Minnesota Vikings 7-round 2021 NFL mock draft: Building the trenches

Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen have been one of, if not the best, wide receiver duo in the entire league this season. Thielen has proven once again this season that he is a top 10 receiver, and Jefferson has emerged as an incredible playmaker as a rookie. While both Thielen and Jefferson can play in the slot as well as the outside, Minnesota lacks a true slot receiver and No. 3 option behind the dynamic duo.

Insert Dazz Newsome, one of the better slot receivers in the country. He is able to create separation from anywhere on the field and is a threat to take it to the house anytime he touches the ball. He is not the biggest guy on the field, standing only at 5-foot-11, but his ability to get ahead of the defender off the line of scrimmage is a key component to what makes him successful.

Adding him in the middle of Thielen, Jefferson and Irv Smith Jr., will add another dimension of speed and versatility over the middle of the field. Newsome would be a great value depth piece who would have the chance to make an immediate impact on the Vikes early on here in round five.

The Minnesota Vikings have struggled to find a third linebacker next to Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr for years. Kentrell Brothers, Davonte Downs, Emmanuel Lamur and most recently, Ben Gedeon have all tried and failed to be the third guy on the second level of the defense.

Now, the Vikings are in a transition phase of their linebacking core as Eric Wilson has emerged as one of the league’s more versatile players in both coverage and attacking the line of scrimmage. Anthony Barr very well could be released this season because of the rise of Wilson’s play, this would leave another hole at the second level.

Troy Dye has the potential to fill that role very nicely because of his coverage skills and athletic range to be all over the field. With that being said, after Kendricks, Wilson and Dye, the Vikings have some question marks at linebacker.

Tony Fields II is another player that has movement upside because of his athletic prowess, but he will be utilized best as a coverage linebacker brought in on third downs and special teams. Having the option to use Wilson, Dye and Fields II in similar ways to defend the pass will give Minnesota one of the best pass coverage linebacking cores in the league if they all develop to their full potential.

Keep swinging until you hit the home run. Minnesota once again addressing the offensive line. Eze is an incredibly athletic tackle who is very raw technically. He will be drafted based on his movement skills and frame alone (6-foot-8, 315 pounds). He is a great fit for the Vikings’ offensive system as he can excel in a zone-blocking scheme that utilizes his lateral quickness and moving skills.

Eze is extremely raw from a technical standpoint as he struggles with does not always have a consistent firm base to plant and move from which causes him to lean at times and get beaten. Placement of his hands are also not ideal, rushers are often able to push forward into his frame to get him off balance, and he is unable to counter due to poor hand technique.

Overall, the upside is there for him and his fit in this blocking scheme is too obvious for Minnesota to not at least take a swing at him to see if they can maximize his athletic ability.