Cody Mauch – OL (North Dakota State)
Offensive tackle definitely isn’t near the top of the Vikings’ needs list but quality depth is an under-the-radar priority. If Oli Udoh, who shockingly looked good at right tackle last year, bolts in free agency, the Vikings will have just Blake Brandel and Vederian Lowe as the backups.
Brian O’Neill is recovering from a ruptured Achilles and who knows if he’ll be able to go by the start of the 2023 season. So drafting a rookie who can back up either position and do it well, might be a wise move.
The guy who comes to mind is the next potentially great player to come out of North Dakota State and that is Cody Mauch. Mauch looks like a Viking warrior with his red flowing locks and goofy smile showing teeth that have likely been missing for years. He is a mammoth of a man standing 6-foot-6 and weighing in at 303 pounds.
One would think for a man so big that he’d be slow and lumbering. That isn’t the case for Mauch, he is surprisingly agile, can pull with ease, and is very nimble on his feet. He’s got experience on both the left and right sides.
While it doesn’t seem like a need, he’s one of those players that by about Week 6 of the regular season, you wish Minnesota drafted because a starter is hurt, and the Purple are rolling out a practice squad type of talent to fill in. Meanwhile, Mauch will be starting and grading out well for another team, and we will all be kicking ourselves for missing out.