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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

Here’s a guy that could be a tremendous value pick on Day 2 if he falls out of Round 1. Deebo Samuel, 23, was one of the most versatile offensive players when healthy over the last three seasons. His freshman and junior years were marred by injuries, which could give him the Injury Prone label, but Samuel came through as a three-phase performer in college with 16 receiving touchdowns, seven rushing and four kick return (including two TDs on two returns in 2017 before missing the rest of the season with a broken leg).

Samuel, whose birth name was not Deebo but “Tyshun,” was best as a slot receiver that gained yards after the catch. He earned All-American honors as a senior with 882 receiving yards and 570 kick return yards.

Size

5-11, 214 pounds

Combine notables

40-yard dash: 4.48 seconds
Bench: 15 reps
Vertical: 39 inches (6^th at position)
Broad jump: 122 inches
3-cone drill: 7.03 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.14 seconds (5^th at position)

What the analysts say

“Tyshun “Deebo” Samuel lives up to his nickname (it comes from a tough guy in the movie “Friday”) and plays each game like he’s stepping into an alley fight. While Samuel is tough and competitive, he lacks suddenness and might need scheme help with motion and bunch formations to help free him against NFL man coverage. He is a gamer who thrives once the ball is in his hands, and he might be able to help a team from the slot if he can stay healthy.” – Lance Zierlein, NFL.com

“Samuel has been victimized by poor quarterback play at South Carolina but still showcased an exciting skill set. An outstanding route runner to all levels of the field, Samuel is a fit for any scheme with the upside to play outside and from the slot. His blend of ball skills and post-catch ability make him an intriguing weapon. By year three, Samuel has the upside be a prolific top-3 option for a productive NFL passing offense that makes plays in a variety of ways.” – Joe Marino, The Draft Network

What PFF says

-3^rd in yards per route run from slot
-126^th in deep pass catch rate
-9.6 yards after catch per completion

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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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