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2017 NFL Draft: Minnesota Vikings' Early Seven-Round Mock

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Even with the Minnesota Vikings looking like Super Bowl contenders, it’s not too early to take a peak at their potential plans for the 2017 NFL Draft.

Contrary to popular belief, it’s never too early to look at what the Minnesota Vikings could do during the 2017 NFL Draft.

Obviously we’re a long ways off from draft day, especially with the Vikings looking like a serious contender this season. However, you better believe their scouts are hard at work preparing to pick Minnesota’s class of 2017. So why shouldn’t you start your prep work as well?

Since you’re reading this, I’m assuming you’re not opposed to taking an early look at what the Vikings’ upcoming draft could look like.

So let me help you out with my seven-round mock draft, where I take a look at how Minnesota could spend all of their picks when the 2017 NFL Draft rolls around. Obviously a lot will change between now and then, so take this more as an opportunity to consider the team’s potential needs and college players’ current stock than as a true projection of what could unfold in April.

With that in mind, here’s my Vikings seven-round mock for the 2017 NFL Draft.

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Round 2: Marcus Williams, SS — Utah

Even though he’s earned solid marks from Pro Football Focus this season, I’m still far from convinced Andrew Sendejo is the long-term answer across from Harrison Smith. The Vikings need a reliable running mate for their All-Pro safety, and Sendejo isn’t it in my opinion.

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That’s why targeting a safety with their first pick seems like the right move.

With this pick likely landing in the later part of the second round, I think Marcus Williams is a realistic target based on his current draft stock. The Utah playmaker has shown impressive instincts this season, and is quickly catching the eyes of NFL scouts.

If he continues to impress as the season goes along, you better believe he’ll work his way into the early-round discussion. We’ve seen the type of damage he can do as both a run defender and in coverage, and he’s far more reliable on the back end than Sendejo.

Hopefully the Vikings will realize between now and April they need an upgrade on Sendejo. When that time comes, they should address the strong safety position early with a pro-ready player like Williams.

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Round 3 (via Dolphins): Adam Bisnowaty, OT — Pitt

There’s a decent chance the Vikings lose their two starting tackles next offseason, with both Matt Kalil and Andre Smith in contract years. If that ends up being the case, you better believe they’ll target a tackle early during the 2017 NFL Draft. One guy who intrigues me in the late-second/early-third range is Pitt’s Adam Bisnowaty.

While not an elite physical specimen, the Panthers’ big man makes him impact with sound technique and smarts. He’s an intelligent player, using excellent angles and hand work to win in the trenches. A year or two in an NFL strength program would likely solidifying his standing as a high-end tackle prospect.

With Kalil likely to hit free agency after suffering a season-ending hip injury, the Vikings will need a new left tackle. Bisnowaty is versatile enough to play guard or either tackle position, and has the athleticism to hold his own on the blindside. Considering his size and brains, Bisnowaty would be a big addition in Minnesota. Unless they address the position during free agency, look for the Vikings to target a tackle like him early.

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Round 3: Samaje Perine, RB — Oklahoma

As much as Vikings fans aren’t going to like it, it’s time to imagine a future without Adrian Peterson. He’s not getting any younger, and continues to be a liability in the health department. Even before his early-season injury, Peterson was absolutely ineffective—although the offensive line deserves some of the blame.

While I’m not saying he’ll be gone this offseason, Minnesota might want to start putting a plan in place. Jerick McKinnon is a good start, but I believe the Vikings will want to add a complement for the human Swiss Army knife. So why not replace one Sooner with another?

Samaje Perine is an exciting running back prospect with, in my opinion, a sky-high ceiling. He hasn’t earned as much praise from scouts as players like Leonard Fournette or Christian McCaffrey, but there’s no denying he’s got NFL potential with his mix of size, speed and athleticism.

Just remember this—he currently owns the NCAA record for most rushing yards in a single game with 427. Yes, this young back ran for 427 yards in one afternoon. Not too shabby, huh? Especially with Matt Asiata headed back to free agency next offseason, Perine could step in and be the thunder to McKinnon’s lightning in 2017.

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Round 4 (via Dolphins): Jalen Reeves-Maybin, OLB — Tennessee

With Chad Greenway headed for retirement and Emmanuel Lamur proving irrelevant early, the Vikings may look to upgrade at the weak-side linebacker spot in 2017. Spending a fourth-round pick is no sure thing, but I believe the upside is there with a player like Jalen Reeves-Maybin.

The Tennessee star has been extremely productive over the last couple of seasons, racking up over 100 tackles each year. While he’s battled injuries in 2016, it’s difficult to deny he’s worthy of a Day 2 selection at this point.

