Minnesota Vikings Mock Draft: Final 7-Round Predictions

The Minnesota Vikings will enter the 2014 NFL draft with a laundry list of needs and a plan to address as many as they can while adding as much talent as possible.

Quarterback headlines the list of areas of need for Rick Spielman and Co. It is most likely that they will have a Plan A in place that involves drafting their highest-rated quarterback and letting the rest of the draft fall into place. Exactly who they have their eyes set on has been kept well under wraps.

Outside of selecting a new signal-caller, the Vikings should be drafting defensive talent wherever they can find it. New head coach Mike Zimmer will have identified needs for his defensive scheme, and selecting scheme fits who can maximize talent on the defensive side of the ball is the name of the game.

While the decision regarding which quarterback to select has been torturing Rick Spielman, chances are he will select one in the first round. 

The Minnesota Vikings are now on the clock...

All height/weight information courtesy of NFL.com.

Rd. 1, Pick No. 8: Blake Bortles, QB, UCF

Whether the trigger is pulled on him with the eighth pick or the team trades down and selects him in the teens, Blake Bortles is likely at the top of the Vikings quarterback big board. There are numerous reasons why Bortles and the Vikings are a natural fit.

Time to develop is what Blake Bortles needs more than anything else. Keeping him off the field as a rookie will allow him to work out some of the kinks he picked up as a junior. Getting back to the basics in terms of footwork and mechanics will bring the best out of Blake Bortles. The Vikings have a situation that makes sense for him.

Everything about the Vikings current quarterback situation makes it a soft landing spot for a quarterback in need of seasoning. Matt Cassel is cemented as the starter and can hold down the position for the entire 2014 season if need be. That gives any rookie a whole season to hold the clipboard, assimilate themselves into a new offense and refine their skills in practice.

Blake Bortles would be a more valuable piece in a situation where he won't be rushed onto the field. He still struggles with footwork, too often falling off on throws. That lead to a drop-off in his velocity in 2013. In order to get back to driving the football, refining his footwork is a must. Getting the chance to sit behind a seasoned vet could do wonders for him.

The main appeal with Bortles is his evident upside. At 6'5", 232 pounds, Bortles is a big body and has a presence in the pocket. He moves around with nimble feet and terrific overall awareness of his surroundings. So many of the instinctive requirements of quarterback play—things that cannot be taught—are what Bortles possesses.

In theory, giving him a season on the bench would give him time to refine his footwork, build his arm strength back up and be fully prepared to go into 2015 as the starting quarterback.

Rd. 2, Pick No. 40: Kyle Van Noy, OLB, BYU

Reinforcements are needed in the Vikings' linebacking corps. The first priority may be to find a linebacker who has some pass-rushing value, because Mike Zimmer's defense will bring more blitz packages than the previous scheme did.

Van Noy was more of a rush linebacker at BYU, so he has experience coming off the edge. He possesses a fine repertoire of moves and has value blitzing from off the edge. The linebackers who are currently on the Vikings roster won't strike fear as pass-rushers, so adding one who can help get after opposing quarterbacks is a must.

The versatility of Van Noy will also be valuable. He and Chad Greenway would serve as the team's three-down linebackers who can be trusted in pass coverage. Van Noy could be viewed as a strong-side linebacker if Greenway slides inside, or he could play weak-side linebacker, with Greenway and Cole as the other two linebackers in base personnel.

The football IQ of Kyle Van Noy is what makes him a reliable, versatile and consistent linebacker. He's able to play fast due to his trust in his reads, quick reactions and overall instincts on the fly. He will have a smooth transition to an NFL defense that requires more of its players than a typical college scheme does. Van Noy is the type of linebacker Mike Zimmer will appreciate.

One final reason why Kyle Van Noy fits the mold for the Vikings is how quickly he can slide into the lineup. The Vikings defense is patched together at this point, and it is in desperate need of a few rookies who can be relied upon right away. Van Noy can serve as a smart linebacker with adequate size (6'3", 243 lbs) and physical tools. He can come into the system right away and do the job.

Third Round

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Pick No. 72: Bashaud Breeland, CB, Clemson

If the Vikings wait this long to draft a cornerback, they would be forunate to come away with one as talented as Clemson's Bashaud Breeland. He has flown under the radar as an underclassman who wasn't expected to declare for the draft, but he has exceptional talent.

While Xavier Rhodes keeps developing into a top cornerback, the Vikings will need a complement on the opposite side. Neither Josh Robinson nor Captain Munnerlyn can truly be that guy. Having a reliable cornerback opposite Rhodes would provide Zimmer with more versatility in coverage, especially in the way he uses his safeties.

Adding Breeland to the fold would give Minnesota two physical cornerbacks who can challenge receivers at the line of scrimmage. Breeland is especially aggressive with his hands, as he dominates receivers with his press-man coverage ability. He plays much bigger than his combine measurements would indicate because of stellar technique.  

Breeland also locates the football with fine coverage instincts and plays it at its highest point, bringing down a couple impressive interceptions as a junior. He's a physical cornerback who possesses big-play ability. Minnesota's defense only hauled in 12 interceptions in 2013, tied for 24th in the league. Breeland has the type of ball skills and aggressiveness to change that for the better.

Minnesota may certainly have their eyes set on a cornerback before the third round. Either way, expect them to select one within the first three rounds in order to infuse the secondary with more talent.

Pick No. 96 (via Seattle): Aaron Lynch, DE, South Florida

Minnesota has a bonus pick in the third round, which they received from the Seattle Seahawks in the Percy Harvin trade. It could give them a chance to restock the defensive line, giving Mike Zimmer the type of depth he needs up front.

