Minnesota Vikings' 7-Round Mock Draft and Top-100 Big Board

The Minnesota Vikings are entering the 2016 NFL draft with the intention of building on the base of talent that helped drive a run to the NFC North title during the 2015 season. 

The roster has already been reshaped some early this offseason, with receiver Mike Wallace leaving Minnesota after one disappointing year and veterans Alex Boone and Andre Smith arriving to provide some stability along the offensive line. Now, general manager Rick Spielman will get another shot at the draft, a player-acquisition opportunity he's taken full advantage of in recent years. 

Core players such as Everson Griffen, Harrison Smith, Xavier Rhodes, Teddy Bridgewater, Anthony Barr, Eric Kendricks and Stefon Diggs have all been drafted by Spielman since 2010. Minnesota's success in the draft has largely fueled the franchise turnaround under head coach Mike Zimmer, who is 18-14 in two seasons with the Vikings. 

One short field goal away from the NFC Divisional Round of the playoffs last season, Minnesota has to keep improving—namely on offense—to take the next step toward a Super Bowl. The Vikings could still get better along the offensive line and in the passing game at receiver, while Zimmer can never get enough good players to use in his aggressive, attacking defensive scheme. 

In the following slides, we will develop a top-100 big board and predict a seven-round mock draft specifically for the Vikings. Player talent and positional situations will be used to formulate the big board, while needs and various draft scenarios will help guide the mock selections.

Top 100 Big Board

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The Vikings' top-100 big board lists the best players Minnesota would potentially consider taking in the 2016 NFL draft. Not all players listed below will be available to the Vikings when they come on the clock, but trade scenarios can't be ruled out. Positions will also be taken into account. For example, Minnesota isn't likely to take a quarterback high with Teddy Bridgewater entering his third NFL season, so none of the top players at the position will be listed. 

Minnesota Vikings Big Board

Rank	Player	Position	School
1	Laremy Tunsil	OT	Ole Miss
2	Jalen Ramsey	CB/S	Florida State
3	Myles Jack	LB	UCLA
4	Ezekiel Elliott	RB	Ohio State
5	DeForest Buckner	DL	Oregon
6	Joey Bosa	DE	Ohio State
7	Ronnie Stanley	OT	Notre Dame
8	Vernon Hargreaves	CB	Florida
9	Jaylon Smith	LB	Notre Dame
10	A'Shawn Robinson	DL	Alabama
11	Robert Nkemdiche	DL	Ole Miss
12	Laquon Treadwell	WR	Ole Miss
13	Reggie Ragland	LB	Alabama
14	Darron Lee	LB	Ohio State
15	Josh Doctson	WR	TCU
16	Corey Coleman	WR	Baylor
17	Shaq Lawson	DE	Clemson
18	Jack Conklin	OT	Michigan State
19	Andrew Billings	NT	Baylor
20	Will Fuller	WR	Notre Dame
21	Jarran Reed	DT	Alabama
22	Mackensie Alexander	CB	Clemson
23	Michael Thomas	WR	Ohio State
24	Sheldon Rankins	DL	Louisville
25	Kevin Dodd	DE	Clemson
26	Noah Spence	DE	Eastern Kentucky
27	Taylor Decker	OT	Ohio State
28	William Jackson	CB	Houston
29	Cody Whitehair	OL	Kansas State
30	Germain Ifedi	OL	Texas A&M
31	Karl Joseph	S	West Virginia
32	Eli Apple	CB	Ohio State
33	Leonard Floyd	DE/LB	Georgia
34	Hunter Henry	TE	Arkansas
35	Kenny Clark	DL	UCLA
36	Josh Garnett	OL	Stanford
37	Ryan Kelly	C	Alabama
38	Emmanuel Ogbah	DE	Oklahoma State
39	Austin Johnson	DT	Penn State
40	Charone Peake	WR	Clemson
41	Vonn Bell	S	Ohio State
42	Darian Thompson	S	Boise State
43	Su'a Cravens	LB/S	USC
44	Vernon Butler	DL	Louisiana State
45	Tyler Boyd	WR	Pitt
46	Chris Jones	DL	Miss. State
47	Paul Perkins	RB	UCLA
48	Jonathan Bullard	DL	Florida
49	Le'Raven Clark	OT	Texas Tech
50	Derrick Henry	RB	Alabama
51	Sterling Shepard	WR	Oklahoma
52	Artie Burns	CB	Miami (Fl.)
53	Hassan Ridgeway	DL	Texas
54	Keanu Neal	S	Florida
55	Kamalei Correa	DE/LB	Boise State
56	Deion Jones	LB	LSU
57	Braxton Miller	WR	Ohio State
58	Jordan Howard	RB	Indiana
59	Shon Coleman	OL	Auburn
60	Jason Spriggs	OT	Indiana
61	Kendall Fuller	CB	Virginia Tech
62	Xavien Howard	CB	Baylor
63	Maliek Collins	DL	Nebraska
64	Jihad Ward	DL	Illinois
65	Willie Henry	DL	Michigan
66	Kenneth Dixon	RB	La Tech
67	Jeremy Cash	S	Duke
68	Kentrell Brothers	LB	Missouri
69	Adolphus Washington	DL	Ohio State
70	Josh Perry	LB	Ohio State
71	Shilique Calhoun	DE	Michigan State
72	Leonte Carroo	WR	Rutgers
73	Christian Westerman	OL	Arizona State
74	Jordan Jenkins	DE/LB	Georgia
75	Austin Hooper	TE	Stanford
76	Miles Killebrew	S	Southern Utah
77	Nick Martin	OL	Notre Dame
78	Devontae Booker	RB	Utah
79	Nick Vannett	TE	Ohio State
80	Kyler Fackrell	DE/OLB	Utah State
81	Sheldon Day	DL	Notre Dame
82	Harlan Miller	CB	SE Lousiana State
83	Pharaoh Cooper	WR	South Carolina
84	Carl Nassib	DE	Penn State
85	Max Turek	C	USC
86	Javon Hargrove	DL	South Carolina St.
87	C.J. Prosise	RB	Notre Dame
88	Vadal Alexander	OL	LSU
89	Jalen Mills	DB	LSU
90	Scooby Wright	LB	Arizona
91	Nick Vigil	LB	Utah State
92	Joe Schobert	LB/DE	Wisconsin
93	Jerald Hawkins	OL	LSU
94	Kenyan Drake	RB	Alabama
95	DeAndre Houston-Carson	DB	William & Mary
96	Rashard Higgins	WR	Colorado State
97	Connor McGovern	OL	Missouri
98	Ronald Blair	DE	Appalachian State
99	Alex Collins	RB	Arkansas
100	T.J. Green	S	Clemson

