The Minnesota Vikings finally go back on the clock at pick No. 108 in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. They've been waiting patiently since they took pass rusher Dallas Turner at pick No. 17 and have been hoping for certain players to fall through the cracks.
Despite runs at certain positions, there are still plenty of talented players in areas of need for the Vikings. They need to address the interior of their offensive line, they could use a stud on their defensive line and also could stand to add a corner and a wide receiver.
There are players at those positions who most believed would've been taken by now but, for whatever reason, remain available. Here are four of the best available prospects the Vikings could choose at pick No. 108.
4 best players remaining for the Minnesota Vikings on Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft
Troy Franklin - WR (Oregon)
It's pretty shocking to see Troy Franklin still on the board as the fourth round of the NFL Draft is about to commence. He was seen as a borderline first-round pick, with the thought that at worst he'd be taken by the mid-second round. Yet, he remains available after the third round of the draft ended.
Franklin is on the skinny side. He's 6-foot-2 but weighs in at just 176 pounds. He's extremely fast, running a 4.41 time in the 40-yard dash at the Combine. He's also coming off a huge season at Oregon, where he caught 81 balls for 1,383 yards and an eyebrow-raising 14 touchdowns.
The question that arises, is why is he still on the board. The biggest answer could just be his lack of overall strength. Franklin doesn't win contested catches. He isn't strong enough to out-muscle corners in jump ball situations and does have the occasional drop. Still with a guy with the size/speed combination he possesses and the immense production from 2023, one would assume he'd have been taken by now.
Franklin would make sense for the Vikings as a guy to be the new number three option in the receiving corps. He brings big play ability to the offense, and with Jefferson and Addison on the field, he wouldn't have to be the man. Franklin would be a big-time value at pick No. 108, whether you are a fan of his game or not.
Brandon Dorlus - DL (Oregon)
The Vikings addressed their front seven already in the draft with the amazing selection of Dallas Turner at pick No. 17. They still need help on the line, and Dorlus would be an intriguing option.
Dorlus is probably still on the board because teams just may not know what to do with him. He's a versatile option who can play inside, line up with his hand in the dirt as a five-technique, and even rush the passer from a standing position. That versatility may confuse a handful of teams, but it sounds like a perfect fit for Brian Flores.
Dorlus was very steady from a production standpoint in his career at Oregon. He had 12 career sacks, 108 total tackles, and 27 tackles for a loss. He also broke up 14 passes. There's a lot a defensive coordinator can do with a player like Dorlus, and Flores would surely use him as a Swiss Army Knife type of player for his defensive line. He could potentially become the Josh Metellus of the front seven, and that sounds more than worthy of a fourth-round pick
T.J. Tampa - CB (Iowa State)
The Vikings need to add a cornerback at some point in the draft and a talented cover man who has fallen through the cracks is T.J. Tampa out of Iowa State. Tampa has good size, standing 6-foot-1 and weighing in at 189 pounds. He's a physical corner who isn't afraid to come up and lay a hit on a ball carrier.
In addition to being a physical hitter, Tampa also has long arms that he uses to go up and bat the ball out of the air. He also has great instincts and ball skills as his 19 career pass brakups and three interceptions can attest to.
The Vikings' need at corner is real. Shaq Griffin and Byron Murphy will be the starters with Mekhi Blackmon likely lining up in the slot. The depth after those three is completely up in the air. Tampa would have a great opportunity to come in and be the fourth cornerback on the roster and earn a ton of playing time as a rookie.
Christian Mahogany - OG (Boston College)
Defensive line and interior offensive line are the two biggest needs for the Vikings as they finally go back on the clock. It'll be interesting to see which way they decide to go, but if it is the offensive line Christian Mahogany could be the pick.
He's a massive man, standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 314 pounds. He's a powerful behemoth of a human who plays with a mean streak. He can get outside when pulling and when he has a head of steam going, can knock defenders on their backsides. He has the lower body power and mass to anchor against the pass rush and the upper body strength to fend off rushers with his strong, meaty mitts.
Mahogany is likely still on the board due to some sloppy footwork and technique. There are more technically sound players who don't have Mahogany's size or toughness that have already been taken because they are cleaner in their footwork. He'll need some work and wouldn't immediately push Brandel for his job, but after being coached up and getting his feet wet in spot duty, he could see his playing time increase.
The Vikings did meet with Mahogany at the East-West Shrine Bowl, so the interest is there. He'd be a solid choice at pick No. 108 and really shouldn't still be available at this point.