NFLDG Mock Draft 3.0

[NFL Draft Guru]

1 (30) - TRADE: Vikings trade 1(30) to Denver for 2 (41), 4 (106), and 5 (149) 

2 (41) - Billy Price (OG/C Ohio State): When the draft process began in late February and early March many had initially pegged Billy Price as one of the first interior O-lineman off the board come draft day. Additional film study and a torn pec at the combine changed things in a hurry. While Price is still a highly rated player on many teams boards there are lingering questions on how long it'll take for his pec to fully heal. After more in-depth study of other prospects there is some outstanding questions on why Price is special in a talented interior line class. The Vikings have been working the phones in the past week or so gearing up to potentially trade down. In this instance they pick up both a 4th and 5th round pick to do so. Regardless of his injury, Price slides into RG for the Vikings day one. He doesn't have to bring any special skill-set to the table besides being able to play his role at a high level. Ohio State has been a pipeline for NFL line talent and there will be chemistry with Elflein immediately.

2 (62) - Rasheem Green (DE/DT USC): After solidifying the immediate need along the O-line the Vikings can go in a variety of different directions. Any addition to the pass rush, a corner, tight-end, linebacker, or receiver all make some sense. I have a gut feeling Rasheem Green will be someone the Vikings coaching staff will have their eyes on day two. As an early entry to the draft Green is completely ready for the NFL but showed what he was capable of at USC this past season. In a 4-3 defense a team will have a choice on whether they want to use Green as a pure DE or DT. Given the Vikings depth along the line they can use him as a chess piece to give anyone along the line a break when needed. Ultimately they can then choose where to continue developing him. As a player Green plays with athleticism and has a knack for getting into the backfield. For a junior he shows good ability to use his natural length to defeat offensive lineman. He will need to add strength but as a rotational piece in year one that shouldn't limit him. 

3 (94) via DEN - Duke Dawson (CB Florida): I think the Vikings will ultimately value corner higher than many believe come draft day. Although they still believe in Mac Alexander in the slot they have little depth in the secondary. There is still hope Terence Newman will return on a reduced one year deal but that is not a given. At this point if anything happens to Rhodes, Waynes, or Alexander you need to trust a rookie to step into a complicated defensive system and perform. With that said, you can't rely on a late round pick to do that. Duke Dawson is a carryover from my last mock but just makes sense given the value in the later 3rd that fills a need. Although he doesn't have the athletic profile the Vikings typically look for he has the instincts and football IQ to produce immediately. Primarily a slot corner he should provide competition for Alexander immediately. If anything happened to Rhodes or Waynes during the 2018 season Mac is capable of playing on the outside. 

[Guest]

4 (106) via DEN - Nyheim Hines (RB N.C State):John DeFilippo and Frank Reich proved capable of using all of their offensive play makers in Philadelphia. The best thing the Vikings can do is to offer him the same opportunity in Minnesota. Nyheim Hines has garnered a lot of pre-draft attention and may be drafted higher that this. But based on what he showed on tape at N.C. State he is a solid 4th round pick for most teams. The best way to describe Hines is as a track start, not many players are capable of catching him. He would offer the most speed in the current Vikings backfield and is capable of making plays in the passing game both at the LOS and down the field on a variety of wheel routes and fades. Typically the third RB on the roster wouldn't be drafted this early but Murray's contract is up after 2018 and Hines is one of the better kick returners available in this draft class, and area the Vikings would love to improve on.  

5 (149) via DEN - Tre'Quan Smith (WR UCF): Staying on the topic of adding playmakers to the roster, the Vikings will also try to add another receiver at some point during draft weekend. Tre'Quan Smith would bring a bit of a different ability to the room as a rookie. Currently the Vikings have a lot of versatile receiving threats that came both work in the slot and along the boundary. Tre'Quan Smith is a burner that is going to make his bones winning on deep balls down the field. Bringing in an additional speed threat on the outside could play into Kirk Cousins ability to throw the deep ball and open up more space underneath for Diggs & Thielen. 

