Back-to-back losses put a heartbreaking end to the Minnesota Vikings season. But with a first-time quarterback ready to take over, they could develop through the Draft. Let's take a look at what PFN predicts in their latest 7-Round mock.
Garrett Bradbury is an unrestricted free agent heading into the offseason and Minnesota will likely hand the reins over to J.J. McCarthy at quarterback next season, so continuity isn’t there between a center-quarterback duo anyways. Marcus Mbow has been projected as the top guard by many, but his best bet for NFL stardom is at the pivot. Coincidentally, his hip fluidity and ability to pivot is what makes him such an outstanding candidate to anchor down the middle of an offensive line. Add in some violent hands, conspicuous explosiveness, and a keen eye for defensive line games and Minnesota might have a gem.
DJ Giddens doesn’t produce the same three-down versatility of his contemporaries in the class, but he might be one of the most gifted natural runners among them. Johnson, Neal, and Giddens all specialize in maximizing outside zone. Although KOC mixes up his run game, Giddens zone running is a more nuanced endeavor.
Thanks to the overabundance of prospects at Ole Miss, JJ Pegues might be overshadowed but his explosiveness and athleticism, along with nimbleness should make a solid addition to the defensive line of the Vikings.
A pure pocket passer with amazing timing and accuracy from the pocket, Kurtis Rourke offers great upside as a backup. However, his advanced age might restrict development, leaving him behind JJ McCarthy permanently.
