Viktor
Well-known member
- Mar 19, 2019
- 2,552
- 0
The NFL Draft has domino effects each year.
In 2020, Minnesota was selecting at the 22 spot, wondering if Justin Jefferson would be available to help the team replace Stefon Diggs.
Jefferson lasted as four other teams picked a receiver ahead of the Vikings, including the Eagles, who tabbed Jalen Reagor one spot ahead of Jefferson. Reagor turned in respectable numbers for a rookie with 31 catches for 396 yards and a score, but Jefferson's 88 for 1,400 record-setting yards and seven scores proved to be the cream of the crop.
Fast-forward to 2021, and there could be another scenario where a team picking immediately before the Vikings — who are scheduled to pick at 14 — directs its attention to the same position group.
That's the way ESPN Senior Draft Analyst Mel Kiper, Jr., sees it. He's currently forecasting the Los Angeles Chargers will pick Northwestern tackle Rashawn Slater at No. 13. Kiper has had the Vikings picking Southern Cal tackle/guard Alijah Vera-Tucker at No. 14 in each of his mock drafts.
They would be the second and third offensive linemen taken if things shake out the way Kiper expects. He has Cincinnati tabbing Oregon tackle Penei Sewell at No. 5.
We asked Kiper Monday during a national conference call what gives Slater the nod ahead of Vera-Tucker and what aspects of Vera-Tucker's game would sell the Vikings on him over a pick that could help the defensive side of the ball.
"In terms of Slater, right tackle/left tackle and he could be an inside guy at guard, to Vera-Tucker, a left tackle [who was] formerly a guard. I think that's going to be his best spot, so he fits the Vikings, who are looking for that left guard," Kiper said. "That's an option for them if they want a hole-filler right away. When you can move out to left tackle and play exceptionally well, like Vera-Tucker did, that bodes well. He was always an outstanding guard, so Slater has been a tackle, a left tackle and right tackle, and figure there with the Chargers, or they could kick him inside.
"Obviously pass rusher, defensive backfield, defensive line overall for Minnesota is a need," Kiper added, "but I just felt like the up-the-gut pressure bothers quarterbacks like [Kirk] Cousins as much as anything, and I thought that getting a guy who's an immediate starter, could be a Pro Bowl-caliber player early in his career, I think Vera-Tucker at 14 is not too high, based on the great performance he came through with at left tackle on the heels of what he already had done at guard. He's a guy that's just a very good football player all-around."
Ben Goessling of The Star Tribune asked Kiper about possibilities at defensive tackle that the Vikings might consider later in the draft if they do go with offensive line in the first round.
"In terms of defensive linemen, in the second round, Christian Barmore from Alabama could be a late 1 or early 2. Daviyon Nixon would be a solid second- or third-rounder out of Iowa. Levi Onwuzurike from Washington, a second-round type of guy.