2021 NFL Draft: Minnesota Vikings seven-round mock draft

Following a 2020 campaign that saw the Minnesota Vikings regress to 7-9, placing them third in the NFC North behind the quarterback-turbulent Chicago Bears, their needs entering the 2021 NFL Draft have been made clear.

With the 26th-ranked offensive line according to Pro Football Focus and the 27th-ranked rushing defense allowing 134.4 yards per game, the Minnesota Vikings will be solely focused on rebuilding the trenches.

Having seen a slow depletion in their pass-rush personnel, the Minnesota Vikings have been unable to generate natural four-man pressure from their defensive front without the prime combination of Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen. In conjunction with a lack of physicality from their defensive tackles, the Vikings were simply overpowered at the point of attack when attempting to defend the run.

On the offensive side of the ball, the interior offensive line failed to perform up to expectations with an average pressure rate of 6.67% throughout the group, led by guards Ezra Cleveland and Dakota Dozier. Having also allowed 39 sacks with an unimpressive pairing of offensive tackles, the Minnesota Vikings could bring in a high-tier prospect within their draft range in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Minnesota Vikings 2021 mock draft: Round One

First focusing on the desire to find a long-term left tackle, the Minnesota Vikings dive into the collection of first-round offensive tackles in the 2021 NFL Draft with a high-ceiling prospect possessing all of the desired measurables.

At six-foot-five, Virginia Tech’s Christina Darrisaw displays adequate mobility whilst blocking in space, using his fleet-footedness to match bendy edge-rushers attempting to beat him to the corner.

Darrisaw has also demonstrated excellent discipline, holding off from getting into the chest of an opposing pass-rusher until engaged in order to not be exposed by a more polished edge player with a refined plan of attack.

If Darrisaw is to elevate his game at the next level though, he will need to develop more applied strength in run-blocking outside of utilizing his mobility to generate momentum. Despite weighing in at 314-pounds, Darrisaw lacks the physicality displayed by many other prospects within his weight class, appearing timid attacking downhill in the run game.