and K.J. Osborn grew into his own last season but the Vikings need to add more weapons to the offense if they want to hang with the best teams in the NFL.
Adding a player like Austin would give Kevin O’Connell a chess piece that can elevate the offense in his first season as a head coach. If the defense still struggles, getting players that can put up points will help alleviate the issue.
Fifth-round pick:
Cade Mays – IOL (Tennessee)
Finally, Minnesota addresses the offensive line on the final day of the draft by taking a chance on a former big-time recruit. Cade Mays was a highly-touted recruit out of high school who started for four years in college at two noteworthy programs.
After starting his career at Georgia, Mays transferred to Tennessee and continued to rack up quality experience. In his four years, he saw playing time at all five spots on the offensive line while spending most of his time at right guard.
Minnesota has a massive question mark at right guard with Wyatt Davis currently being the frontrunner to start despite not having any reps as a rookie. Spending a Day 3 pick on a player that can create competition at a position of need is a good opportunity cost for the Vikings.
Mays can be a starter down the road but expecting immediate success is dangerous for any player taken this late. With several needs to fill, the Vikings can only do so much in the draft and they have to make sacrifices elsewhere.
Teams typically devalue interior linemen so waiting to take one yet again should not be all that alarming given the other needs on the roster. The Minnesota Vikings can live without a top-50 selection lining up at right guard in 2022.