2021 NFL Draft: Minnesota Vikings 7-round mock

Round 2

The Vikings don’t have a second-round pick right now, since they sent it to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Yannick Ngakoue trade. So on to their first of two picks in Round 3….

Round 3

Wilson only played six games for the Seminoles last season due to an undisclosed injury that required surgery, with 17 total tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss and three blocked kicks. Oliver Hodgkinson of Pro Football Network was not complementary of his work at the Senior Bowl, calling Wilson “ineffective” but for one matchup during practices.

Wilson could have been a first-round pick a year ago, but instead he returned to Florida State for his senior season. The fits and starts of the 2020 season related to the pandemic and an injury which is apparently still a bit of a thing gives him an easy mulligan. Some analysts are making him a Day 3 pick, but I think the Vikings will jump at the chance here to bet on talent and upside to fortify the interior defensive line.

When it comes down to it, no one outside of Jeff Gladney and Cameron Dantzler should be assured of any kind of role for the Vikings at cornerback in 2021. Fellow 2020 draft pick Harrison Hand will be in the mix, along with Kris Boyd. But counting on much from either of them would not be good.

Graham had a nice 2019 campaign (two interceptions, 10 pass breakups, 64 total tackles), but decided to return for his senior season at Oregon before opting out as COVID-19 changed the equation for the Pac-12 season. He was even a bit better as a sophomore in 2018 (18 pass breakups, three interceptions), as he was one of the most all-around productive corners in the country over a two-season span.

Graham needs some work on some areas in his game, but that should suit Zimmer just fine as he often takes on young corners as pet projects. The Vikings defense needs help, so using the first three picks on that side of the ball is well-warranted and a corner completes the set.