5 (167) - Jack Cichy (LB Wisconsin): During the pre-draft process the Vikings have done a lot of work on Cichy. To be fair they've done a lot of work on the OLB class as a whole,  but Cichy definitely appears to be an interest of theirs. When he was able to stay on the field for the Badgers, Jack looked like a potential starting NFL LB. Unfortunately he missed a majority of the past two collegiate seasons due to injury. Although his talent would warrant a 3rd round draft grade (in my opinion) the medical will likely keep teams away from him until the 5th/6th rounds. Ideally Cichy could be a core ST's contributor in year one before possibly challenging Gedeon at WLB. Either way, the Vikings need depth at LB after losing Emmanuel Lamur in FA and Kentrell Brothers to a PED suspension.

6 (204) - Alex Cappa (OT Humbolt State): Alex Cappa was a player many in the scouting community were excited to see down at the senior bowl earlier this spring. He was inconsistent during senior bowl week but generally left a good taste in most evaluators mouths. Once a team gets their hands on Cappa they will need to how quickly they can get him up to NFL playing speed coming from the D2 tanks. On film he is physical OT who has the mean streak teams are looking for. The question ultimately will be if he can win against NFL speed on the outside. Without having the ability to prove that until draft he slides from being a potential 4th round pick into the 5th/6th round range. He will be a good camp body for the Vikings with an ability to challenge Aviante Collins. 

6 (213) - Kendrick Norton (DT Miami): Another carryover from my previous mock draft, Norton is a run stuffer the Vikings will want to add after watching Shamar Stephen move on to Seattle. The Vikings have done a good job adding interior pass rushers but still need to protect against the run. Norton doesn't offer much upside as a pass rusher but should be able to contribute as a 1 or 2 down run stuffer immediately.

6 (218) - Siran Neal (S Jacksonville State): Once you get this deep in the draft you try to balance filling needs, picking the best remaining talent, and finding players who can contribute immediately on special teams. Neal has the potential to develop into a legitimate safety prospect with an NFL coaching staff. But in year one he will be fighting to make the roster as a special teams contributor. Regardless, he would fill an important spot on the PS if he didn't win a opening day 53-man roster spot.  

7 (225) -  Jordan Aikens (TE UCF): The Vikings dilemma at TE is two-fold. On one hand you could say it’s a priority this off-season since they've continually searched for a receiving threat to compliment Rudolph and Morgan the past two years. On the other hand the TE's who fit that bill this off-season are likely off the board within the first three rounds of the draft. TE is also a position you don't typically see a significant year-one impact. Although that could be changing with the emergence of Engram last season. This late you draft off physical traits and Aiken does bring a lot to the table. He has the ability to make plays and space and high point the ball down the field. Does he ultimately turn into the downfield weapon the Vikings want? Maybe. But they won't be getting a day one contributor like they would have if they addressed the position earlier. 

[Guest]

thanks geoff. nfl christmas is less then a week out!!

[Guest]

great read. thanks Geoff

[Guest]

Thanks Geoff, really appreciate the effort you put into these mocks.

[Guest]

I really like this!!  That trade back is just what we need to add draft capital but still get a starting interior O lineman.  Not sure if Green will last to bottom of second, but let's hope so.  Ken Norton is a great late pick.  Unbeatable pedigree!

[Guest]

Lotta players I like a lot: Price, Dawson, Hines, Cichy, Cappa. In addition to those, here are a few I'm really trying hard to fit into a mock (if I ever get one done)...

Frank Ragnow, C/G
Josh Sweat, Edge
Jessie Bates, S
Tremon Smith, CB
Joe Noteboom, OT
Brandon Parker, OT
PJ Hall, NT/DT
Kemoko Turay, Edge
Chris Herndon, TE
Vyncint Smith, WR
Nathan Shepherd, DT

And the player that makes me most angry we don't have a higher pick? Derwin James. 

[Guest]

I like it.  And, thanks for grabbing a RB this time. B)

[Guest]

I agree that a trade is highly likely, especially if Rudolph is sitting there at 30. What I don't agree on is
using the outdated draft slot points chart for our compensation. I would want Denver's 2nd and 3rd at
a minimum to move out of that spot, especially if we can leverage several teams against each other.
I 'm assuming Rick has already had several of those draft scenario conversations with teams eyeing
Rudolph at that pick, but adding more late round picks doesn't excite me. 

[Guest]

Akins is a bit intriguing but he also turned 26 yesterday.  That is old to try and develop.  Maybe a Deon Yelder or Garrett Hudson would be better TEs to develop?

I think your first pick is the likely Vikings pick even if they do not trade down if this picture of Ohio State's pro day means anything.