“Good is the enemy of great,” has been the rally cry of Minnesota Vikings Head Coach, Mike Zimmer, entering the 2016 season. After taking a giant step forward this past season at 11-5, and winning the NFC North Division, Zimmer knows there are still pieces that need to be added to take the next step into Super Bowl contention. The Minnesota Vikings will look to add those pieces in the draft, where there are pressing needs on both sides of the ball.
A recurring image of this past season featured young Vikings’ Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater running for his life as the protection in front of him collapses shortly after the ball is snapped. Bringing in free agents Alex Boone (Guard) and Andre Smith (Tackle) from the 49ers and Bengals during the off-season should help the unit as a whole improve. That being said, the work is far from complete at the position group. Bringing in a center like Ryan Kelly of Alabama and/or a tackle like Taylor Decker of Ohio State in the draft will add competition for the starting spots and make the unit as a whole much stronger. If the offensive line gels, the recurring image will no longer be Bridgewater being chased from behind, but instead Bridgewater hitting a receiver over the middle after having plenty of time in the pocket to find the open man. The only problem is, who will be that receiver?
After bringing in veteran Mike Wallace last season as a free agent, the prevailing thought process among Vikings fans is this will be a match made in Heaven. Unfortunately, it didn’t turn out that way, as the two have since parted ways and left the Vikings with a significant void to fill at the position. Look for the Vikings to address this need early on in the draft, perhaps even in the first round with a player like TCU’s Josh Doctson or Ole Miss’ Laquon Treadwell. Both prospects fit the bill of the big, prototypical number one receiver that the Vikings sorely lack.
While offense, and more specifically wide receiver, is the most widely predicted direction the Vikings are thought to be going, don’t be surprised if it’s a defensive player instead that’s called to the podium at 23.
Minnesota Vikings’ veteran weak-side linebacker Chad Greenway just signed a 1-year contract to close out his decorated career with the purple. Greenway provides enormous shoes to fill as a standout player throughout his accomplished career. Although the addition of free agent Emmanuel Lamur adds depth to the weak-side linebacker position, it would be wise for the Vikings to search for the heir apparent in the draft in order to lock up the position for years to come, just as Greenway has done over the last decade. Look for the Vikings to address this position at some point in the draft, with players like Ohio States’ Darron Lee, or Deion Jones of LSU as potential first round candidates.
There are a multitude of paths the Vikings could take during the 2016 draft, with strong cases to be made for all of the players previously listed. If the Vikings can find that number one receiver, re-stock the offensive line, and find an eventual replacement for Greenway, we will have seen a successful draft by the Vikings.
About
Born and raised in Minnesota, Jake Przytarski is a recent graduate of the University of Minnesota Duluth with a major in journalism and minor in communications where he wrote for the Lakevoice News and the Statesman. Jake will cover the Minnesota Vikings sports beat for Pro Player Insiders.
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