NFL Draft 2017: Top target for each team
By John Buhler
Minnesota Vikings: Alvin Kamara
The Minnesota Vikings are one of three teams that will not have a first round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Minnesota traded their first-round pick this year to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Sam Bradford trade last August.
With the Adrian Peterson era coming to an end in the Minnesota backfield, the Vikings are going to need more dynamism out of their tailbacks than just recently acquired Latavius Murray. A solid complementary running back the Vikings could take at No. 48 in the second round would be Alvin Kamara of the Tennessee Volunteers.
Kamara’s path to the NFL Draft is a bit unorthodox. He initially committed to the Alabama Crimson Tide, but a lack of early playing time had him go the junior college route. Kamara would play the last two years in Tennessee for Butch Jones as a rotational back alongside most notably Jalen Hurd.
In two years with the Vols, Kamara would have 201 carries for 1,294 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns. He can factor in the receiving game, as Kamara had 74 receptions for 683 yards and seven touchdowns.
Kamara may never be a bell-cow in an NFL offense, but he can be both a phenomenal change-of-pace back and possibly a fantasy football darling. Since the Vikings already have Murray, there may not be a better complementary back in the draft than Kamara. Minnesota should take him at No. 48 if he is still on the board.