Minnesota Vikings 2020 NFL Draft

2020 BTSC/SB Nation Live Mock Draft: Vikings

Mark participates in a mock draft with one of our fellow SB Nation NFL sites

By Mark P Apr 19, 2020, 11:11pm CDT

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Pac-12 Championship Game - Oregon v Utah

SBNation has held a Live Mock Draft for several years running. This year, our good friends over at Behind the Steel Curtain hosted the event.

The goal is to get one person from each NFL site to be the GM for this event. The dates for this live event were ...

4/17 – 7 PM EDT / 4 PM PDT (Round 1 and 2)

4/18 – NOON EDT / 9 AM PDT (Round 3 – 5)

4/19 – NOON EDT / 9 AM PDT (6 and 7)

... The trading of current players and draft picks was allowed which created quite a lot of action, some of being fairly unrealistic.

Here is the link to the picks including players taken and all of the trades.

https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2020/4/17/21224719/2020-behind-the-steel-curtain-sb-nation-live-mock-draft-tracker-amp

Trade 1

My first goal was to obtain Trent Williams.

The first request from the Redskins GM was for #89 & #105.

I declined this offer and said I could do #89 and a 2021 conditional 4th.

He was not interested in future picks just like many of the GMs that do these live mocks.

He countered with #89 and Harris for Williams which I declined.

A week later he asked would I do a 3rd and a 4th this year which I declined.

He came back with #89 and a 2021 3rd without any conditions but I declined.

He came back with #89 and a 2020 5th a few of days before the live draft.

I traded #89 and #155 to the Redskins for Trent Williams.

Trade 2

My next goal was to trade Reiff.

I was also in discussion with the Chargers about Desmond King.

He made an offer of Riley Reiff and one of our 3rd round picks for King which I promptly declined.

Quinton Dunbar was traded for a 5th. The Chargers just signed Chris Harris and told him he would play in the slot which was where King played his best. Last year, King had a down year from his Pro Bowl season in 2018. No way was King worth that much. We went back and forth a bit about King but he held firm. Yet, he still wanted Reiff.

I traded Reiff to the Chargers for pick #151.

Trade 3

My next goal was to trade Harris because I do not think they are going to get an extension done. There was a tweet from a local scribe that said he would not play on that 11 mil tag amount in 2020 (I’m inferring he meant because the Vikings did not want that to occur).

The Jaguars were the most serious suitors.

Their GM first offered Andrew Norwell or AJ Cann which I rejected because of Norwell’s salary and Cann’s not being that good.

We discussed swapping #58 for #42 plus giving me #116. I did not immediately accept this deal and told him I wanted to wait.

He ended up trading his 4th away but came back with the swap of 2nd round picks, a 5th round pick, and starting safety Jarrod Wilson.

I liked that deal but told him to wait a few days.

He ended up trading Wilson elsewhere but still wanted Harris.

I was kicking myself for not taking the deal with Wilson but it really is less realistic IMHO.

We settled on this deal.

I traded Harris to the Jaguars for #125 (4th), #150 (5th), and a 2021 4th.

Maybe this is not enough? There is rumor that a mid round pick is all it would take to get Harris so getting 3 picks was pretty good IMHO.

I tried to limit myself to players that have been in rumors of getting traded. We know Williams is getting moved unless the Redskins want to be obstinate. Harris getting moved is not a sure thing but where there is smoke, there probably is fire. King is kind of a long shot but more than a few people believe it would be a good move. I really wish I could have traded for him but their GM drove a hard bargain.

How does this affect the cap?

According to overthecap, the Vikings cap space before any trades is $12,267,552

Trade Riley Reiff to Chargers with post June 1 designation – $22,656,302

Trade Anthony Harris to Jaguars – $33,486,052

Trade for Trent Williams – $21,597,302

The remaining cap is $21,597,302 which could be used to sign a veteran safety like Tavon Wilson and a corner like Darqueze Dennard or Logan Ryan. Maybe it could be used to bring back Griffen or go all out and get Clowney? They could use some to give Cook a bump in pay with a short 2 year extension added onto 2020?

As we head to the draft, left tackle is set. I know many don’t want Williams and his new contract and believe he is going to be consistently injured. I do not share these same fears. He had a knee that cost him 6 games and a dislocated thumb that cost him 3. The games he was suspended do not count as injury related. He missed a few other games in his first 3 years.

Here is a link to the first round discussions over at our friends, Hogs Haven.

https://www.hogshaven.com/2020/4/17/21203847/sb-nation-mock-draft-central-the-redskins-are-nearly-on-the-clock

Note: I apologize for not doing this same thing as the GM for the Redskins did for their site. He was posting the picks as they occurred. I was likely not going to post here and be over at the Live Mock Draft at the same time. There were many discussions about moving around in the draft.

The draft begins.

The first shock of the first round was the Dolphins taking Isaiah Simmons. The Chargers promptly took Tua.

The next shock was the Panthers taking CJ Henderson. That definitely threw a monkey wrench into some hopes and plans.

The next shock was the Jaguars taking Henry Ruggs III as the first receiver off the board.

Miami then traded back up to #10 and took Andrew Thomas.

At that point I was warning people that they better take Justin Herbert.

The next shock was the Falcons taking Zach Baun at #16.

The Ravens traded up to #17 with the Cowboys and took K’Lavon Chaisson.

The next shock and disappointment to many posters here was the Jets (who traded down) taking Cesar Ruiz.

The Raiders took Kristian Fulton at #19.

The Browns took Josh Jones after trading down making him the 5th tackle off the board before the Vikings first pick.

The Eagles took Patrick Queen.

Now the Vikings were on the clock and I could not pass.

