Minnesota Vikings 7-round 2021 NFL mock draft: Vikings trade back

Round 4

With the 14th overall pick, the Minnesota Vikings are likely out of range to select one of the top five projected quarterbacks in the 2021 NFL Draft between Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Justin Fields, Mac Jones, and Trey Lance. While the Vikings were in a possible position to draft a quarterback but decided to trade back with Washington, Speilman could look to use one of his four fourth-round picks on a possible replacement for Kirk Cousins.

After five quarterbacks go in the first round, expect a temporary lull in quarterback picks, which could last as long as the third round. With their first of four fourth-round picks, the Minnesota Vikings take a gamble on Florida quarterback Kyle Trask. Trask is seen as one of the most intriguing quarterback prospects in the early to mid rounds and is the developmental player the Vikings can look to break in behind Cousins.

Cousins carries two more years for a total of $76 million on his contract and is unlikely to return as the starting quarterback at 35 years old following its expiration. Trask could sit behind Cousins for one to two years and grow into the starting role following the 2022 season.

While Trask may not possess the elite arm skills and the making of the top-rated quarterbacks in this class, he does possess good arm strength, size, and accuracy when given a pocket to throw out of. Sound familiar? Trask could be an ideal and cheap replacement for Cousins and could successfully grow into a soon-to-be exciting Minnesota offense with the Vikings’ young playmakers and rebuilt offensive line.

Yes, the Minnesota Vikings picked a defensive back in the third round and signed several veterans during free agency, but one thing that has been consistent under Speilman’s and Zimmer’s draft approach is that you can never have too many defensive backs. Peterson, Woods, and Alexander are all short-term fixes for a secondary that continues to undergo a massive turnover.

After using a first and third-round pick at cornerback last year, the Vikings could once again draft multiple corners in the 2021 NFL Draft. 2020 first-round pick, Jeff Gladney turned himself into police on an assault charge earlier this month. While the TCU rookie led the team in snaps at the position, Minnesota may look to add another corner that can be molded into a starter behind second-year corner Cameron Dantzler and veterans Peterson and Alexander.

Shaun Wade had a disappointing final season with the Buckeyes after significant preseason hype. While Wade struggled as an outside corner last fall, he could be a strong developmental prospect playing either the nickel corner or a safety role for the Vikings.

After trading Stefon Diggs to the Bills last offseason, the Vikings used a first-round pick on LSU receiver Justin Jefferson and found plenty of success. While Jefferson was the fifth receiver selected last fall, he was the only rookie receiver to make the Pro Bowl and led Minnesota in receptions and yards.

Jefferson won’t catch anyone by surprise this season and will garner more attention than soon to be 31-year-old counterpart, Adam Thielen. Receiver isn’t a pressing need entering the 2021 NFL Draft but the Vikings could use another dynamic receiver behind Jefferson and Thielen. Austin Watkins the former UAB receiver and cousin of Sammy Watkins would give the Minnesota Vikings another threat at the position.

Watkins began his college career at the community college level before making the jump to UAB and putting together a 1,092 yard, 6 touchdown performance in 2019. Watkins is a physical, big reference that can blend his size, speed to a formidable number three receiver. Watkins gives the Vikings another option that can fight off receivers downfield or in the red zone.

The Minnesota Vikings finish off a busy fourth round with another edge rusher in defensive end/outside linebacker hybrid, Shaka Toney. While Penn State teammates Yetur Gross-Matos and Jayson Oweh look to be second-round picks in back-to-back years, Toney has put together a strong career with the Nittany Lions.

Toney an outside linebacker out of Philadelphia, made the move to defensive end during his redshirt year, appearing in 12 games in his first season at Penn State. At 6-foot-3, Toney is a relatively undersized defensive end and may look to make a move back to outside linebacker with the Minnesota Vikings. Toney could be an effective rotational pass rusher at the next level.

Round 5

Addressing the offensive and defensive line was the primary focus for the Minnesota Vikings entering the 2021 NFL Draft and Speilman makes his third and final defensive line pick in the fifth round. The Vikings return 2020 opt-out Michael Pierce and 2021 free agent signing Davlin Tomlinson at defensive tackle but look to add youth at the position through the Draft.

After addressing a majority of their Draft needs through their first eight picks, the Vikings grab talented defensive end, Jaylen Twyman from Pitt to begin the fifth round. Twyman had an incredibly productive sophomore year at Pitt, accounting for 10.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss in 2019 as an interior lineman but decided to opt-out of the 2020 season.

The decision to opt-out last fall will adversely impact Twyman’s draft stock. Twyman finished the 2019 season as one of the top pass rushers in college football but enters the Draft as an undersized tackle. He is an incredibly productive pass rusher and uses his body well in exploding into the backfield but is a limited every-down player. Twyman gives the Vikings an exciting project in the fifth round.

After bundling their sixth-round pick as part of the first-round trade with Washington, the Minnesota Vikings use their tenth and final pick on Pitt center, Jimmy Morrissey.  Former 2018 first-round pick Garrett Bradbury has continued to struggle at center and the Vikings continue to look towards alternatives in the 2021 NFL Draft.

The Vikings are unlikely to extend Bradbury after his rookie deal and have looked towards cheap alternatives for the future. Minnesota traded a sixth-round pick to the Cardinals in exchange for backup center, Mason Cole, and end the Draft adding additional depth at the position. While Morrissey lacks size, the former walk-on has been a staple on the Pitt line and gives the Vikings a reliable alternative as a zone-blocking center.