The Minnesota Vikings are one of the more interesting teams to keep an eye before and during the NFL Draft. They have a roster that is ready to win now, but there is uncertainty at quarterback due to the fact that J.J. McCarthy has yet to play a single down in the NFL. If he proves that he can play in this league, then the Vikings are going to be a scary team to play against in the foreseeable future.
When it comes to the draft, the Vikings only have four picks as of now. While they are set to pick at No. 24 in the first round, they only have three more picks in the 3rd, 5th, and 6th round. Don’t be surprised when you see a draft trade involving the Vikings moving back to acquire more picks.
However, there is another scenario that could easily play out for the Vikings where they decide to ignore a trade and take a prospect that may have fallen to them that they didn’t expect. There are four draft prospects that could fall right into the Vikings' lap and it would be very hard for Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to pass on.
What prospects could fall to the Vikings during the draft?
DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon
When you are in the NFC North, you can never have too many defensive linemen but the Vikings have a need for that position as well. Sitting at No. 24, even though it’s a prime spot for them to trade out of, if defensive tackle Derrick Harmon falls to that spot then the Vikings will have to make a very tough choice.
You can almost guarantee that the top defensive lineman in this class, Mason Graham out of Michigan, will be gone before Minnesota’s first pick. However, Harmon could land anywhere on the board. He’s been as low in the 30s of the first round as well as high just outside the top-ten. He could easily be a wild card player.
Harmon can both stop the run and create a pass-rush. Under Brian Flores’ defensive scheme, Harmon would absolutely thrive, making it hard to pass on him if he falls down the draft board in the first round.
S Malaki Starks, Georgia
Malaki Starks at one point looked like he would be a top-ten pick just based on the talent he has and his production at Georgia. However, much like Harmon, he could land almost anywhere on the board in the first round. The Vikings brought back Harrison Smith for one more season, but they are going to need to find his successor. Enter Starks into the conversation.
Much like Smith, Starks is a power hitter who can stop the run and can also cover the deep routes. Once again, Starks might be the perfect prospect for the Vikings on the first night of the draft and if the Vikings feel strong about him and he’s available, they should go for it and bring him to the north.
CB Jahdae Barron, Texas
Jahdae Barron made a name for himself by not allowing receivers to separate from him when he was at Texas. If it wasn’t for Travis Hunter coming out of this draft class, Barron would be the best cornerback in this draft.
Since 2020, Barron has recorded seven interceptions in his college career. He had five this past season with the Longhorns. He was a tackling machine in college, making him a perfect fit for Minnesota’s defense that relies on their secondary to help in run-support. Getting Barron at No. 24 is fantastic value for the Vikings.
RB Devin Neal, Kansas
Even though the Vikings brought back Aaron Jones and traded for Jordan Mason, they each only have two-year deals. The Vikings could kick the can down the road to get another running back next year, but this year’s class is so strong at running back that it would be nearly impossible for them to walk away with drafting one.
Everyone is so focused on Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton, but there are other prospects that can do just as well and one of them is Devin Neal out of Kansas. He was highly productive the last three years, rushing for 1,000+ yards in that span as well as scoring 32 touchdowns on the ground the last two years.
With J.J. McCarthy’s development, it’s important to make sure that there is a solid rushing attack. Jones and Mason are the veterans that can provide that now, but the future should also be considered. Neal seems like a day two pick on the draft board and if the Vikings get on the clock at No. 97 overall with Neal still available, it should be a no-brainer to bring him to Minnesota.