Minnesota Vikings

Vikings close out 2018 draft, select LB Downs in seventh round

Published Apr. 28, 2018 6:28 p.m. ET

With their final pick in the 2018 NFL draft, the Minnesota Vikings went with a player with a lot of upside.

Minnesota selected linebacker Devante Downs of Cal in the seventh round. Downs was having a good season in 2017 when he was injured in the seventh game and was forced to miss the rest of the year.

He finished with 65 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, and was twice named the Pac-12 defensive player of the week -- the first two-time winner for Cal in seven years.

If healthy, Downs could find an early role on special teams with Kentrell Brothers suspended for the first four games of the season.