Aaron Lynch is the type of defensive end that Zimmer would identify as a fit for his defense. Zimmer utilized tall, lengthy defensive ends regularly for the Bengals, and Lynch is that type of player. His physical tools leave a lot of room for growth and developmental upside. His rocky path as a college football player has held him back to this point, but the rewards could be tremendous.

Lynch's natural athleticism is the draw. He comes off the ball with an explosive first step and can be a terror for blockers. On top of that, he's valuable as an interior rusher. Lynch was especially disruptive playing on the interior for Notre Dame as a freshman. That versatility is appealing for the type of sub-packages Zimmer likes to implement.

There are reasons Lynch would drop this far, though. He struggles with pad level at the point of attack, naturally playing high as a tall defensive end. He also has a lean frame (6'5", 249 lbs) that has to be built up. Lynch was a disappointment in 2013, so it's all about tapping into the potential his showed during his freshman season.

Don't be surprised if Minnesota makes it a priority to add to their defensive line via the draft despite the signing of Corey Wootton this offseason. Aaron Lynch has value playing from the edge and from the inside, so he fits here.

Rd. 4, Pick No. 104: Devonta Freeman, RB, Florida State

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After the departure of Toby Gerhart, look for the Vikings to restock their backfield with a Day 3 pick. Finding a back with the ability to contribute on passing downs as a receiver and blocker will be a must. Devonta Freeman can be the yin to Adrian Peterson's yang in that regard.

Pass-blocking is one of the toughest things for rookie backs to pick up, but Freeman has proven his ability to do it. He locates blitzers, steps up and stays balanced to make the block. Freeman is the type of back that any quarterback would love to have next to them on third-and-long, so pairing him up with a young quarterback like Bortles would be a smart investment.

Freeman's receiving skills are top of the line as well. He has soft hands and is especially elusive when he has the ball in space, which means there is big potential for yards after catch. Similar to his pass-blocking skills, reliability is the word to use here as well.

Though he wouldn't be tasked with being the starting running back as a Viking, Freeman's traits as a runner are promising as well. There aren't many running back prospects who run with the kind of controlled chaos that he does. His legs are always churning, and his pads are always low, which means he has fine balance and the ability to pick up yards after contact. Freeman uses his lack of stature (5'8", 206 lbs) to his advantage, always running behind his blocks.

A Day 3 running back selection makes a lot of sense for the Vikings, especially if a quality one like Freeman falls that far. Where this year's crop of running backs will end up is tough to predict, so Minnesota could be looking at a different group of available backs if they wait this long.

Rd. 5, Pick No. 148: Dakota Dozier, OG, Furman

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Starting left guard Charlie Johnson is on the wrong side of 30, so unless Jeff Baca is viewed as a final answer, the Vikings may look to add another offensive guard. Selecting a guard on Day 3 and having him develop before taking the field is what the Vikings did with Brandon Fusco, which turned out well.

Dakota Dozier played left tackle at Furman, but he will almost certainly transition to offensive guard as a pro. His body type and playing style are a better fit on the inside at the next level. From there, it's about harnessing his natural skills and eliminating some of his weaknesses.

Dozier has natural power as a run-blocker and plays with a physical style fit for a power running game. He's nimble and athletic enough to move to the second level and make blocks down the field or pull and lead up the hole. That part of his game will easily translate to playing the guard position.

He's already a skillful pass-blocker with nimble feet, a long reach and big hands. Refining his footwork and weight distribution will be the key to developing him into a viable starter on the inside. Dozier tends to play off balance and fails to sustain blocks the way he should, as he was too much of an all-or-nothing blocker in college.

Depth on the offensive line is always a need. If the Vikings have plans to replace Charlie Johnson any time soon, Dakota Dozier makes a ton of sense on Day 3.

Rd. 6, Pick No. 184: Chris Whaley, DT, Texas

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It makes sense for Minnesota to add another defensive tackle at some point. They are especially thin at the 3-technique position, where Sharrif Floyd holds the starting spot.

Chris Whaley fits as a late-round selection because of his upside. He played running back for the Longhorns before transferring to the defensive side of the ball. Quite impressively, he's picked up the position well. His defensive awareness and ability to diagnose plays are well-developed for a defensive tackle who recently played offense.

Mike Zimmer would look to harness his athleticism and mold him into a gap-splitter who can disrupt the backfield. As any former ball-carrier should, Whaley possesses tremendous body control and overall balance. He brings a lot to the table athletically, which makes for fine upside in a late-round selection.

The biggest question mark here is weight, as Whaley only measured in at 269 pounds at the combine. That's hardly the weight of an NFL defensive tackle. Whaley must continue to build up his frame in order to hold his own, but he could be a worthwhile project.

Rd. 7, Pick No. 223: Matt Hazel, WR, Coastal Carolina

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The Vikings will have flexibility, as any team does, with their seventh-round pick. The sole focus they should have regarding this pick should center on securing depth, so they won't be picking a player who they expect to see the field immediately.

Looking for more competition for the No. 5 wide receiver spot is likely. The first four are positions on the depth chart are set, but there are no obvious candidates to win the last spot. Bringing in a small-school receiver like Matt Hazel at the end of the draft could be an option.

Hazel has the skill set of a class possession receiver who gets open underneath the coverage and has reliable hands. Playing with more physicality is a must for him, though, as NFL cornerbacks will challenge him at the line of scrimmage. Hazel has the athletic potential to make it in the league. And if the seventh-round pick makes the squad out of training camp, the team deserves a thumps up.