An offensive line that struggled mightily for most of the 2016 season added a stalwart interior lineman to help bolster the unit for the upcoming season.
The Minnesota Vikings traded up in the 3rd round to take Pat Elflein out of Ohio State with the 70th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. This is the earliest the Minnesota Vikings have selected an offensive lineman in the Draft since 2012 when they selected Matt Kalil fourth overall.
While it is unknown where the Vikings will line Elflein up on the offensive line given his ability to play both guard and center, his positional flexibility opens up a wide range of options for the Vikings to mix and match in order to create the optimal offensive line combination.
Regardless of where the Vikings decide to line Elflein up, he is more than ready to come in and battle for a starting position.
“I’m very excited about this opportunity and I’m going to give everything I’ve got to the whole Minnesota Vikings organization,” Pat Elflein said an interview with Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. “A reason why they picked me is I can play both center and guard, and play either very well. I’m ready to come in and work.”
With Spielman electing to take a running back and an offensive lineman in the second and third rounds, it will make for an interesting third day of the Draft for the Minnesota Vikings having seven picks remaining in their back pocket and a wide range of directions they could go with the picks.
Knowing Spielman’s tendency to wheel and deal as he did last night, there will likely be more than a few trades made in the remaining four rounds depending on their Draft board.
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