Reeves-Maybin is a bit undersized for a linebacker, but fits the linebacker-safety hybrid mold that’s becoming popular in the NFL. He’s an excellent athlete with the toughness to battle in the trenches, and would absolutely give Minnesota a dynamic option alongside Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks.

He’s not the type of player the Vikings have targeted for that position, but the NFL is always evolving. Imagine the possibilities if Mike Zimmer could get his hands on a versatile player like Reeves-Maybin.

Honestly, there’d be some risk with this pick. However, in the grand scheme of things, the Vikings have the room to make luxury picks at this point. If he can turn out to be anything like the Arizona Cardinals’ Deone Bucannon, Reeves-Maybin would be a wise fourth-round investment.

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Round 4: Kevin King, CB — Washington

While the Vikings have loaded up on young cornerback talent over the past couple of years, they may need more in 2017. Terence Newman is likely headed for retirement and Captain Munnerlyn is a free agent. Assuming both leave, some extra depth on the outside wouldn’t be the worst idea.

That’s where a player like Kevin King comes in.

Washington currently sports one of the best cornerback duos in college football, but the star of the show is Sidney Jones. That makes it easy to overlook King, who deserves his own share of respect from scouts.

What really makes me feel he’d be a good fit for Minnesota is his size. The Vikings love long, athletic cornerbacks who can stick with speedy receivers and step up against the run. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound King is more than capable of doing both of those things and he does them very well.

The Huskies’ standout has shown a knack for shutting down opposing receivers, and should be able to yield similar results in the NFL in time. Even with Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, and Mackensie Alexander at the position, adding King in the middle rounds makes sense.

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Round 5: Mitch Leidner, QB — Minnesota

On the surface, the Vikings seem safe at quarterback. When the 2017 season rolls around, they’ll have two plus starters on the roster. So why would they spend a draft pick on a raw quarterback like Mitch Leidner?

Well for one, we have no idea how Teddy Bridgewater’s knee will recover. By all accounts, the injury did some major damage to his knee, which may cause long-lasting effects on his athleticism and ability to throw the football. While everyone is optimistic, there are a lot of question marks surrounding Bridgewater’s NFL future.

Even with Sam Bradford, there’s significant uncertainty. Sure, he’s looked impressive through three games and appears to have the Minnesota offense on the right path. However, he has a lengthy injury history and can get cold in a big hurry.

Considering all of that, would adding a high-upside arm be the worst idea? I don’t think so.

Leidner has disappointed as a college quarterback, but there’s no denying his raw physical tools. He’s got the size, arm talent and athleticism to be an NFL signal caller, but needs some pro-caliber coaching. A year or two learning under the Vikings’ other quarterbacks could do wonders for his development.

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Round 6: Conrad Ukropina, K — Stanford

Unless Blair Walsh is near perfect for the rest of the 2016 season, the Vikings will be looking to add some competition during the offseason. Heck, they may even get rid of him midseason if he can’t get his act together soon.

Assuming they wait until the offseason, I believe Minnesota could target a guy like Conrad Ukropina in the later rounds. The Stanford standout has shined during his career, but there’s one thing that makes him intriguing.

Put simply, Ukropina is a clutch kicker.

While he may not have Walsh’s leg strength, he’s an extremely reliable leg for the Cardinal. Since taking over as the starter in 2015, he’s missed only two of his 26 attempts. And if you don’t trust me about the whole clutch factor, just watch Stanford’s 2015 win over Notre Dame.

The Vikings desperately need an upgrade at kicker with how inconsistent Walsh has been. Spending a late-round pick on a trustworthy leg like Ukropina makes too much sense.

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Round 7: Ben Boulware, ILB — Clemson

Since taking over as the shot-caller in Minnesota, GM Rick Spielman has taken a project linebacker in the seventh round every year. I doubt he’ll buck that trend in 2017.

That’s why I like Ben Boulware as an option for the Vikings here.

The Clemson product is a tenacious, high-motor player who loves the game of football. While he doesn’t have the greatest athleticism or an elite skill set, he’s the type of tough, relentless player Minnesota loves to fill its locker room with.

Especially with Greenway set to retire next offseason and Audie Cole facing free agency, the Vikings may need some new bodies at linebacker. While Boulware would be a long-term project with a ceiling of “quality backup,” he can certainly make an early impact on special teams while he develops.

It’s not the most exciting of picks, but not many seventh-rounders are. Boulware allows Spielman to stick to the script while landing an intriguing young linebacker who fits the culture of this franchise.

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