The Vikings lost plenty of familiar faces on the defensive side of the ball this offseason and haven’t done much to replace them.
In his recent mock draft from our friends at USA TODAY, Nate Davis has the Vikings drafting defensive players with both of their first-round picks.
With the 22nd pick the team acquired from the Bills in the Stefon Diggs trade, Davis has the Vikings taking Iowa defensive end A.J. Epenesa. With the team losing Everson Griffen (who has yet to sign with a team, but will not return to Minnesota) in free agency, the Vikings have a void to fill across from Danielle Hunter.
Epenesa has been a stud for Iowa over the last two seasons, combining for 22 sacks.
With the 25th pick, which is originally their own pick, the Vikings take LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton. Drafting a corner here makes a lot of sense considering the Vikings lost Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander in free agency and cut ties with Xavier Rhodes. The team has yet to sign a cornerback in free agency.
It also wouldn’t be a surprise if the Vikings decided to draft an offensive linemen or a receiver in the first round.