EAGAN, Minn. — It's officially draft season.
With Super Bowl LV in the rearview mirror, all eyes now turn to the 2021 offseason.
The 2021 NFL Draft is slated to be held from April 29 to May 1. The first round will be on April 29, followed by Rounds 2 and 3 on April 30 and the final four rounds on May 1.
The Vikings currently have the 14th overall pick after Minnesota went 7-9 in 2020, finishing in third place in the NFC North.
Minnesota has drafted at No. 14 overall twice in team history, doing so in back-to-back years in 1986 and 1987.
The Vikings currently hold 10 overall picks. Minnesota does not have a second-rounder, but has a pair of third-round selections.
Here is the second edition of our Vikings 2021 Mock Draft Tracker, which includes 15 predictions from across the football world.
The majority of experts have the Vikings adding to their defensive line, with 11 of 15 prognosticators predicting a defensive end or defensive tackle.
There were a pair of trades included, as two pundits have the Vikings moving down from, No. 14.
Here's a look at our second Vikings 2021 Mock Draft Tracker:
ESPN's Mel Kiper, Jr.
Jan. 31, 2021
The predicted first-round pick: Alijah Vera-Tucker, Tackle/Guard, Southern California
Speaking of rising prospects, Vera-Tucker has scouts around the league buzzing after a tremendous season. He moved from guard to left tackle and dominated for the Trojans. At 6-foot-4, 315 pounds, he could play either position at the next level. The Vikings must solidify their offensive line around Kirk Cousins, even after spending second-round picks on Ezra Cleveland (2020) and Brian O'Neill (2018) in recent years, and Vera-Tucker could be the long-term answer on the left side of the line. Cousins plays best when his running game is humming, and Vera-Tucker is a great run-blocker.
Click here for Kiper's full mock draft.
NFL.com's Chad Reuter (three rounds)
Feb. 8, 2021
TRADE: Reuter has Minnesota trading down to No. 19, with Washington moving up to No. 14. The Vikings would add the No. 51 overall pick (second round) in this deal.
The predicted pick at No. 19: Jaelan Phillips, Edge Rusher, Miami
The Vikings had one of the worst pass rushes in the league in 2020, and smartly traded Yannick Ngakoue when it was clear the season was not going as planned. Phillips possesses a nice combination of pass-rush ability and strength to hold the line of scrimmage.
The predicted pick at No. 51: Andre Cisco, Safety, Syracuse
The predicted pick at No. 78: Kyle Trask, Quarterback, Florida
The predicted pick at No. 90: Trey Smith, Guard, Tennessee
Click here for Reuter's full mock draft.
NFL.com's Bucky Brooks
Feb. 1, 2021
The predicted pick at No. 19: Kwity Paye, Edge Rusher, Michigan
The Vikings defensive decline can be attributed to a non-existent pass rush that clearly missed the injured Danielle Hunter. Paye has the potential to develop into a high-end edge rusher in a few years.
Click here for Brooks' full mock draft.
NFL.com's Lance Zierlein
Feb. 4, 2021
The predicted pick at No. 19: Alijah Vera-Tucker, Tackle/Guard, Southern California
One of the most surprising developments from the 2020 college season was Vera-Tucker's play at left tackle after transitioning from guard. Needless to say, he'll offer guard/tackle flexibility at the next level and would be an instant upgrade on the Vikings' O-line.
Click here for Zierlein's full mock draft.
Mike Renner of Pro Football Focus
Feb. 8, 2021
The predicted pick: Christian Barmore, Defensive Tackle, Alabama
The Vikings need edge and interior [help], so this decision comes down to positional scarcity. It's a weak defensive tackle class, and Barmore is a massive upgrade as a prospect over what you can find in the second or third round at defensive tackle. The edge class is much deeper, though, and it includes some athletic projects who will fall.
Click here for Renner's full mock draft.
Ben Linsey of Pro Football Focus
Feb. 8, 2021
The predicted pick: Kwity Paye, Edge Rusher, Michigan
Danielle Hunter's recent absence has highlighted that the Vikings could stand to add a few pass rushers to complement him. Minnesota's 22% pressure rate in 2020 ranked dead last in the NFL.
Paye fits the bill and might just be the biggest physical freak in an edge draft class loaded with ridiculous athletes. He was No. 1 on Bruce Feldman's Freaks List thanks in part to a sub-6.4-second three-cone at 270 pounds. His PFF grade has only improved each season at Michigan, and there is still plenty of room for growth as he adds more pass-rushing moves to his repertoire.
