Vikings' Draft Moves: Hidden Gems and Bold Surprises That Could Change the Game

First-Round Pick #18

Nobody so far.

Second-Round Pick #49

CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State. Met at his pro day and also ran position drills at the event.
G Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon. Met at pro day.

Third-Round Picks #82 and #97

DT Gracen Halton, Oklahoma. Pro day meeting.
WR Ted Hurst, Georgia State. Pro day meeting with Keenan McCardell.
WR Skylar Bell, Connecticut. Met at Combine.
LB Anthony Hill Jr., Texas. Top 30 visit.

Fifth-Round Pick #163

DI Zxavian Harris, Ole Miss. Met at pro day.
OT Markel Bell, Miami. Formal Combine interview.
DB Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina. Met at pro day.
RB Kaytron Allen, Penn State. Formal Combine interview.
OT Austin Barber, Florida. Formal Combine interview.
RB Emmett Johson, Nebraska. Formal Combine interview.

Sixth-Round Pick #196

RB Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest, Top 30 visit.

Seventh-Round Picks #234, #235, #244 or Undrafted Free Agent

TE/FB Lance Mason, Wisconsin. Top 30 visit.
OT Tristan Leigh, Clemson. Top 30 visit and private workout
OT Jayden Williams, Ole Miss. Private workout.
RB Rahsul Faison, South Carolina. Pro day meeting.
OT Alex Harkey, Oregon. Private work out following pro day.
DT Cam Ball, Arkansas. Pro day meeting.
QB Haynes King, Georgia Tech. Pro day meeting.
RB Chris Mosley, North Carolina Central. Met at HBCU Legacy Bowl.

There is still lots of time for prospect meetings ahead of the draft and I suspect some of the more important Top 30 meetings will come in the first week or two or April, particularly regarding their first-round pick. Here are a few observations on the meetings so far.

Chris Johnson’s comparable is Byron Murphy. 6’0”, 193 lbs., 4.43” speed. Versatile inside-outside cornerback. Would not be surprised if the Vikings drafted a cornerback with one of their first couple picks.
Emmanuel Pregnon. Surprised the Vikings would be interested in a guard this high. But they could release Will Fries next year and save $21.5 million cap hits for three years.
Vikings meeting with a couple of WRs expected to go in the third round is interesting. Not sure if a smokescreen or a sign Tai Felton isn’t ready to be WR3 just yet. Ted Hurst is a big-bodied receiver the Vikings are rumored to be interested in.
The Day 3 tackle prospects suggest disappointment with Walter Rouse.
Running back meetings suggest no more than a Day 3 pick on a running back.
Gracen Halton fits the mold for a defensive tackle in Brian Flores’ scheme. More athletic, good at twists.
Zxavian Harris is a huge defensive tackle (6’8”, 330 lbs.) with some athletic traits too.
Anthony Hill Jr. fits the mold for a linebacker in Flores’ scheme- a three-down linebacker who can blitz. Wouldn’t be surprised if the Vikings draft a linebacker given the ages of Cashman and Wilson.

It’s still early and I’m sure the Vikings will have at least another dozen meetings with prospects. And there may be some that haven’t been reported. I may have missed some as well. I’ll do another draft article in a couple weeks after the Vikings have had most of their prospect meetings. Current odds favor the Vikings drafting either a defensive lineman/edge rusher or a safety with their first draft pick. We’ll see.