2014 NFL Draft Rumors: Minnesota Vikings targeting Aaron Donald at No. 8
Aaron Donald entered the predraft process as a second round pick, but after a strong Senior Bowl week and excelling at the NFL combine and throughout the interview process, Donald has risen to the top half of the first round where he has been projected to the Chicago Bears at No. 14 in a host of mock drafts.
However, with the draft only a few days away, Donald’s stock continues to soar and the Minnesota Vikings at No. 8 could be the team who drafts the unanimous All-American and the winner of the Outland, Lombardi, Nagurski and Outland Trophy’s, according to NFL media analyst Daniel Jeremiah.
Information is flying all over the place…Now hearing Aaron Donald to MIN. This is going to be a fun ride on Thurs night.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) May 5, 2014
The Vikings have been projected to take a quarterback in the first round, but if their guy is not on the board, they could take the consensus top defensive tackle in the draft and slide him into the starting lineup from day one and help fill the void on the defensive line by the departures of Jared Allen and Kevin Williams.
Donald recorded 59 tackles in his senior season with 28.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks. The 6-1, 285-pounder has been labeled the best defensive tackle in the last decade and has been compared to former Vikings Hall of Fame tackle John Randle.