After last year's spending spree in free agency, the Minnesota Vikings are not equipped to do much in terms of outside additions this offseason. So any improvement next season will come from a new starting quarterback, and a lot of internal improvement otherwise
After the rampant misses of the Kwesi Adofo-Mensah era, this year's draft is very important for the Vikings. A solid injection of young, cheap talent is necessary, and to some degree absolutely critical.
In a break from free agency happenings, Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report has matched a potential late-round draft gem with each NFL team. To fit the premise, all of the draft prospects are outside the top 100 overall on B/R's current Big Board, with natural accounting for team needs, scheme, and situation to make each match.
Potential draft gem matched with the Minnesota Vikings would be right in Brian Flores' wheelhouse
The late-round gem matched with the Vikings, at No. 153 on B/R's Big Board, is Michigan edge rusher Jaishawn Barham.
"There are few defensive play-callers who are more creative than Brian Flores. Jaishawn Barham is an interesting prospect, but it's going to take a creative, aggressive play-caller to get the most out of him.
That's why Barham should be ecstatic if he finds his way to Minnesota.
Barham mostly played as an off-ball linebacker at Michigan. But he racked up four sacks and 10 tackles for a loss while primarily lined up as an edge-rusher in his final season with the Wolverines.
That late transition could make him a unique fit for the Vikings. His tape is dripping with violence. He turned heads at the combine with a 4.64 40 and a 10'3" broad jump.
Flores would be able to get the most out of him as a blitzer while he figures out some of the more nuanced aspects of being a full-time edge player."
In line with his primary background as an off-ball linebacker, Barham had the third-best run defense grade (90.4) among FBS edge rushers last season, and he was top-45 in number of coverage snaps played among qualifiers at the position.
He is regarded, as expected, as a very raw pass rusher. But the potential is there in spades, with "violence" and "a salty demeanor" as terms used in evaluations of him.
Versatility. A violent play style. A "salty" demeanor. If that's not the dictionary definition of a player who is an absolutely perfect fit for the Vikings' defensive coordinator, Brian Flores, nothing is.