NFL Mock Draft 2021: Patriots, Washington trade up in 3-round mock
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 14th pick
Pick Analysis. USC. Alijah Vera-Tucker. 14. player. 60. Scouting Report. OT
I think the Minnesota Vikings should be considered a prime candidate to trade out of their pick here given they have a number of starter-level needs and no second-round pick to use.
The Vikings traded their second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft so they could get Yannick Ngakoue. When it became apparent they were not going to get a long-term deal with Ngakoue, they shipped him off to the Baltimore Ravens for a third-round pick.
It didn’t work out much better for the Ravens as Ngakoue bolted in free agency for the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Vikings need to address the offensive line after the departure of veteran Riley Reiff (Bengals) this offseason.
They also may need to add a starter at cornerback after 2020 first-round pick Jeff Gladney has had some disturbing off-field issues in recent weeks. Safety and pass rusher are other starter needs for the Vikings.
Still, you’ve got to build in the trenches and get value, and Alijah Vera-Tucker is the best of both worlds here with this pick, even if it’s not the sexiest selection.
The Vikings got Justin Jefferson last year, they are good on the sexier first-round picks.
Vera-Tucker is a plug-and-play starter at either left tackle or left guard, depending on what the team wants to do with Ezra Cleveland. Cleveland was a left tackle at Boise State but emerged as the Vikings’ starting right guard last season.