Vikings draft is great up front

Perhaps never before in the Rick Spielman era had the Vikings entered the draft with a more clear cut mission of what they HAD to do. They needed to beef up an offensive line that just cannot get it together.

And on that front, this draft was a homerun.

On day 1, Rick ignored the whiny Vikings fans screaming for him to trade up for literally every player not named Lawrence or Wilson. In fact he never traded up at all. Instead he traded back with the Jets from 14 to 23 and still got the big beast LT we needed. Christian Darrisaw will immediately begin protecting Kirk's blindside. He sounds like a perfect scheme fit too. 

On day 2, he again held serve and did not trade up. They had 4 3rd round picks after the Jets trade and he used every one. Just in an unexpected order. 

First he shocked most of us by drafting Kellen Mond, a Texas A&M QB. It was not that big a shock that a QB would be picked in this draft, but not with their 2nd pick. On the night I hated this pick. I still kinda do, but the Jets trade got us this pick and we got Darrisaw anyway, so it's almost like a free pick. Mond is very much a project, and despite the inevitable calls for him to replace Kirk the moment he throws an incompletion, he will not see the field in 2021 barring injury.

Then we took Chazz Surratt, a linebacker, who based on his highlights looks like a great high upside prospect for Zimmer to mold. He could be a Barr replacement next year, or even play this year as a 3rd LB. 

The 3rd 3rd rounder was a homerun, Wyatt Davis, the Ohio State guard who had long been talked up as a 1st round pick. Instead we get him at 86, and frankly he should be the heavy favorite to start.

Finally they took Patrick Jones, a pass rusher for Zimmer to use in the rotation. That end spot opposite Hunter is wide open and Jones will have a chance to play a lot. 

Finally on day 3, we started by taking RB Kene Nwangwu, an Iowa State speedster who figures to have a strong chance at returning kicks and whose presence could spell the end of Ameer Abdullah. 

We took Camryn Bynum, a corner who the Vikings figure to move to safety. With our minimal depth there, Bynum figures to be a roster lock, and a potential future starter.

Next came Janarius Robinson, another pass rusher for the mix. Given our track record at mid round DEs, you can bet either him or Jones will be big hits.

Maybe the 2 most exciting picks came in the 5th round. First is Ihmir Smith-Marsette, a speedy WR from Iowa. He could very much be in the mix for WR3. 

Then they took Zach Davidson, a huge tight end who can catch and could be a major weapon.

Finally they took interior DL Jaylen Twyman, who probably goes higher if he hadn't opted out last year. We are pretty thin at DT behind Tomlinson and Pierce, so Twyman has a food chance to make the roster.

And surprisingly that last pick was a 6th rounder. Rick never traded back into the 7th. Trader Rick only made the 1 trade and it was a great one.

Each position of need was addressed with at least 1 pick. We didn't draft a kicker but did sign an UDFA guy.

There will likely still be a cheap free agent signing or two. I hope we somehow get Larry Fitzgerald in here. But otherwise this roster is looking very complete and MUCH deeper than last year. 

This defense and OL both look immensely improved from 2020. Plus we may even get a little bit of a pissed off Kirk after drafting a QB. We have weapons. Aaron Rodgers might be gone from Green Bay.

The NFC North is going back to purple in 2021.