2018 NFL mock draft: Saquon Barkley heads to Giants

By Brad Weiss | Feb 14, 2018

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Running back Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs the football 92 yards to score a touchdown against the Washington Huskies during the first half of the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

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PASADENA, CA – SEPTEMBER 03: UCLA (77) Kolton Miller (OL) prepares to block during a college football game between the Texas A&M Aggies and the UCLA Bruins on September 03, 2017 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA (Photo by Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Offensive Tackle. UCLA. Kolton Miller. 30. player. 60.

Despite the fact that they lost starting quarterback Sam Bradford early in the season, and then star rookie running back Dalvin Cook a few weeks later, the Minnesota Vikings were still one win away from making it to the Super Bowl. Led by Case Keenum, who put up MVP numbers in 2017, the Vikings were solid on both sides of the ball, but ran into a juggernaut in the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game. Still, this team is here for the long run, even if they do not know who their quarterback will be moving forward.

Whoever is under center next season, they need some help up front, as the offensive line is just not where it should be right now. The odds are they will draft an offensive lineman in the first round, and with a bunch of solid tackles to choose from, they may be able to get a guy like Kolton Miller this late in round one. Miller helped protect fellow first rounder Josh Rosen during his time in college, and has the size to stay on the left side at the next level.

Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur is gone, as he left the team to become the head coach of the New York Giants. That should make things interesting next season, although the organization did find a solid replacement in Eagles quarterback coach John DeFilippino. Cook should be healthy to start the season, and no matter who is under center, the Vikings need to get better up front if they hope to contend once again.

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