2021 The Legacy Live Mock Draft - Vikings

By Mark P Apr 21, 2021, 4:14pm CDT

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL: JAN 11 CFP National Championship - Alabama v Ohio State

I participated in The Legacy Mock Draft on April 9th and 10th. This draft originally was the SB Nation Live Mock Draft. It has been going on for years and has been held on different sites like Music City Miracles and Behind The Steel Curtain (BTSC). This year it was on Discord thanks to Coral.

Last year, it was held at (BTSC). Here is a link to the post I wrote about the results.

https://www.dailynorseman.com/2020/4/19/21227408/2020-btsc-sb-nation-live-mock-draft-minnesota-vikings

In this mock, I traded Pick #89 & Pick #155 to the Redskins for Trent Williams.

The actual trade of Williams to the 49ers last year was Pick #156 and a 2rd round Pick this year (#74).

I like to say that the Redskins GM and I were spot-on in our trade compensation evaluation.

But that was then ...

This year, we had obvious needs at left tackle and left guard. Edge rusher was also a need based on the team’s efforts in trying to sign Carl Lawson and Trey Hendrickson. Prior to the draft, I was able to make these trades ...

Round 1 Pick 14 & Round 3 Pick 91 to the Ravens for Round 1 Pick 27 and Left Tackle Orlando Brown Jr.

Round 4 Pick 14 to the Jaguars for Quarterback Gardner Minshew.

I was pretty stoked to be able to pull off this trade with the Ravens GM. Usually, you expect fans of other teams to want more for their own players. Of course, in this silly mock, it could be that the GMs just want Picks and since it is not real, why not make a trade. I am biased but I think this is fair compensation for the Ravens to trade a young player who has been named to the Pro Bowl twice as a replacement.

Heading into the draft we had the picks below. One note: the organizers counted the forfeited picks which threw off our actual pick by 1 starting at pick 78. Don’t ask me why because I have no clue.

Round 1 Pick 27

Round 3 Pick 79

Round 4 Pick 107 *

Round 4 Pick 126

Round 4 Pick 135

Trade Round 4 Pick 143 to the Panthers for Round 5 Pick 152 and Round 6 Pick 194

Round 5 Pick 152

Round 5 Pick 158

Round 5 Pick 169

Round 6 Pick 194

Round 6 Pick 200

* this Pick was from a trade I did last year that the organizers wanted to enforce this year

The first 26 picks went like this ...

Pick : Team : Player Selection

1 : Jacksonville : Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson

2 : New York Jets : Zach Wilson, QB, BYU

3 : San Francisco : Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State

4 : Jacksonville : Kyle Pitts, TE/WR, Florida

5 : Cincinnati : Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon

6 : Miami : Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU

7 : Detroit : Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State

8 : Carolina : Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern

9 : Denver : Jaelen Phillips, Edge, Miami

10 : Dallas : Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama

11 : New York Giants : Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama

12 : Philadelphia : Devonta Smith, WR, Alabama

13 : LA Chargers : Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina

14 : Baltimore : Azeez Ojulari, Edge, Georgia

15 : New England : Micah Parson, LB, Penn State

16 : Arizona : Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern

17 : Tennessee : Kwity Paye, Edge, Michigan

18 : Miami : Najee Harris, RB, Alabama

19 : New York Jets : Alijah Vera Tucker, OL, U$C

20 : Kansas City : Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech

21 : Indianapolis : Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech

22 : Washington : Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame

23 : New York Jets : Terrance Marshall Jr, WR, LSU

24 : Pittsburgh : Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson

25 : Atlanta : Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU

26 : Miami : Gregory Rousseau, Edge, Miami

The probable best remaining players were Mac Jones, Christian Barmore DT, Zaven Collins LB, Jayson Oweh DE, Asante Samuel Jr CB, Joseph Ossai DE, Rondale Moore WR, Wyatt Davis OG, Kadarius Toney WR, Tevin Jenkins OT, Samuel Cosmi OT, and Rashod Bateman WR.

I selected for the Vikings ...

Round 1 Pick 27 - Alex Leatherwood OT Alabama 6’5” 312

NCAA Football: CFP National Championship-Ohio State vs Alabama

Some would question why I would select a tackle when I already traded for Orlando Brown Jr. I believe that Leatherwood is able to play guard as he did play a full season at right guard while at Alabama. He tested incredibly well as indicated by his 9.69 RAS score. Leatherwood measured 6-foot-5, 312 pounds with 34 3/8” arms. He posted an 85 3/8-inch wingspan (98th percentile) and a 34.5-inch vertical leap (98th percentile). Leatherwood ran a 4.96 40-yard dash (94th percentile) and posted a 9-foot, 10-inch broad jump (99th percentile). Considering the next pick was not until #79, I did not want to miss out on a top guard candidate. Leatherwood also brings security in case Brown Jr is unwilling to extend reasonably or does not play as well as hoped. The forest for the trees.

https://relativeathleticscores.com/ras-information/?PlayerID=17816

The complete draft results are here - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Q_N3oK9kn5hLvcEtVwqHxZn_1S7JTQX6/view

On another note, the Falcons GM bailed on us and I volunteered to make their picks so I was doing two teams.

At pick #79, I chose ...

