3 sleepers the Minnesota Vikings drafted who could become stars
The Minnesota Vikings had a pretty good 2021 draft, and these three sleepers could become stars.
The full, accurate evaluation won’t really come for a few years, but by most any account the Minnesota Vikings did pretty well in the 2021 NFL Draft. They addressed needs, added depth and resisted the urge to draft any specialists, so it was overall a win for general manager Rick Spielman.
The Vikings had a total of seven picks in the third and fourth rounds, and rather than trade up into the second round (where they didn’t have a pick) they made all those picks. So that late Day 2-early Day 3 run allows for plenty of chances to find sleepers.
With that in mind, here are three draft sleepers who could become stars for the Vikings.
3 draft sleepers who could become stars for the Vikings
player. 60. Scouting Report. DE. Pittsburgh. 3. Pick Analysis. Patrick Jones II
The first of two Pitt defensive lineman the Vikings drafted (Jaylen Twyman, sixth round), Jones (third round, No. 90 overall), fits the physical profile they tend to favor in defensive ends (6-foot-4, 261 pounds). Over his last two seasons in college, he totaled 17.5 sacks and 24 tackles for loss. He gets high marks for his motor and overall pass rush ability, with enough questions/weaknesses that he fell to the third round in a deep class of edge rushers. He’ll be one of defensive line coach Andre Patterson’s new projects.
With the 90th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the #Vikings select Patrick Jones II: DE, Pittsburgh.
— SIS Football (@football_sis) May 1, 2021
Jones possesses the explosion, heavy hands, and high motor to become a solid contributor at the next level, though a lack of flexibility and inconsistency could hold him back. pic.twitter.com/GACv41BDBh