Let’s be honest: There’s a chance the Minnesota Vikings don’t make a selection on Thursday.
With just three picks separating the Vikings’ 30th pick from the start of the second round, it’s entirely possible Minnesota trades back to amass more draft capital, but a lot could happen in the prior 29 picks to influence general manager Rick Spielman’s decision.
“I’ve had four calls over the last two days where we’re picking,” said Spielman at Tuesday’s press conference. “You don’t know. I wish I could say ‘Yes, we’d love to trade out,’ but I don’t want to trade out if there’s a player that falls to us.”
Let’s assume, though, that the Vikings stay put and make the 30th pick.
Here’s what our team of Vikings writers predicts for the Purple.
SAM EKSTROM (@SamEkstrom)
If I entered the week doubting whether or not the Vikings would select an offensive lineman at 30, I regained my confidence after Spielman’s presser, where he emphatically claimed the Vikings were not locked into that position in the first round. This continues the trend of Spielman using his pre-draft presser primarily as a diversion.
In 2015, he repeatedly dropped hints that the Vikings would like to trade back from the 11th pick, only to stay put and select corner Trae Waynes. In 2016, Spielman insisted the Vikings weren’t necessarily drafting a receiver, only to take Laquon Treadwell.
This doesn’t mean Spielman is guaranteed to go against his word, but it’s almost certainly a preventative measure to keep teams from leaping them in order to nab a coveted lineman. If the general manager voiced his desire to take, say, the best guard available, that wouldn’t exactly give him much leverage, would it?
All that to say, I think the Vikings go O-line, but who?
While it might be tempting to go for Chanhassen product Frank Ragnow out of Arkansas, I think the Vikings select center Billy Price out of Ohio State. Some may view this as a stretch because of Price’s partially torn pectoral at the NFL Combine, but a recent doctor’s report indicates that Price should be fully healthy for training camp. Plus, it’s not as if other offensive line prospects don’t have their own injury concerns (i.e., Ragnow’s ankle, Isaiah Wynn’s labrum, Connor Williams’ knee).
The Vikings have shown a proclivity for pairing up former college teammates, and Price could have immediate chemistry at guard next to Pat Elflein (or vice versa), considering they played side by side with the Buckeyes before Elflein got drafted by Minnesota last year.
If the Vikings liked Elflein’s draft profile, they should also like Price’s. Both were Rimington Trophy winners as the nation’s top center in successive years.
ARIF HASAN (@ArifHasanNFL)
The Vikings often take chances on players who have had injuries impact their final season after a dominant prior season. Connor Williams‘ 2016 was better than any offensive tackle play we’ve seen from a college player in years, and he could fall to them.
If Frank Ragnow or Isaiah Wynn fall to 30 this might change, but for now it seems like the only available player that fits their scheme, athletic requirements and need for an offensive lineman is Williams.
LUKE INMAN (@Luke_Spinman)
Who’s on the board? That’s the biggest factor in deciding just which direction “Slick Rick” and his posse will look to attack during the draft. On a team that went 13-3 last season, it’s safe to say the Vikings don’t have many glaring weaknesses. In fact, the only starting spot needed is an interior line position with Joe Berger retiring. If Spielman wants to attack that lone position of need then, no doubt, look for Georgia’s Isaiah Wynn or Ohio State’s Billy Price. Two plug-and-play guys that will step in on Day 1 and help bully opposing defenses. Most importantly, the addition helps finish a two-year project of turning the league’s worst offensive line unit into a legitimate strength.
However, if I know Rick like I think I do, I know he will say there is better value at this position on Day 2, allowing the front office to focus on depth at a different position. Michigan’s defensive tackle Maurice Hurst was unblockable and gives the team a real rotation again after the sudden departure of Shamar Stephen and Tom Johnson.
In the same token, cornerback is loaded at the top this year, and I’d put my house down that at least one of those big names will fall in the lap of the Vikings. Colorado’s Isaiah Oliver, Louisville’s Jaire Alexander or Iowa’s Josh Jackson all would be too good of value to pass up, especially when considering Terence Newman’s future is uncertain and Trae Waynes will be a free agent soon.
So many scenarios and options that could play out when the team is on the clock at 30. But I think Spielman can’t help playing the value game and looking for an offensive lineman like Nevada’s Austin Corbett in the second round. In turn, I’m expecting the Vikings to add some help to a defense that allowed 62 points the last two games of the 2017 season.
Final Prediction: Taven Bryan, Defensive Tackle, Florida
