Minnesota Vikings
- Round 1, Pick #22 – WR Justin Jefferson, LSU
- Round 1, Pick #31 – CB Jeff Gladney, TCU
- Round 2, Pick #58 – OT Ezra Cleveland, Boise State
- Round 3, Pick #89 – CB Cameron Dantzler, Mississippi State
- Round 4, Pick #117 – DE D.J. Wonnum, South Carolina
- Round 4, Pick #130 – DT James Lynch, Baylor
- Round 4, Pick #132 – LB Troy Dye, Oregon
- Round 5, Pick #169 – CB Harrison Hand
- Round 5, Pick #176 – WR K.J. Osborn, Miami
- Round 6, Pick #203 – OT Blake Brandel, Oregon State
- Round 6, Pick #205 – S Josh Metellus, Michigan
- Round 7, Pick #225 – DE Kenny Willekes, Michigan State
- Round 7, Pick #244 – QB Nate Stanley, Iowa
- Round 7, Pick #249 – S Brian Cole II, Mississippi State
- Round 7, Pick #253 – OL Kyle Hinton, Washburn
Analysis: Talk about a haul. The Vikings doubled an average amount of draft picks and filled quite a few holes, beginning with Justin Jefferson. The LSU star was the primary weapon for quarterback Joe Burrow and will fill the void left by receiver Stefon Diggs, who was traded to the Buffalo Bills earlier in the offseason. Jeff Gladney, their other first round pick, helps their decimated secondary, now with cornerbacks Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes on different teams.
But one of their biggest steals came on day two, when Ezra Cleveland slid to the third round. The Vikings pounced and came away with a potential Week 1 starter. Overall, the Vikings addressed many needs and were listed as winners according to many draft experts.
How their draft impacts the Bears: When the selections of Jefferson and Gladney were made, I imagined Bears receiver Allen Robinson and cornerback Kyle Fuller awkwardly looking at each other. Both rookies could become problems for the Bears’ starters down the road. It’s clear the Vikings have a deep rookie class but will their losses in free agency affect their record negatively? After a playoff appearance in 2019, they could see some regression, opening the door the Bears to return to the postseason. But this rookie class is strong and may give Chicago fits sooner rather than later.
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