NFL Draft 2019: Minnesota Vikings full mock draft
By Joe Romano
The Minnesota Vikings entered last season as Super Bowl contenders but failed to make the playoffs. Now they can look to the NFL Draft to set-up a playoff run.
Bringing in a new, high priced quarterback a year after appearing in the NFC Championship was supposed to push the Minnesota Vikings over the top and into the Super Bowl. Instead the season floundered and the Vikings were left on the outside looking in on the 2018 playoffs. With the NFL Draft approaching fast, here is how the offseason is shaping up to prepare Minnesota for another playoff appearance.
There may not be a more overall talented roster in the NFL than the Minnesota Vikings. They have an elite defense led by stars Harrison Smith, Xavier Rhodes (for now), Daniele Hunter and Anthony Barr. Offensively, Kirk Cousins is one of the highest paid quarterbacks in the NFL, throwing to a pair of Pro Bowl receivers and a promising third year running back in Dalvin Cook. That is a big reason why many, including myself, picks Minnesota to appear in the Super Bowl this past season.
Ill-timed injuries, a week offensive line and strong division led to the Vikings demise in 2018. Free agency in 2018 looked to keep status quo while addressing the biggest concern; the offensive line. With little capital at their disposal Minnesota signed former Titans guard Josh Kline to hopefully aid at one spot. The biggest move they made was retaining star linebacker Anthony Barr.
The Jets tempted Barr with a big money deal during the “legal tampering period.” After appearing to be a lock to go to New York, Barr had a change of heart and will stay in Minnesota. Keeping a vital piece of their defense in house was a saving grace for this team.
Entering the 2019 NFL Draft, this roster is in win-now mode. They need immediate fixes to their roster in order to get back into the playoff hunt. They play in an extremely competitive division that should only force them to look for upgrades even more.
This mock draft was done using The Draft Network’s mock draft machine and the site’s predictive big board. There are no trades, only the teams selecting in their respective positions.