Heading into the 2021 NFL Draft the Minnesota Vikings have multiple holes that need to be addressed. In the months leading up to the draft KFAN.com will highlight a series of draft prospects that could be potential fits for the Vikings come late April.
The offensive line is going to have to be addressed at some point, whether that’s in free agency or throughout the draft. Despite a good offensive season in general, the Vikings had yet another year of sub-par interior offensive line play in 2020.
USC’s Alijah Vera-Tucker could be a day one selection for the Vikings, and he could come in and make an impact on the offensive line immediately. Vera-Tucker has great athleticism and projects to be a guard at the next level despite playing left tackle for the Trojans in 2020.
This type of flexibility along with his athleticism makes a lot of sense for the Vikings. Vera-Tucker would fit perfectly in the outside zone scheme that has boosted Dalvin Cook into consideration for the league’s best running back.
He (number 75) shows off his athleticism and uses it to get to the second level in the below clip. On top of showing off his athleticism, he also accounts for three players on the opposing defense, something Vikings fans aren’t always used to seeing from their current guard play.
Vera-Tucker utilized his athleticism quite well in pass sets and plays with very good balance. The Vikings interior has struggled immensely with pass sets and Vera-Tucker could help start the healing process within that unit.
The scenario that would make the most sense for the Vikings would be a trade back in the first round that got them extra draft capital in the mid rounds. Vera-Tucker could be drafted anywhere from the early teens to the mid-20s, so trading back and going best player available could be in play if the team has interest in the former USC tackle.
Riley Reiff’s future with Minnesota is certainly something to keep an eye on as we approach the start of free agency on March 17. If Reiff stays in Minnesota, the Vikings could get away with drafting an offensive lineman early and using the remainder of the draft to boost the depth of the defense.
Stay tuned for more 2021 NFL Draft player profiles in the upcoming months on KFAN.com.