Round 1

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Round 1, Pick 23: Josh Doctson, WR, TCU

I used Fanspeak's Mock Draft simulator to run through a number of potential scenarios at No. 23 overall. More often than not, the options for the pick came down to a receiver, offensive tackle or a defensive lineman, with Doctson—a hugely productive receiver from TCU—as the most popular pick. 

It's certainly possible Michigan State offensive tackle Jack Conklin will be available for the Vikings, and a draft overflowing with defensive line talent will make it difficult to ignore a big guy in the trenches. But in the end, Doctson continued to be too hard to pass up. 

Standing 6'2" with decent speed and a huge catch radius, Doctson has the framework of a No. 1 NFL receiver. He's not going to run by many cornerbacks at the next level, but few (if any) in the receiver class are better at the catch point, and his unique ability to consistently win inside the red zone should allow him to make an immediate impact for the Vikings offense. 

Minnesota could go a few different ways at No. 23, but Conklin feels redundant after signing Andre Smith, and the Vikings are still deep at defensive tackle. Sometimes, the consensus pick—and a receiver for Minnesota is the overwhelming favorite among mock drafts—is the right pick. 

Round 2

Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Round 2, Pick 54: Vonn Bell, Safety, Ohio State

The Vikings had an opportunity to pursue George Iloka and Reggie Nelson—two of Zimmer's former safeties—in free agency last month. Instead, Minnesota re-signed Andrew Sendejo, signed veteran Michael Griffin and eventually passed on both Iloka and Nelson. 

I'd say the Vikings like Sendejo more than most fans, and I'd also bet general manager Rick Spielman likes a few of the safeties in the 2016 class. Insert Ohio State's Vonn Bell, who has already made a predraft visit with the Vikings.

The highly athletic safety could easily be off the board by the time Minnesota picks at No. 54, but several of the Fanspeak simulations (with various big boards used) had him still available. If he's there, the Vikings should pounce on the chance to add another piece to the defense. 

Bell can cover a ton of space as a center fielder, using speed and coverage instincts to play as a single-high safety. Theoretically, those abilities would allow Harrison Smith even more freedom to play all over the field.

And while Bell isn't a perfect safety prospect—especially in terms of run support—there should be a trust level in Zimmer and defensive backs coach Jerry Gray in molding a player with his skill set. With Sendejo and Griffin on the roster, the Vikings can bring Bell along at their own pace. 

