With The First Pick
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Minnesota Vikings: Looking forward to the 2021 NFL Draft

By Geoffrey Godfrey

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 28: A general view of U.S. Bank Stadium as the Minnesota Vikings practice during training camp on August 28, 2020 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 28: A general view of U.S. Bank Stadium as the Minnesota Vikings practice during training camp on August 28, 2020 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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Minnesota Vikings: Looking forward to the 2021 NFL Draft
2021 NFL Draft: Vikings HC Mike Zimmer. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /

Where can the Vikings turn in the 2021 NFL Draft?

We saw the Minnesota Vikings jettison one of the best wide receivers in the league this offseason when they traded away Stefon Diggs. They were able to try and fill the void with Justin Jefferson a talented Wide Receiver out of LSU.

Just weeks ago we saw them swing a one-sided trade as they got an elite defensive end for a second-round pick when they got Defensive End Yannick Ngakoue from the Jaguars. While these could turn out to be solid moves for the team moving forward, they are out a second-round pick and project with $29MM in cap space for 2021.

Vikings draft picks in 2021

Round 1- Vikings
Round 3- Vikings
Round 4- Bears, Bills, and Vikings
Round 5- Ravens, Steelers, and Vikings
Round 6- Vikings
Round 7- Vikings

With a total of 10 picks in the NFL draft, the Vikings can move up and fill the needs that will open up as they will most likely let several players walk in FA. Let’s take a look at a few players they will let walk or release and have to cut as a cap casualty.

How they fared in the 2020 NFL Draft

In 2020 the Vikings draft shook out like this:

1st round- Justin Jefferson, WR LSU, and Jeff Gladney, CB Ohio State
2nd round- Ezra Cleveland, OL Bosie State
3rd round- Cameron Dantzler, CB Mississippi State
4th round- D.J. Wonnum, DE South Carolina, James Lynch, DT Baylor, and Troy Dye, LB Oregon
5th round- Harrison Hand, CB Temple, and K.J. Osborne, WR Miami
6th round- Blake Brandel, OT Oregon State, and Josh Metellus, S Michigan
7th round- Kenny Willekes, DE Michigan State, Nate Stanley, QB Iowa, Brian Cole II, S Mississippi State, and Kyle Hinton, OT Washburn

The Vikings made good use of their first four picks, as all four should be starting this year. If not week one, then by no later than after their bye week. Wide receiver Justin Jefferson seems to be a hot candidate for rookie of the year on the offensive side of the ball. While Jeff Gladney will be a key part of a rebuilding secondary for the Vikings.

Out of this class, we could see several players surprise us and end up in the rotation or starting next year in defensive tackle James Lynch, and Cameron Dantzler, cornerback. While talented Wonnum, Dye, and Stanley, seem more like projects at this point.

They seem more like depth pieces rather than being able to come in and start today. Wonnum would have had a solid shot at starting at defensive end later in the year if it were not for the recent trade with Jacksonville to acquire a top-10 defensive end

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