There’s one thing the experts agree on: the Minnesota Vikings' most pressing need in the NFL draft is shoring up the offensive line, starting at guard.
ESPN draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay released their fourth mock draft on Wednesday, this time also projecting out each team’s second-round picks. More on that later.
There has been quite a bit of movement on the Vikings' O-line since Kiper and McShay’s last mocks in March. Two weeks ago, veteran guard Joe Berger retired after 13 years. That same day, top reserve lineman Jeremiah Sirles signed with the Carolina Panthers.
Minnesota signed swingman Tom Compton to a one-year deal worth $900,000 in free agency. After spending big bucks on a quarterback and defensive tackle, all signs pointed to the draft as the place where Minnesota would find help for the offensive line.
With the 30th overall pick in the first round, McShay has the Vikings selecting UTEP guard Will Hernandez while Kiper believes Minnesota will spend its first pick on Iowa guard/center James Daniels.
Both of those picks indicate a number of things. The first is that Mike Remmers, who shifted over to guard during the last few games of the season to compensate for injuries, will move back to right tackle.
The second of which is that Hernandez and Daniels have the capability of starting immediately to fill the void left by Berger.
Hernandez started 49 games at left guard on an offensive line that gave up 74 sacks during his four-year career at UTEP, which was the 12th fewest among all FBS teams during that span. At 6-foot-2, 327 pounds, Hernandez is 15-20 pounds heavier than anyone the Vikings played at guard last year, but his mobility and athleticism is what’s drawing intrigue as possibly the second guard taken in the draft behind Notre Dame’s Quenton Nelson.
A strong performance at last month’s combine is pushing Daniels into first-round contention. The 6-3, 306-pound center decided to forgo his senior season at Iowa and put his athleticism on display in Indianapolis, running the three-cone drill in 7.29 seconds, which was the third-fastest among offensive linemen. Daniels has more of the length the Vikings desire at the position, but he played lighter in college (around 285 pounds) than he’ll be able to in the NFL.
A plug-and-play guard will be critical for the Vikings in finding the right combination of starting linemen to protect Kirk Cousins and open up holes for a run game that put up 1,957 yards last season.
Where Kiper and McShay differ are what they view as Minnesota’s most pressing need in the second round.
McShay formulated his drafted based on projected trades in both rounds, none of which directly involved the Vikings. With the 62nd overall pick, the draft analyst has Minnesota taking Carlton Davis, a big, physical corner from Auburn -- perhaps the most physical cornerback in the draft.
Despite question marks at nickel corner surrounding how much longer Terence Newman is going to play and whether Mackensie Alexander is the best fit at the position, Davis is projected as one of the top five cornerbacks to be taken in the draft and is a physical, lengthy (6-1) press corner who could provide depth in the secondary. The time he’d have to develop under Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes could turn Davis into one of the better outside corners in the NFL. Davis was a three-year starter at Auburn and recorded 29 pass breakups, four interceptions, forced three fumbles and totaled 4.5 tackles for loss. Former Tigers defensive coordinator Will Muschamp immediately made Davis the team's No. 1 corner, so he didn't have a chance to play the nickel or "star" spot as its referred to at Auburn. Some of the issues he had with his deep speed and downfield coverage are typical for a corner of his size and build, but if he’s still around when the Vikings pick at 62nd, Davis is the type of player who would be hard to pass up.
Kiper still views building offensive line as Minnesota’s top priority with its first two picks. In the second round, Kiper has the Vikings selecting Oregon offensive tackle Tyrell Crosby, who spent the last two seasons at left tackle (he played only two games in 2016 due to a foot injury) for the Ducks after starting at right tackle as a sophomore in 2015.
If Remmers is back at right tackle in 2018, Crosby will be in the mix with Rashod Hill to add depth at the tackle position should a shift be made that forces Remmers to play inside due to injuries. Most draft experts like Crosby for his combination of mass and length at the tackle spot (6-5, 325 pounds) and ability to push through contact and generate movement in the run game, but where he struggles is with his initial quickness, something that he could hone in a season or two in Minnesota’s zone blocking scheme.