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TOP 40 PLAYERS
MINNESOTA VIKINGS NEEDS & TARGETS
POSITIONAL TOP 5 RANKINGS & VIDEO BREAKDOWNS
MINNESOTA VIKINGS DRAFT TRENDS
INMAN: NFC NORTH WORST CASE DRAFT SCENARIOS
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INMAN’S MOCK DRAFT COLLECTION

A four-year contributor and three-year starter at Maryland, Darnell Savage Jr. is rising up big boards thanks to a strong NFL Combine where he ran the second-fastest 40. Though a bit undersized at below 200 pounds, he was stout against the run with nine tackles for loss in college and accompanied that with eight career interceptions, including two Pick 6s. Allowed just a 36.0 passer rating against him. Was arguably better as a junior for the Terrapins.

Size

5-11, 198 pounds

Combine notables

40-yard dash: 4.36 seconds (2^nd at position)
Bench: 11 reps (3^rd worst at position)
Vertical: 39.5 inches (3^rd at position)
Broad jump: 126 inches (5^th at position)
3-cone drill: 7.03 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.14 seconds (T6th at position)

What the analysts say

“Savage will offer an interesting litmus test for how teams value instincts, IQ and coverage quickness against size. He sports a compact frame with a muscular build and was actually bigger at the combine than some scouts expected. His sticky cover skills and ability to close on throws from all areas of the field are valuable commodities that should not be undervalued. Savage should be targeted as a Day 2 hybrid defender offering early starting potential as a two-high zone or slot cover talent.” – Lance Zierlein, NFL.com

“Darnell Savage projects favorably as a Cover 2 safety in the NFL. Savage has the needed athletic skills to be a starting defender in the NFL, although he’ll need to be protected from his own aggressive mentality and learn some tackles don’t need to be made. Early role should feature a ton of special teams and being implemented in sub-packages. Higher ceiling prospect in a thin Safety group, Savage possesses all the tools needed to be an eventual starter and play at a high level.” – Kyle Crabbs, The Draft Network

What PFF says

-Top 25 percent in run-stop percentage
-6^th in coverage

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CHECK OUT 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

Sam Ekstrom

Sam Ekstrom is an executive producer and host at Locked On Sports Minnesota. He's previously covered the Vikings for 105 The Ticket, Zone Coverage, Purple Insider, and the Associated Press. He grew up in Vermillion, S.D. rooting for the USD Coyotes (not SDSU) and graduated from Dordt (not "dork") University in Sioux Center, Iowa.

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