The Minnesota Vikings will be one of the more fascinating teams to watch in the NFL Draft. They have a roster ready to make a Super Bowl run if J.J. McCarthy takes a major step forward. That leads to where the Vikings are at.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah doesn't have a single dire need on the roster, leaving him the flexibility to make a lot of different decisions in the first round. The latest coming from the godfather of mock drafts.
Mel Kiper Jr. sends Vikings Ohio State OL Donovan Jackson
When Mel Kiper Jr. releases a mock draft, you listen. He sent them an interior offensive lineman in Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson.
Minnesota signed guard Will Fries and center Ryan Kelly away from the Colts. It's a big improvement on the interior offensive line. Let's take it a step further. Jackson would replace Blake Brandel at the other guard spot, and he has the versatility to kick outside if needed. He did so this past season when Josh Simmons got hurt for Ohio State. That seems relevant given left tackle Christian Darrisaw is recovering from a left knee injury. Jackson is a plug-and-play interior blocker with great agility and technique; he allowed four sacks over 40 career starts.
The Vikings do not have a second-round pick, but they could find a solid cornerback at the end of Round 3.
This is the second time in Kiper's mock drafts that he's sent the Vikings. In February, he sent NDSU's Grey Zabel to the Vikings with the other two mock drafts sending them a cornerback.
Jackson is an intriguing player. He was the left guard the first half of the season for the season and eventually took over for Josh Simmons for stretch run at left tackle. You could take him to be your left tackle or left guard and feel comfortable with that decision.
Is it the best bet for the Vikings to take an interior offensive lineman in round one? It would beel similar to that of taking Garrett Bradbury in 2019. Take the best player, and that's more than likely not going to be a guard.
