2020 NFL Draft: 5 players Vikings could take in Round 1

1. AJ Epenesa, Iowa defensive end

Lots of mock drafts have Epenesa going off the board in the middle of Round 1. His lack of foot speed and/or burst off the edge makes him a prime candidate for a tumble down the board. The Vikings could easily be his floor at No. 25.

That doesn’t make the former Iowa defensive end a bad prospect, but it does mean he lacks the potential required to go higher in the first round. On the other hand, he also has a high floor for a prospect in this range. Zimmer isn’t a coach who is seduced by speed off the edge.

That means he may fall in love with Epenesa’s steady play. He’s got the size to develop into Griffin’s replacement on the edge. He has the ability to blossom into a quality run stopper at the next level. That was one of his best qualities as a collegiate.

If the Vikings do go with a defensive lineman in Round 1 they should use their subsequent picks to take advantage of the draft’s depth at wide receiver. Epenesa doesn’t have the sizzle to be a star, but he’s got the substance to thrive under Zimmer’s tutelage.