With just hours to go before the NFL Draft, all eyes are on the final mocks where the experts predict what could happen over the next three days in Cleveland.
Since nobody has the time to read all of these mocks, I compiled the final predictions from the most-trusted experts to see what the Minnesota Vikings might do at pick 14.
Todd McShay (ESPN+)
Jaelan Phillips, Miami (FL), DE
“The Vikings were among the bottom five in sacks last season, and Phillips had eight of them for the Hurricanes in 2020. With Phillips coupled with Danielle Hunter, Minnesota can return to its 2018-19 form, when it was among the five best teams in sack production.”
Jaelen Phillips is an incredibly talented defensive end, and recently he has overcome fellow University of Miami edge rusher Gregory Rousseau on almost all the draft boards. But despite his raw ability, there are plenty of questions surrounding his injury history that at one point forced him to medically retire from football before he transferred to Miami.
Adding Phillips would create a brand-new defensive line for next season, with Hunter and Michael Pierce returning to couple with free-agent acquisition Dalvin Tomlinson. This group would turn the abysmal Vikings pass rush of last season into one of the best as they look to return to form this year.
Mel Kiper (ESPN+)
Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech, OT
“The Vikings would be thrilled with one of the tackles here. They gave Dalvin Cook a big extension, which means they need to make sure he has some running lanes. I also thought about edge rusher Kwity Paye.”
With the loss of Riley Rieff this offseason and no significant additions to the offensive line, grabbing someone in the first round to protect Kirk Cousins’ blindside would make a lot of sense.
While Darrisaw isn’t as big of a prospect as Penei Sewell and Rashawn Slater, he is still a very talented left tackle who can both move in the running game and protect the QB.
Adding Darrisaw to this decrepit offensive line doesn’t fix all of the problems with the unit. Still, it would undoubtedly be a significant step in the right direction as they look to improve from their horrible showing last year.
Bucky Brooks (NFL.com)
Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC, OG/OT
“The versatile USC product shores up a big weakness for the Vikings as an athletic interior blocker with the ability to play tackle if needed.”
Vera-Tucker is another prospect who would serve as an improvement to the offensive line. Despite his first-round grade, experts project him to move to the inside and play as a guard at the next level. But Luke Braun recently detailed why AVT’s short arms might not necessarily mean that he has to play guard and how he can still be a successful left tackle in the NFL.
Nevertheless, Vera-Tucker provides the versatility for two positions and could create a competition between himself, Ezra Cleveland, and Rashod Hill for who could be the starting left tackle on Week 1.
Daniel Jeremiah (NFL Network)
Jaelan Phillips, Miami (FL), DE
“Phillips is the most talented edge rusher in this year’s class and wouldn’t be available this late if not for his injury history. The Vikings ranked 28th in sacks last season, but the pass rush should be more productive with Phillips and a healthy Danielle Hunter in the fold.”
Another person who has the Vikings taking the highly talented edge from Miami, Jeremiah argues that an edge-rushing tandem of Phillips and Hunter would wreak havoc across the NFL and help repair the defensive line.
Not only would Phillips be a great addition to the D-line, but the secondary will love him. They would have to cover opposing wideouts for far less time than they did last season.
Ryan Wilson (CBS)
Vikings move down to pick 19 and take Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC, OG/OT
“The Vikings have their pick of offensive linemen not named Sewell or Slater, and they take Alijah Vera-Tucker, who played left tackle last season but will likely kick inside in the NFL. Wherever he ends up, he’ll give Minnesota position flexibility along the O-line.”
This scenario would likely split the fanbase. While the Vikings would probably recoup a second-round selection by trading back, they would be passing up the chance to draft Kirk Cousins‘ successor and hometown hero Trey Lance.
The trade back would infuriate all of the NDSU-Vikings fans, along with those who believe that Cousins isn’t the answer to the quarterback position. While passing on a top-caliber quarterback might be unlikely, it is important to remember that both Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman could be on the hot seat and therefore in a win-now mode, something that a backup quarterback in Year 1 wouldn’t help them with at all.
Paul Allen (KFAN Power Trip Mock Draft)
Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC, OG/OT
“The two who would be in play for the Vikings are tackle Alijah Vera-Tucker and Christian Darrisaw. I believe it will be one of those two this evening, and I would lean Vera-Tucker simply with the ability to play him at guard and move Ezra Cleveland to tackle.”
Perhaps the person who is most closely connected to the Vikings has them solidifying the offense, much to the relief of most of the fanbase. He stated that Vera-Tucker’s ability also to play guard can relieve Cleveland from being forced to play that position and kick him out to his more natural position at tackle.
It’s worth noting that Allen hinted at a potential trade up, stating that if Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields falls close to where the Vikings are picking, they could pounce at the chance to land the talented signal-caller.
Former Vikings linebacker Ben Leber seconded this pick, saying that “He’s (Vera-Tucker) the best offensive lineman available overall.”
Peter Schrager (NFL Network)
Jaelen Phillips, Miami (FL), DE
“Phillips could go as high as No. 7 and as low as No. 20. Some teams have dinged him, while others love his game. I think he’s the first pass rusher off the board and would be great opposite Danielle Hunter.”
Schrager expects Phillips to immediately slot in next to Hunter and get after opposing quarterbacks along with the new-look Vikings’ defensive line.
This would lead to a much stronger defensive unit overall with a vastly improved pass rush, along with two almost impenetrable players in Tomlinson and Pierce playing against the run up the middle. Throughout his time in Minnesota, Zimmer’s calling card has always been defense, and with this pick he can complete a full turnaround of that unit restoring it to its former glory.
