[ad_1]\n<\/p>\n
Coming out of the 2021 NFL Draft with 11 selections, the Minnesota Vikings set out to improve upon their 2020 season while also having an eye towards building for the future. Their NFC North-leading draft selections should help accomplish both of those elements, and they could potentially turn this year\u2019s class into immediate help in a division that could see Aaron Rodgers depart.<\/p>\n
Six selections went towards addressing their offense and five were used on defensive players, so general manager Rick Spielman and his team of evaluators worked the board and got their players. Here are the grades for all 11 selections the Vikings made:
\nRound 1
\nNo. 23 Overall: Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech \u2013 A
\nAfter trading back from the 14th overall selection with the New York Jets, the Vikings did not make their first selection of the 2021 NFL Draft until the 23rd pick. After sending the 14th and the 143rd pick, they received the 23rd, 66th and 86th picks from the Jets, helping stock up their top-100 allotments.
\nOffensive tackle Christian Darrisaw, frequently seen as the second-or-third best tackle prospect in this year\u2019s draft behind Penei Sewell and alongside Rashawn Slater, fell to the Vikings and was an outstanding value selection that late. With the potential for Darrisaw to have gone in the Top 12, the VT product is an immediate plug-and-play option on this team\u2019s OL and should help keep Kirk Cousins upright and Dalvin Cook efficient and healthy.
\nEven with the reports that the Vikings were considering taking QB Justin Fields if they had remained at 14 and if the Bears had not jumped up to 11th to take him, getting Darrisaw and two additional early picks made a ton of sense.<\/p>\n
Round 3
\nNo. 66 Overall: Kellen Mond, QB, Texas A&M \u2013 B-
\nGrabbing what projects to be the signal-caller of the future in Texas A&M\u2019s Kellen Mond was an interesting usage of the Vikings\u2019 second selection. Not having a second-round pick to their name after trading it away, they were a part of a mini run of QB\u2019s in the third round\u2013which involved Kyle Trask (TB) and Davis Mills (HOU) going off the board around the same time.
\nMond projects well into the league, having played in a collegiate scheme that involves transferable elements that can help his progression. But there are reasons that he was a part of the second-tier crop of QBs, and that gap may provide Cousins with enough leeway to hold onto the starting job for two to three seasons before seriously being challenged.
\nThe Vikings had more pressing needs that they should have addressed at this point, but Mond was seen as more of a luxury for the team and they can afford to bring a QB along on a developmental path to see if he can replace Cousins.
\nNo. 78 Overall: Chazz Surratt, LB, North Carolina \u2013 A-
\nTodd McShay feels that this may end up being the Vikings\u2019 best selection of the draft due to the value in which they were able to pick LB Chazz Surratt. Looking like the likely option to replace Eric Wilson, Surratt\u2019s sideline-to-sideline play projects nicely alongside both Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr.
\nThis was not a year of solid LB prospects, as this class was led by Tulsa\u2019s Zaven Collins and Notre Dame\u2019s Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. With Surratt presenting solid value there with this team\u2019s second selection in the third round, the Vikings did well to grab another depth piece that could hold a solid role Day 1.<\/p>\n
UNC LB Chazz Surratt was the bench press champ today with 27 reps (had 28 in the video but one didn\u2019t count).
\n27-28 reps would be 85th-90th percentile for off-ball LBs. Dude is strong. pic.twitter.com\/Myvt6gYqPB
\n\u2014 Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) March 4, 2021<\/p>\n
No. 86 Overall: Wyatt Davis, G, Ohio State \u2013 A-
\nWith interior lineman Josh Myers having joined the Green Bay Packers in the second round, Wyatt Davis marked another Ohio State lineman in the NFC North division and the team\u2019s second OL in four selections.
\nDavis is a solid option to help man any of the guard spots for the Vikings, and he will contribute with Darrisaw in helping an area that used to be the downfall of the team. Comparing Davis and Illinois\u2019 Kendrick Green, who went to the Steelers one pick later, could show which Big Ten option was better.
\nNo. 90 Overall: Patrick Jones II, EDGE, Pittsburgh \u2013 C-
\nThe fourth and final third-rounder for Minnesota saw them attack the defensive front, selecting Pittsburgh\u2019s Patrick Jones II for their edge rushing department. Seen as an option that can use his quickness to get around tackles, Jones looks to be quite the up-and-down prospect.
\nBucky Brooks sees him as a \u201cboom-or-bust playmaker\u201d that will produce but also have his fair share of misses. OKLA\u2019s Ronnie Perkins may have been a better, more predictable selection for edge rusher.
\nRound 4
\nNo. 119 Overall: Kene Nwangwu, RB, Iowa State \u2013 C
\nHolding special teams value as a kick returner, Iowa State\u2019s Kene Nwangwu comes to the Vikings as the likely RB3 behind Cook and Alexander Mattison. While having a smaller stature, his elusiveness could translate into some third-down receiving work, but he is not built as a pass-blocking option.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Minnesota @Vikings select Kene Nwangwu, Running Back, Iowa State.\u201d
\nCongrats, @KWang3_ !
\nWatch the 2021 #NFLDraft April 29 \u2013 May 1 on @nflnetwork
\n??? pic.twitter.com\/7LiYulOCAq
\n\u2014 Cyclone Football (@CycloneFB) May 1, 2021<\/p>\n
No. 125 Overall: Camryn Bynum, CB, California \u2013 B
\nHaving come out of Cal as a cornerback, Camryn Bynum will likely transition to safety in Mike Zimmer\u2019s offense, and he will hopefully end the streak of using selections on DBs that don\u2019t pay off. His physicality is the biggest trait of Bynum\u2019s, and coming from the Pac-12 and their passing numbers certainly will help get him up to speed for the Vikings quickly.
\nNo. 134 Overall: Janarius Robinson, EDGE, Florida State \u2013 B
\nThe second edge rusher in their draft class, Florida State\u2019s Janarius Robinson brings power to the DL and should see a role right away in his rookie season. Helping address a lacking pass rush that can never have too many options, Robinson will likely start out as a situational option that helps spell those in front of him on the depth chart.
\nRound 5
\nNo. 157 Overall: Ihmir Smith-Marsette, WR, Iowa \u2013 B+
\nGrabbing their first receiver of the draft in Iowa\u2019s Ihmir Smith-Marsette injects even more speed into their offense, and he can help press Nwangwu for return duties. Smith-Marsette was one of the hotter names in the later rounds, and the Vikings were able to get its WR3\/4 to pair with Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen.
\nNo. 168 Overall: Zach Davidson, TE, Central Missouri \u2013 C-
\nDrafting tight ends out of small schools seems to be the trend for NFC North teams, and the Vikings followed suit this year with Central Missouri\u2019s Zach Davison.
\nHe has not played since 2019 due to the pandemic, but his is a moldable TE prospect who also has a solid line of punting in college, which could provide him with some roster security \u2026 potentially.
\nRound 6
\nNo. 199 Overall: Jaylen Twyman, DT, Pittsburgh \u2013 C-<\/p>\n
Jaylen Twyman is READY for the NFL \u2014 as he heads to the Minnesota #Vikings with Pick 199 pic.twitter.com\/E022bNHw8J
\n\u2014 Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) May 1, 2021<\/p>\n
With their final pick, the Vikings went back to Pitt for DL help and grabbed DT Jaylen Twyman, who has his fair share of question marks surrounding him. While his 10.5 sacks from the 2019 season stands out, his absence at the Pitt pro day certainly made it seem like his future interests may not be in the NFL.<\/p>\n