ROUND 6, PICK 190: DT Armon Watts, Arkansas
The Vikings took their second straight defensive player after four straight on offense to start the draft. At Pick 190, the Vikings grabbed Watts, a big defensive tackle at 6-foot-5, 300 pounds who put together a strong senior season with seven sacks and three forced fumbles after three quiet years with the Razorbacks. Pro Football Focus gave him the 13th-best pass-rush productivity grade in the class, but his second-slowest 40-yard dash time hurt his stock at the NFL Combine.
Quotable: “In the SEC it’s never a question about toughness, and toughness starts in the trenches. You absolutely have to win in the trenches to win a game, period.”
ROUND 6, PICK 191: DB Marcus Epps, Wyoming
With nine interceptions in his first three seasons, Epps splashed as a four-year player and three-year captain at Wyoming after joining the team as a walk-on. Though his production dipped a bit in his senior year, Epps graded out as a strong tackler and had a phenomenal Pro Day where he measured out as top-five prospect in agility drills. At around 6-0, 200 pounds, Epps has the most experience at safety. He’ll be competing for a backup role in the Vikings’ secondary, perhaps head-to-head with AAF signee S Derron Smith.
Quotable: “My versatility or my football IQ [are my best traits]. I feel like I can play different positions anywhere the team needs me or wants me to play.”
ROUND 6, PICK 193: T Olisaemeka Udoh, Elon
At 6-5, 323 pounds, Udoh brings size to the table out of the Colonial Athletic Association. He was a right tackle and four-year starter at Elon and ran a top-10 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. If you’re big and can move, you’re going to get a look, but Udoh will need to adjust quickly to his more skilled competition at the next level. Competed at the Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Game, where he also played some guard. Has a sister that plays basketball at Wake Forest.
Quotable: “Just being able to change my diet and my weight and then get in shape more, start running and do more cardio to shed the weight was definitely a really tough process. But it was honestly something I wanted to do because I wanted to be the best football player that I could be.”
ROUND 7, PICK 217: CB Kris Boyd, Texas
With their first pick of the seventh round the Vikings nabbed Boyd, a former teammate of Holton Hill’s at Texas with good speed and run-stopping skills. In terms of pure coverage, he struggled analytically but did combine for 30 passes defended over his junior and senior seasons. Finished his career with three interceptions and 7.5 tackles for loss. Capable as a kick returner.
ROUND 7, PICK 239: WR Dillon Mitchell, Oregon
The Vikings added a skill-position player with 239, taking Mitchell, a receiver out of Oregon. Mitchell earned second-team All-Conference honors for his 1,184 yards and 10 touchdowns last year, setting the program’s single-season receiving record. Converted nine passing plays of 40 yards or more, making him a feared downfield threat. He also logged eight drops, giving him one of the class’s highest drop rates. Used periodically as a punt returner. Mitchell possesses above-average speed and decent size. Should look like he belongs, and the Vikings are far from set at their third, fourth and fifth receiver spots.
ROUND 7, PICK 247: WR Olabisi Johnson, Colorado State
Back-to-back seventh-round receivers to create more competition. Not too different from what they did a couple years ago when they brought in Stacy Coley and Rodney Adams to compete. Johnson was the number two receiver for three seasons behind Michael Gallup and, most recently, Preston Williams. Strong in many areas many master of none, considering he was never the top pass-catching option. Operates mostly within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. Tested well in agility and explosiveness at the combine. Like Mitchell, has punt returning experience.
ROUND 7, PICK 250: LS Austin Cutting, Air Force
The 12th and final for the Minnesota Vikings is … a long snapper. Austin Cutting gained a lot of attention in the pre-draft process for his precision at the position. Who’s pumped for a long-snapping competition between Cutting and Kevin McDermott? A move to Cutting would save a few dollars against the cap, which may be an incentive for the Vikings. The catch could be Cutting’s two-year commitment as a service academy graduate. He’ll have to find a compromise with the Air Force to restructure his commitment in a way that allows him to play football.
Browse the rest of the Zone Coverage Draft Guide.
TOP 40 PLAYERS
MINNESOTA VIKINGS NEEDS & TARGETS
POSITIONAL TOP 5 RANKINGS & VIDEO BREAKDOWNS
MINNESOTA VIKINGS DRAFT TRENDS
INMAN: NFC NORTH WORST CASE DRAFT SCENARIOS
SENIOR BOWL CENTRAL (PODCASTS, VIDEOS, ARTICLES)
INMAN’S MOCK DRAFT COLLECTION
