5 players Vikings should draft in the first round

3. Alijah Vera-Tucker

If the Vikings want to go offense instead of defense in Round 1 then selecting Vera-Tucker makes plenty of sense. He played the majority of his snaps at USC at tackle, but his NFL future almost certainly resides inside at the guard spot.

Vera-Tucker has a good combination of size and speed to deploy in that position. He may never become a true mauler at the pro level, but he should stand out as one of the better zone blockers in the league.

The former USC star can also immediately upgrade Minnesota’s pass blocking. That was a real  issue for the Vikings in 2020. He’s a player who can become a real asset for Cousins in the throw game right away.

There’s an argument to be made that the Vikings can find better value at guard later in this draft, but no one should argue with the idea of adding Vera-Tucker to the mix. He’d give the team a meaningful upgrade at a position of need. That’s a win for any team at NO. 14.