Get a better sense of whom the Vikings should target with their top five draft picks below. Also, don’t forget to check out our team-centric mock drafts for the Houston Texans and New Orleans Saints.
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2016 NFL Draft Central: Minnesota Vikings
Round 1: Pick #23 (23rd overall) – WR Laquon Treadwell – Ole Miss
NEEDS at WR: The Vikings haven’t had a certifiable No. 1 receiver since Randy Moss left town over a decade ago. Undrafted Stefon Diggs came from nowhere to step up and fill the void last season, but Charles Johnson, Jarius Wright and Cordarrelle Patterson didn’t provide much of anything behind him. It’s imperative for the Vikes to finally give young quarterback Teddy Bridgewater a consistent, reliable weapon to pass to.
STRENGTHS: Treadwell doesn’t have the searing speed to create separation – he ran a 4.63 40 – but he’s managed to make do with what he’s got physically. He’s a big dude at 6-2, 221 lbs., which allows him to win contested catches in the air. He has a feel for where defenders are, and uses his body to shield them from the ball.
Round 2: Pick #23 (54th overall) – S Karl Joseph – W. Virginia
NEEDS at S: The Vikings re-signed Andrew Sendejo and picked up veteran Michael Griffin, but neither seems like the ideal long-term fit alongside Harrison Smith.
STRENGTHS: Joseph is a versatile safety who can excel in just about any defensive scheme. He’s quite the heavy hitter in the box, capable of delivering big shots and tackles near the line of scrimmage. But he’s also good in coverage – man or zone – and plays the ball well. He reads all aspects of the game well, and can accurately diagnose plays.
Round 3: Pick #23 (86th overall) – LB Josh Perry – Ohio State
NEEDS at LB: The Vikings have had a habit of taking a linebacker in the earlier rounds of the draft (Eric Kendricks last year and Anthony Barr the year before). They re-signed Chad Greenway for one more year, but it’ll likely be his last. Kendricks will likely move into Greenway’s spot on the weakside eventually, which would leave an opening at middle linebacker.
STRENGTHS: Perry isn’t the flashiest player, but he sure can tackle. He had only nine missed tackles over his last two seasons at Ohio State. He can also hold his own against tight ends in coverage. What he lacks in speed and athleticism, he makes up for in other aspects leadership and hard work.
Round 4: Pick #23 (121st overall) – OT Willie Beavers – Western Michigan
NEEDS at OT: The Vikings are set at left tackle this season with former top-five pick Matt Kalil still signed up. However, the position could be a lot less certain by next season, with a strong possibility the Vikings let the underwhelming Kalil – an upcoming free agent – walk and no obvious replacement in the roster.
STRENGTHS: Physically, Beavers checks all the boxes in the left tackle checklist. He has the size, length, athleticism and agility. He gets off the ball well and can keep in front of defenders in pass protection. He can also recover when he gets beaten on the outside. He’s not yet the finished product, but he has all the tools to be a capable left tackle.
Round 5: Pick #21 (160th overall) – G Sebastian Tretola – Arkansas
NEEDS at G: The Vikings signed former San Francisco 49er Alex Boone during free agency, but they could still use some depth along the interior of that offensive line.
STRENGTHS: At 6-4, 314 lbs., Tretola is a very big unit. He’s got a strong, wide base, which allows him to control the point of attack. He also moves relatively well for his size, and can even block on screens. With his experience in the run-oriented offense at Arkansas, he’s a perfect old-school grinder in a power-run scheme like what Minnesota runs.
The Vikings have eight picks in the 2016 NFL Draft:
- Round One – #23 overall
- Round Two – #54 overall
- Round Three – #86 overall
- Round Four – #121 overall
- Round Five – #160 overall
- Round Six – #180 overall
- Round Seven – #240 overall
- Round Seven – #244 overall
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