Minnesota Vikings 7-round mock draft: Replacing Stefon Diggs

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LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 16: Ezra Cleveland #76 of the Boise State Broncos runs on the field before the start of the Las Vegas Bowl against the Oregon Ducks at Sam Boyd Stadium on December 16, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Boise State won 38-28. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) /

Many fans are going to criticize this pick as a huge reach right now, but over the last couple of months, a lot of buzz behind the scenes has been building towards Ezra Cleveland being picked somewhere in the 20s.

There’s obviously a chance he could still go in the second round, but he’s sure as heck not falling to the Vikings’ pick at 58.

Depending on your preference (or style of offense), Cleveland might just be a top five tackle in this class. For the Vikings, he’s the ideal type of player and athletic profile.

Despite his small-ish hand size, Ezra Cleveland is an elite athlete at the offensive tackle position who is a perfect fit for Gary Kubiak’s zone blocking scheme. He can obviously get out in space and make plays and he has quick feet to mirror in pass protection. He needs to improve his functional strength, but Cleveland is a strong dude who is getting better and better.

He could step in and start for the Vikings at left tackle with Brian O’Neill his ultra-athletic counterpart at right tackle.

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