What Should the Vikings Do at 14?
By LOGAN RIPLEY
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota - Major media outlets continue to debate how the first four picks will shake out in the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft. Three quarterback needy teams are sitting pretty and ready to draft the top arms available, and we may have gotten some insight into how it could all go down.
The 2021 NFL Draft begins Thursday, April. 29th. The Minnesota Vikings currently hold the 14th pick in the first round.
Before we get into the options the Vikings will have at 14 and what moves they may or may not make, we need to solidify what the teams ahead will probably do. Obviously, there is no perfect science to mocking the draft but these recent reports and the Vikings free agency might have tipped the hand toward who we will see in purple when the season starts.
Sports Illustrated, Albert Breer, has been busy breaking key draft news this past week and giving not only fans but NFL teams an idea who will be available on their big boards.
Recently Breer reported that…
“The Eagles worked exclusively with the Dolphins, and Roseman had to keep the trade under wraps… And with the Eagles believing there is a pretty good chance the Bengals will take LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase at five, Philly felt comfortable with the difference in talent between six and 12.”
If the Bengals go with Chase as the Eagles and Breer think, then Oregon standout OT Penei Sewell could make it further in the draft than originally thought. This could open up some trade interest with the Falcons, if teams like the Vikings want to jump the Dolphins to secure the 6’6” star left tackle.
Breer also reported that the 49ers are going QB, furthering the case that we could see three to four QBs go in the top four very easily.
With Jacksonville Jaguars Head Coach Urban Meyer doubling down on Trevor Lawrence at number one…
I'd have to say that's the direction we're going," Meyer told Peter King on Football Morning in America.. "I'll leave that up to the owner when we make that decision official. But I'm certainly not stepping out of line that that's certainly the direction we're headed."
we can assume we’ll see Lawrence to the Jags, BYU QB Zach Wilson to the Jets, and either NDSU’s Trey Lance or OSU’s Justin Field at three, going to the 49ers.
The Falcons at four will be a huge tell for the vikings if they can further their pursuit for a game changing LT or if they move back and gain a 2nd round pick they desperately need.
Here are three options that await the 2021 Minnesota Vikings on draft day.
1.) Stick and Pick:
The most favorable of the three options, the Vikings will stick and pick with their 14th overall selection. Uncharacteristic of General Manager Rick Spielman, who is always wheeling and dealing, he will stand pat and go with the best player available… at offensive line.
VT Christian Darrisaw could make it to the Vikings at 14.
There is no way Sewell makes it to 14, leaving Virginia Tech left tackle Christian Darrisaw or Northwestern guard/tackle Rashawn Slater as your pick.
Free agency has not been kind to the offensive side of the ball, resigning Ameer Abdullah, Chad Beebe, and trading for center Mason Cole from the Cardinals. It is yet to be seen who will hold down the left side of the line.
At this spot the best possible outcome is solidifying left tackle with Darrisaw, a true anchor at the position than his counterpart Slater who is built more for guard play. Darrisaw would make an immediate impact at a cheaper price during his rookie deal, while your other bookend, Brian O’Neil, gets paid after next season.
2.) Move for Sewell
Oregon’s Penei Sewell could be a trade up candidate for the vikings.
Like we suggested earlier, the Vikings could have a chance to move up to four. Trading with the intent to leapfrog the Dolphins at five, the Vikings could come away with one of the best tackle prospects in the last five years.
It is yet to be seen if the Falcons will move from this spot but adding draft assets for a sub-par roster or possibly a big time edge rusher like frustrated Danielle Hunter, could force their hand. I know that’s a big name to drop casually, but a contact extension has yet to hit the presses and the vikings continue to spend their cap space in free agency.
If the Vikings don’t move to four then next opportunity could be seven with the Detroit Lions, if he makes it that far. A possible run on QB and WR may lead to this scenario.
3.) Trade back
If Darrisaw and Slater are not there then Spielman could look to gain a late first and more assets to get a pick in the second round. This strategy was looming but with the addition of multiple defensive starters in free agency, namely DT Dalvin Tomlinson, CB Patrick Peterson and safety Xavier Woods, it seems less likely.
Regardless, players to look for in the late first round are…
- EDGE GREGORY ROUSSEAU, MIAMI (FLA.)
- OT WALKER LITTLE, STANFORD
- EDGE JAYSON OWEH, PENN STATE
The reason I don’t see this happening is because it favors the future rather than the now. Spielman and Head Coach Mike Zimmer have their jobs on the line this season and drafting a late first and getting a second might not pay off immediately. Getting Darrisaw or another game changing mid-round talent at 14 very well could.
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