Round 3

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Round 3, Pick 86: Jerald Hawkins, Offensive Tackle, LSU

In taking an offensive lineman with the natural ability to play left tackle after finding a first-round receiver and second-round safety, the Vikings can officially cross off their three biggest draft needs in the first three rounds. 

Hawkins might not be ready to play on the blind side immediately at the NFL level, but there's obvious talent in the former LSU star. Landing in Minnesota would give Hawkins at least one season to sit behind Matt Kalil, who is entering the final year of his rookie deal and has nothing guaranteed with the Vikings past 2016. 

CBS Sports likes Hawkins' potential as a developmental tackle: 

"

Still far from a polished product, Hawkins is one of the more intriguing underclassmen tackles in the 2016 draft with starting experience on both sides in a pro-style offense against top competition. With greater commitment to hand placement on the field and the weight room off it, Hawkins could emerge as a starting tackle in the NFL, as well.

"

Adding Hawkins would give Minnesota added depth at tackle—where Kalil, Phil Loadholt and T.J. Clemmings remain and veteran Andre Smith was acquired—while also providing a long-term answer on the left side if Kalil departs after 2016.  

Round 4

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Round 4, Pick 121: D.J. Reader, Defensive Lineman, Clemson

The Vikings have plenty of depth at defensive tackle, but the vast amount of talent at the position in the 2016 class should mean Minnesota—and a number of other teams—get great value on a player in the middle rounds.

Reader could be one option, especially if the Vikings want insurance on Linval Joseph. At almost 330 pounds, Reader moves like a man weighing far less, and he showed flashes of interior disruption during his time as the anchor of the Clemson defensive line.

Minnesota should have a number of good options in terms of dipping into the defensive line talent base in this draft. It seems Zimmer can never have enough quality big guys up front, and Reader certainly fits the bill as a versatile, athletic lineman with an ability to create havoc on the inside.

Round 5

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Round 5, Pick 160: Nick VanHoose, Cornerback, Northwestern

Cornerback isn't a huge need after Minnesota brought back veteran Terence Newman for 2016. But it's easy to envision a coach like Zimmer pounding the table for a player like VanHoose, who intercepted eight passes and defended 45 more over 44 games with Northwestern. 

Throw on his tape, and the second-team All-Big Ten cornerback consistently used well-honed instincts and an ability to make plays on the ball to disrupt passing lanes. An experienced cornerback who doesn't just rely on athleticism to play the position, VanHoose shouldn't face a huge adjustment as he enters the NFL. 

Adding another piece to the secondary after taking a safety in the second round might be a little rich. But then again, Zimmer's Cincinnati Bengals defenses were never shy about adding cornerbacks through the draft. VanHoose could add more depth moving forward, especially with Newman and Captain Munnerlyn entering contract years in 2016. 

Round 6

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Round 6, Pick 180: Austin Blythe, Center, Iowa

The Vikings will return veteran center John Sullivan for 2016, but the long-term health of the position isn't in great shape. Sullivan is coming off a lost season due to back surgery, and backup Joe Berger is 33 years old and entering the final year of his contract.

Maybe the Vikings believe they can wait another year before addressing the need, but that's a dangerous game. Blythe—a four-year starter at Iowa—could at least bring some stability past the 2016 season.

According to Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, Blythe was a decorated prep football player and wrestler in the state of Iowa. He went on to start 40 games at center for the Hawkeyes, a program historically built with rough and tough offensive linemen.

Zierlein later said he has "all the makings of an eventual NFL starter." Blythe looks like an ideal fit for a team that is intent on adding quality depth along the offensive line.

Round 7

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Round 7, Pick 240: Paul McRoberts, Wide Receiver, Southeast Missouri State

While not a burner, McRoberts is a big-bodied receiver with a basketball background. He'd also make for a potential weapon inside the red zone, where his ability to go up and get the ball at its high point would be a valuable skill. Then again, is he redundant with Charles Johnson coming back healthy for 2016? The Vikings shouldn't be satisfied with just one receiver in this class, especially if general manager Rick Spielman can generate a few extra picks with a trade or two.

Round 7, Pick 244: Luke Rhodes, Linebacker, William & Mary

Rhodes fits the mold of the big, fast linebacker Mike Zimmer has liked. While there's an obvious adjustment from the Colonial Athletic Association to the NFL, Rhodes possesses the developmental skills to warrant a shot. Down the road, he could slide in at middle linebacker, pushing Eric Kendricks to the outside when Minnesota plays its base defense.