2nd Round (Luke): Haason Reddick, Outside Linebacker, Temple
Offensive line help remains the Vikings’ biggest need by a land slide but after spending a week watching Reddick, I’m more than pleased to fill the team’s second need on the checklist. Reddick blew me away in Mobile with his burst off the edge and surprisingly strong initial punch to stun opposing linemen.
But wait, there’s more.
In coverage, Reddick was hip-to-hip with running backs and tight ends, following them in the flats and up the seam with ease. It’s typically hard to find a true three-down linebacker on day two of the draft, so nabbing Reddick here to replace Chad Greenway and complete the second level of the 4-3 base defense is more than justifiable. Western Michigan offensive tackle Tyler Moton was high on my board here too; keep an eye on him as the draft process continues as he was the most impressive of his group this week.
3rd Round (Arif): Julie’n Davenport, Offensive Tackle, Bucknell
It may be difficult for Vikings fans to see another project drafted instead of a game-ready tackle, but the third round of a weak tackle class doesn’t have day one starters. Instead, the Vikings can get a player who acquitted himself well in practices despite poor technique and generally used his athleticism to stonewall opposing defensive ends. Davenport might have the highest upside in the draft and the lowest floor, but his ability to learn quickly might push that floor up higher than many think.
3rd Round (Luke): Kareem Hunt, Running Back, Toledo
Personally, I have a hard time cashing in early picks on a watered-down position like running back, especially with the proven success of countless players in the backfield who were selected on day three or undrafted. Flip on the tape of Hunt, though, and you’ll see a dynamic home run threat every time he touched the ball while still providing what the Vikings need with a physical, in-between-the-tackle style ball carrier. Hunt is a big player who runs hard but stays patient with his vision and ability to let his blockers set up. Combine that with an unbelievable ability to cut laterally and explode into the second and third level of the defense. There was more than a handful of times Hunt was pinched to the sideline or surrounded by defenders, but with his superb balance he’d find a way to stay upright, break free, and gain more yards. A running back has to be truly special for me to justify spending an early pick on the position and with a Le’Veon Bell stylistic approach to his play, Hunt is certainly that.
4th Round (Arif): Dan Feeney, Guard, Indiana
Many mocks have Feeney going in the second round, and he’s a highly-rated guard, but concerns about concussions will likely push him down further than he’s currently projected. Feeney is a powerful player with a strong punch, complemented by excellent quickness. His ability to get his hands up at the snap and deliver the first blow makes him an ideal guard and his hand placement is uniquely on-point. With solid awareness, good athleticism and a record of second-level run-blocking ability, Feeney looks like a lock. The only non-medical question seems to be if he can adjust his pass protection to a more traditional NFL offense and the Senior Bowl practices answered in his favor.
4th Round (Luke): John Johnson, Safety, Boston College
I traveled down to Mobile having watched very limited tape on any of the safety group — in part because of time constraints but also because it’s nice to go in with no preconceived notions when watching a player live for the first time. Johnson immediately stuck out on the practice field to me and separated himself from his peers. It’s never one trait when evaluating safeties but instead a combination of things like size, movement skills, range and instincts to read and react quickly. Johnson was the total package, looking smooth and natural while covering a lot of ground in the process. It’s tough for me to say just how good he is at tackling at this point, however, the focus here is to find a player that can bring out Harrison Smith’s best traits as an in-the-box safety.
5th Round (Arif): Jonnu Smith, Tight End, Florida International
Smith has a fascinating story, as he wasn’t expected to play again this year after his girlfriend dumped boiling water on him partway through the season. He returned much quicker than anyone anticipated and finished his season with over 500 yards. Smith has drawn comparisons to Jordan Reed because of his height (6-foot-2 is small for a tight end) but for the Vikings he could end up playing a move role, much like “fullback” Kyle Juszczyk does for the Ravens or what Aaron Hernandez did for the Patriots. He has soft hands, excellent quickness and good ball skills.
6th Round (Luke): Tanzel Smart, Defensive Tackle, Tulane
When nearing the end of the draft some teams like to flip the switch to boom or bust, like head coach Mike Zimmer pulling the trigger on prospects with freaky physical size like safety Jayron Kearse and defensive end Stephen Weatherly. I see an Aaron Donald type of interior player when I watch Smart. Sure, he doesn’t have the balance or strength like the Rams’ stud, but Smart attacks the gaps and understands when to get skinny in tight spaces and when to get low and use great foundational strength. If Sharrif Floyd isn’t in the long-term plans, a youthful rotation of Shamar Stephen and Smart next to Linval Joseph is something to feel good about.
7th Round (Arif): Chad Williams, Wide Receiver, Grambling State
The Grambling State standout was, to me, the best receiver in practices. He was fantastic getting vertical and showcased high-level ball skills. He also demonstrated excellent route running to create space underneath. He may not have drawn the plaudits that Cooper Kupp did and he’s definitely not the route runner that Ryan Switzer is, but he showed three-level ability as a receiver, with physicality and savvy.
