Vikings Draft 2024: Full 7-round mock draft following the 2023 regular season
By Luke Parrish
Fifth-Round Pick No. 1 (158th overall)
Dillon Johnson - RB (Washington)
As promised, the caveat with Michael Penix Jr. is that the Vikings really need to improve their rushing attack in order to really maximize Penix.
While he is an incredible quarterback and field stretcher, I have some concerns that he will not see many single-high safeties if they cannot run the ball.
That said, pairing him with his college teammate is one of several options in this draft.
Rather than reaching for Braelon Allen or Blake Corum earlier in the draft, Minnesota could select Dillon Johnson later on and get similar results.
Johnson would provide the bruiser mentality in the backfield that is missing and eventually take over for Alexander Mattison while Ty Chandler still gets to stay in his role as the change-of-pace back that can bring speed.
Johnson has not been used much as a blocker in the passing game, which would obviously be a problem with the state of this team right now, but he has the frame and mentality to tap into that.
Pairing the Huskies could revitalize the Vikings offensively and give them a balance that has been missing lately.