Thanks to a trade that brought in Sam Bradford from the Philadelphia Eagles, the Minnesota Vikings are without a first round pick this season. It was a move by a team that thought it was on the cusp of being a real factor in the playoff and Super Bowl race. In the end, all it did was make the Vikings an interesting team early in the season, starting 5-0, but one that wilted down the stretch. Minnesota finished 8-7-1 and all Bradford did was keep them from having a first round pick and probably a top five pick at that.
How close are the Vikings really? Back-to-back winning seasons is nothing to discount and Bradford showed flashes of the precious “potential” that made three different franchises spend high draft picks for him. But this is a team that subtracted a hell of a lot more than it added in the offseason and, even without a first round pick, they can stop the bleeding with this draft that’s deep at positions they need to upgrade.
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Round 2, Pick 48: Obi Melifonwu, Safety, UConn
2016: 118 tackles, 2.5 for a loss, one fumble recovery, three passes defended, four interceptions
The Vikings already have a Pro Bowl safety in Harrison Smith, but Melifonwu might be the best player on the board here at 48. He has first round ability and first round grades all over the place, so nabbing here in the second round is a real coup and an immediate upgrade over Andrew Sendejo at the other safety position.
Round 3, Pick 79: Dalvin Tomlinson, DT, Alabama
2016: 45 tackles, 5.5 for a loss, three sacks, four passes defended, one forced fumble
Tomlinson gives the Vikings immediate value at a strength position on their team. They already have Linvale Joseph and Sharrif Floyd at defensive tackle, and both guys are solid NFL starters. Tomlinson has been overshadowed by so many of his Alabama teammates, he’s the exact kind of guy that might blow up at the NFL level. In year one, he’ll be a solid rotational player and help the Vikings keep s push up the middle.
Round 3, Pick 86: Isaac Asiata, OG, Utah
Minnesota has worked the free agent market to improve it’s offensive line, adding Riley Reiff from the Detroit Lions and Mike Remmers from the Carolina Panthers. Asiata played tackle and guard at Utah and was a second-team All PAC-12 selection at guard his senior year.
Round 4, Pick 120: Samaje Perine, RB, Oklahoma
2016: 196 carries, 1060 yards, 12 touchdowns, 10 catches, 106 yards, one touchdown
Perine was part of Oklahoma’s two-headed running attack with Joe Mixon and still got his 1,000 yards plowing through defenses. At 5-10, 235 pounds, Perine is a bruiser back that can bust through tacklers and drag them along for the ride. The Vikings already added Latavius Murray in free agency, but Perine can slide right in as his back up and maybe take his job by year two.
Round 4, Pick 128: Daeshon Hall, DE, Texas A&M
2016: 50 tackles, 13 for a loss, 3.5 sacks, one pass defense, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries
Hall got overshadowed this season by defensive end and teammate Myles Garrett, but he’s a legit NFL prospect in his own right. Hall doesn’t possess the raw, physical tools that Garrett does, but he makes up for it with the ability to play both defensive tackle and end.
Round 5, Pick 160: Erik Magnuson, OT, Michigan
Magnuson has played for an elite NCAA program and been coached up by one of the best coaches at either level in Jim Harbaugh. The Vikings must come out of this offseason with an NFL level offensive line or they’ll be looking at another 8-8 season in 2017. Magnuson has played all across the line in his career and even some at tight end in six-man fronts.
Round 6, Pick 199: Joshua Dobbs, QB, Tennessee
2017: 63 percent completions, 2,946 yards, 27 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 150 carries, 831 yards, 12 touchdowns
Dobbs will likely be the smartest player at any position taken in this draft. If he doesn’t make it in the NFL, he’ll legitimately probably be an astronaut. That being said, Dobbs has a lot of the raw tools needed to succeed at quarterback and with Teddy Bridgewater’s future in doubt, it would be smart for the Vikings to add a quarterback in the later rounds.
Round 7, Pick 232: Jerry Ugokwe, OT, William & Mary
Again, it comes down to a numbers game and the Vikings need the bodies to build (and keep healthy) the offensive line that let them down so thoroughly last season. Ugokew is a pure offensive tackle, probably a right side and he’s huge (6-7, 321). He’s a project, but most seventh round picks are.
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