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- Mar 19, 2019
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There’s just two days to go until the first 32 players of the 2019 NFL Draft class are named.
The first round of the annual event will begin at 7 p.m. (CT) on Thursday in Nashville.
The Miller Lite Vikings Draft Party will coincide with the opening night. It is scheduled from 6 to 11 p.m. on April 25 at U.S. Bank Stadium and will feature live coverage of the draft by “Voice of the Vikings” Paul Allen and KFAN. Tickets are available for purchase here.
The second and third rounds will be held on April 26, with festivities beginning at 6 p.m. (CT).
The fourth round will start at 11 a.m. (CT) on April 27 and be followed by Rounds 5-7.
The Vikings currently have eight selections in the draft, beginning with the 18th overall pick.
Vikings.com is taking a glance at the top prospects at each position leading up to the draft.
April 11: Running backs
April 12: Tight ends
April 15: Quarterbacks
April 16: Wide receivers
April 17: Offensive tackles
April 18: Centers and guards
April 19: Defensive tackles
April 22: Defensive ends/edge rushers
April 23: Linebackers
April 24: Cornerbacks
April 25: Safeties
Where the Vikings Stand
The Vikings have eight linebackers whose NFL origins are wide-ranging. The group is led by 2014 first-round selection Anthony Barr and 2015 second-round pick Eric Kendricks. The other players drafted by Minnesota at the position are Ben Gedeon (fourth round in 2017), Kentrell Brothers (fifth round in 2016) and Devante Downs (seventh round in 2018). Eric Wilson made the squad as an undrafted free agent in 2017. Reshard Cliett, who hasn’t played in a regular-season game, was originally selected by Houston in the sixth round in 2015. The Vikings also added Greer Martini earlier this month. Martini joined Green Bay as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2018. He spent time on the Packers practice squad and most recently played in the Alliance of American Football.
Recent Draft History (over past five years)
Total number of linebackers taken (includes players classified as LB, OLB or ILB at the time of the draft by Pro-Football-Reference.com): 175
Round 1: 22 (4 in 2018, 5 in 2017, 2 in 2016, 5 in 2015, 6 in 2014)
Round 2: 21 (4 in 2018, 4 in 2017, 5 in 2016, 5 in 2015, 3 in 2014)
Round 3: 21 (5 in 2018, 6 in 2017, 3 in 2016, 4 in 2015, 3 in 2014)
Round 4: 25 (4 in 2018, 5 in 2017, 7 in 2016, 4 in 2015, 5 in 2014)
Round 5: 28 (4 in 2018, 6 in 2017, 3 in 2016, 7 in 2015, 8 in 2014)
Round 6: 27 (8 in 2018, 3 in 2017, 7 in 2016, 6 in 2015, 3 in 2014)
Round 7: 31 (9 in 2018, 3 in 2017, 7* in 2016, 5 in 2015, 7 in 2014)
* Includes Vikings defensive end Stephen Weatherly
The past five years of drafts have averaged 4.4 linebackers in first rounds and 4.2 in second and third rounds. Day 3 of the drafts, however, have seen an uptick in linebackers coming off the board, with 5.0 on average in the fourth, 5.6 in the fifth, 5.4 in the sixth and 6.2 in the seventh.
The Prospects (based on rankings by Dane Brugler of The Athletic)