Round 3 Pick 79 - Hamsah Nasirildeen S/LB FSU 6’3.25” 215

I am not certain where Hamsah would play but he seems like the kind of versatile defender that Coach Zimmer would love. He measured 6 feet, 3 1/4 inches, and 215 pounds, with long, 34 1/2-inch arms and a huge wingspan of 81 7/8 inches. He did not run a 40 due to a minor hamstring injury suffered in training. He seems perfect for covering the bigger faster tight ends. Since Smith is not extended and Woods is only on a one-year deal, the safety position may be more of a need than we know.

Round 4 Pick 107 - Anthony Schwartz WR Auburn 6’0” 186

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl - Purdue v Auburn

We would not have this pick in the real draft but I had to keep it and chose Schwartz.

Round 4 Pick 126 - Marco Wilson CB Florida 5’11.5” 191

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: AUG 24 Camping World Kickoff - Florida v Miami

Wilson tested incredibly and had a 9.99 RAS score. He has flaws for sure but his athleticism could make him a key contributor on special teams and allows the “cornerback whisperer” to develop him and get rid of most of his flaws.

https://relativeathleticscores.com/ras-information/?PlayerID=18185

Round 4 Pick 135 - Charles Snowden LB Virginia 6’6.3” 243

Snowden is interesting because teams could look at him as a developmental defensive end, a 3-4 OLB, or a 4-3 OLB. The Vikings did meet with him so there is interest there. I imagine he is another player that Zimmer would love to develop and utilize in his defense.

Round 5 Pick 152 - Ar’Darius Washington S/CB TCU 5’8.2” 176

Washington is very small at 5’8” 178 but he just makes plays. Tyrann Mathieu was 5’8.75” 186 at the combine for comparison. Washington may not be like the Honey Badger but he was pretty good at TCU and the Vikings need depth at safety.

https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/ardarius-washington/77848/draft-profile

Round 5 Pick 158 - Jonathan Marshall DT Arkansas 6’3.1” 310

Marshall was not getting a lot of love until he put up a 9.99 RAS score. He is 6’3.1” 310. He ran a 4.88 forty, had a 32” vertical, broad jumped 9’6”, and did 36 reps on the bench. In 2020, Marshall’s 29 pressures (including 19 hurries and nine quarterback hits) lead all SEC interior defensive linemen, as do his 22. He posted an SEC-high 80.8 run defense grade and an overall 79.6 grade, which ranks second - behind only Alabama’s Christian Barmore - among the 21 SEC interior defensive linemen with at least 300 snaps this season. The Vikings do like them some Arkansas defensive tackles!

https://arkansas.rivals.com/news/razorback-defensive-tackle-jonathan-marshall-declares-for-2021-nfl-draft

Round 5 Pick 169 - Simi Fehoko WR Stanford 6’3.7” 222

Fehoko is a project but at 6’3.7” 222 and running a 4.44 forty it is hard to not like him. He made first-team All-Pac-12 honors after posting 37 receptions, 574 receiving yards (15.5 per), and three receiving touchdowns in six games (four starts) in 2020. Having some size on the outside would be nice.

Round 6 Pick 194 - Joshua Kaindoh DE FSU 6’5.6” 260

Kaindoh has all the traits you want in a defensive end. He is 6’5.6” 260 with 34.5” arms. He ran a 4.68 forty, had a 36.5” vertical, broad jumped 9’5.3”, and did only 21 reps on the bench. He seems like a Mike Zimmer type end and they can develop him into maybe the next Weatherly.

Round 6 Pick 200 - Avery Willians CB/PR/KR Boise State 5’8.3” 187

Williams is an explosive return man who has nine career return touchdowns as a kickoff and punt returner and he has also contributed five blocked field goals in his career. He has 30 career starts for Bise State at corner as well. He could become a slot corner in time but his calling card will be as a return man. This was the last pick of the day for the Vikings and I did not want to wait until after the draft to get a player like Williams. This could light a fire under Osborn as well. The Redskins GM was pissed because he was going to take him next.

In summary ...

Traded for Orlando Brown JR LT and Gardner Minshew QB

Round 1 Pick 27 - Alex Leatherwood OT Alabama

Round 3 Pick 79 - Hamsah Nasirildeen S/LB FSU

Round 4 Pick 107 - Anthony Schwartz WR Auburn

Round 4 Pick 126 - Marco Wilson CB Florida

Round 4 Pick 135 - Charles Snowden LB Virginia

Round 5 Pick 152 - Ar’Darius Washington S/CB TCU

Round 5 Pick 158 - Jonathan Marshall DT

Round 5 Pick 169 - Simi Fehoko WR Stanford

Round 6 Pick 194 - Joshua Kaindoh DE FSU

Round 6 Pick 200 - Avery Willians CB/PR/KR

I picked up some UDFAs but not every team participated so there is that to consider. I think a few of these players will get drafted.

Jack Anderson, OG, Texas Tech 6’4.5” 314

Tony Poljan, TE, Virginia 6’6.6” 251

Ernest Jones, LB, South Carolina 6’1.4” 230

Tarron Jackson DE Coastal Carolina 6’2.1” 254

Tyler Coyle S Purdue 6’0.4” 209

Michael Strachan WR Charleston 6’5.3” 226

Chris Evans RB Michigan 5’11” 211

Sam Cooper OG Merrimack College 6’1.4” 305

Jackson Erdmann QB Saint John’s 6’2.5” 206

Well, there you have it. I could only dream they get Brown Jr and Leatherwood. After that, it is all gravy!