Vikings Draft 2024: Pre-Super Bowl 7-round mock draft
By Adam Carlson
Sixth-Round Pick No. 1 (178th overall)
Jared Penning, Guard (Northern Iowa)
It wouldn't be a draft if the Minnesota Vikings didn't take an offensive lineman. Solid play at the tackles means that the individual selected would likely be an interior lineman and with Dalton Risner being a free agent, guard is the most likely choice.
At six-foot-six and 338 pounds, Jared Penning is ranked as the 168th best prospect by CBS Sports but should be taken much sooner. He won multiple awards for his play at right tackle but also played at left guard for UNI
Jared Penning is the younger brother of New Orleans Saints lineman Trevor Penning. However, he does not need to rely on his bloodline in order to get a look on draft day since his accomplishments stand for themselves.
Playing at a small school will raise some questions about his level of competition and ability to transition to the NFL but a sixth-round pick isn't too much of a gamble for a player that has the upside of Jared Penning.