This offseason, the Minnesota Vikings decided to part ways with Eric Kendricks, creating a gap in their linebacker corps beside second-year player Brian Asamoah.
On Thursday, Vinnie Iyer from The Sporting News published his latest seven-round mock draft. He predicted that the Vikings would select Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson in the first round
The Vikings have a big void in the middle of their defense. They should covet Simpson’s toughness and speed with which to cover a ton of ground and make plenty of plays in coverage and against the run.
Many consider Simpson to be one of the top linebackers in this draft class due to his versatility as a defender. Throughout his college career, he was utilized in various positions on the field, including at safety. Simpson has impressive closing speed and the capacity to power through opposing players to make critical plays.
The Vikings have several team needs, and selecting a linebacker in the first round may not be the optimal decision for them. Although Simpson possesses great talent, the Vikings could probably address this position later in the draft.
Iyver had the Vikings selecting the following players in the remainder of his mock draft
- Pick 87: Maryland CB Deonte Banks
- Pick 119: Maryland WR Rakim Jarett
- Pick 158: Oklahoma DL Jalen Redmond
- Pick 211: Stanford WR Michael Wilson
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