22. Justin Herbert QB Oregon

Crazy right? All of a sudden, Herbert is a bum. I’ll take that chance with two first round picks and 13 picks overall. Worst case is Herbert sits for 3 years. Vikings wont have to trade up next year or do anything. Sean Mannion and Jake Browning are not the answer as backups.

My one motto for the draft is ...

Don’t chase the draft, let it come to you.

Since other teams did not want Herbert, I’ll gladly took him. Cousins has been very fortunate to not suffer an injury 5 years running. How long can that go on?

The Vikings extended Cousins and got rid of the no-trade clause. If they trade him before the 3rd day of the new league year in 2021, they will free up 11 mil in cap space and likely get a couple of good picks.

He will have a cap hit of 31 mil in 2021 and 45 mil in 2022 if he stays with the Vikings.

If he is traded, his cap hits would be 21 mil and 35 mil for the new team which is pretty attractive.

The forest for the trees!

I immediately put Herbert on the trade block too. Why? In these Live Mock Drafts it has been the norm for GMs to want to make as many picks as possible and to not give up picks even it would make their team better.

I got no offers right away.

25. Grant Delpit S LSU

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 21 LSU at Vanderbilt

As pick #25 came I could have went with a receiver like Mims or Raegor but I wanted to get the top player at their position.

Delpit is the best safety in the draft IMHO. Jim Thorpe award winner. Nit picked to death in the pre-draft crapola process. Then, he runs a 4.39 forty at his pro day. I’ll take it.

As the second round started, I got a message from the Dolphins GM who was interested in trading for Herbert.

He offered #37 & #79 for Herbert and #132 which I rejected.

He came back with #39, #79, and a 2021 3rd rounder which I probably should have accepted.

But I could not accept that offer because I really like Herbert and it gives the Vikings an out of Cousins’ contract next offseason.

As we got closer to the next pick, the run on receivers was fierce which really made be second guess myself.

58. Raekwon Davis DT Alabama

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: DEC 29 CFP Semifinal at the Orange Bowl - Alabama v Oklahoma

I could have had Justin Madubuike here who went right after but I like Davis better. I really do not know why Davis has been castigated because he did not repeat the 8.5 sacks he had in 2017. He still plays the run excellently and was constantly double teamed the last two years. Madubuike is really intriguing but a bit undersized. He would have to be a serious pass rush threat. I preferred a run stopping sure thing.

105. Amik Robertson CB Louisiana Tech

At this point, the corners were thinning out too. Plus, a couple of safeties with corner abilities (Burgess and Wallace) went too. I had to get Amik here.

After picking Robertson, I was really worried about getting a receiver. I contacted every team at the top of the 4th to try and trade up. I finally got a taker.

Trade 4

Traded pick #125 and #150 to the Browns for pick #108

108. Tyler Johnson WR Minnesota

NCAA Football: Fresno State at Minnesota

Obviously, Johnson is a popular pick here. PFF loves him and thinks he could be the biggest steal in this draft. I have been hesitant on him because he did not run a forty. But he has been working out with Adam Thielen already so that has to be good.

132. Tanner Muse S Clemson

Taking Muse in the 4th may be a reach but another GM mentioned him in a comment which put him in the minds of other GMs. I like his championship pedigree, speed, size, etc. Some scouts think he could be a LB when it is all said and done. There is too much to like about what he is able to do on the football field.

155. Calvin Throckmorton T/G/C Oregon

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 22 Stanford at Oregon

After the Muse pick, a run on interior linemen occurred. Kevin Dotson, Jon Runyan, & Logan Stenberg all went. I was getting really worried about bringing in some depth.

I like Throckmorton a lot. This kid is studying to be a doctor and has played all over the line for the Ducks. He is solid. Versatility is the key when you get late round linemen. I am not worried about his combine numbers because he is just a football player.

201. Javaris Davis CB/S Auburn

More speed in the secondary and Davis is a mixed bag in terms of how scouts view him. Some like him a lot and some not too much. I think he will be a very good player to compete at the slot corner position and help on special teams.

201. Danny Pinter G Ball State

Another lineman and this one super athletic.

https://www.ballstatedaily.com/article/2020/03/sports-ball-state-cardinals-danny-pinter-nfl-combine-work-ethic-feature

219. Shawn Bradley LB Temple

Shawn Bradley ran a 4.51 forty and has been interviewed by the Vikings. I am a big fan of speed.

229. Azur Kamara DE Kansas

6’3.2” 245 with 35 1/4” arms, 10” hands. Ran a 4.59 forty with a slight injury.

253. Madre Harper CB Southern Illinois

He is 6’2” 190 with 33 7/8” arms. He ran a 4.43 forty, had 40” vertical and 11’02” broad jumps, did a 4.25 short shuttle, and a 6.88 3-cone.

Vikings recap

22 Justin Herbert QB Oregon 4.68

25 Grant Delpit S LSU 4.39

58 Raekwon Davis DT Alabama 5.12

105 Amik Robertson CB Louisiana Tech 4.49?

108 Tyler Johnson WR Minnesota

132 Tanner Muse S Clemson 4.41

155 Calvin Throckmorton T/G/C Oregon 5.57?

201 Javaris Davis CB/S Auburn 4.39

205 Danny Pinter G Ball State 4.91

219 Shawn Bradley LB Temple 4.51

229 Azur Kamara LB/DE Kansas 4.59

253 Madre Harper CB Southern Illinois 4.43

Plus, an extra 2021 4th round pick

UDFAs

Sewo Olonilua RB TCU

Stephen Sullivan TE LSU

Jeremiah Dinson S Auburn

Chris Williamson CB Minnesota

John Molchon G Boise State

Tyrie Cleveland WR Florida

Johnathan Garvin DE Miami

Rodney Clemons S SMU

A crazy event each and every year!