Click here for Linsey's full mock draft.
Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports
Feb. 8, 2021
The predicted pick: Christian Barmore, Defensive Tackle, Alabama
The Vikings need help along the defensive line and in the secondary as well, but with two edge rushers already off the board, addressing the interior with Barmore, our DT1, makes sense in the middle of Round 1. Barmore flashed throughout the '20 season but got red hot over Alabama's final four games.
Click here for Wilson's full mock draft.
Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports
Feb. 8, 2021
The predicted pick: Micah Parsons, Linebacker, Penn State
I need to see Parsons paired with Eric Kendricks in Mike Zimmer's scheme in Minnesota.
Click here for Trapasso's full mock draft.
Josh Edwards of CBS Sports
Feb. 4, 2021
The predicted pick: Gregory Rousseau, Edge Rusher, Miami
Minnesota embraced a rebuild last season whether they recognized it or not. The cornerback position was overhauled and Everson Griffen [departed]. I would expect the youth movement to continue as they look to replace Griffen with Gregory Rousseau.
Click here for Edwards' full mock draft.
The Ringer's Danny Kelly
Jan. 31, 2021
The predicted pick: Gregory Rousseau, Edge Rusher, Miami
The Vikings have a lot of work to do on what was an uncharacteristically bad defense in 2020, and adding more pass-rushing talent up front is at the top of the list. Rousseau is an athletic and productive edge prospect with extraordinary length and limitless upside, and he'd make things tough for opposing offensive lines when lined up opposite Danielle Hunter.
Click here for Kelly's full mock draft.
Nate Davis of USA TODAY
Jan. 28, 2021
The predicted pick: Gregory Rousseau, Edge Rusher, Miami
The Vikes had an NFC-low 23 sacks in 2020, [with Head Coach] Mike Zimmer saying of his defense: "worst one I've ever had." Rousseau, who's only 20, had 15.5 sacks in 2019, winning ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors before opting out in 2020. His 6-7 frame also makes him a threat to bat down balls when he can't get to the quarterback. He and Danielle Hunter could form quite a combo in a division ruled by Aaron Rodgers.
Click here for Davis' full mock draft.
Jordan Reid of The Draft Network
Jan. 28, 2021
The predicted pick: Christian Barmore, Defensive Tackle, Alabama
With many needs, the Vikings have to find a way to become better in the trenches, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Only registering 23 sacks last season, tied for the third-lowest mark in team history, there should be a gold star beside the defensive line on the depth chart to mark the importance of collecting talent for that group during the offseason. A penetrating 3-technique is vital in Mike Zimmer's defense. In previous seasons, he's had players such as Shariff Floyd and Sheldon Richardson, but the position has been a sore spot since Richardson's departure to Cleveland.
Click here for Reid's full mock draft.
Joe Marino of The Draft Network
Feb. 4, 2021
The predicted pick: Kwity Paye, Edge Rusher, Michigan
Minnesota is in a weird spot because while there is stability, this is also a team in transition at so many places. When I evaluate the roster, I see plenty of holes and a good bit of young talent that can provide answers. But where I start to have the most concern is at the defensive line, where Minnesota once had one of the best groups in the league. Now, it's Danielle Hunter and a bunch of rotational options. Paye has room to grow but has immense physical gifts in terms of size and athleticism. He could pair with Hunter to provide Minnesota with a dynamic pair of edge rushers.
Click here for Marino's full mock draft.
Kyle Crabbs of The Draft Network
Feb. 7, 2021
TRADE: Crabbs has Minnesota trading down to No. 21, with Indianapolis moving up to No. 14. The Vikings added No. 84 overall (third round) and a 2022 fourth-round pick in this deal.
The predicted pick at No. 21: Christian Darrisaw, T, Virginia Tech
Go ahead, Vikings fans. Pinch yourselves. This really happened. Y'all got the trade down that stocks up extra picks and then still managed to see Christian Darrisaw fall into your lap. Darrisaw would allow Minnesota to begin to brace for a transition away from Riley Reiff, who is entering into the final year of his contract, will be 33 years old this season, and is owed nearly $12M in new cash.
Click here for Crabb's full mock draft.
Luke Easterling of Draft Wire
Feb. 8, 2021
The predicted pick: Gregory Rousseau, Edge Rusher, Miami
Click here for Easterling's full mock draft.
Fan Poll
Vikings fans had the chance to vote for which player they want to see in Purple based off this mock draft tracker from the Vikings App push notification.
USC offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker won the poll with 446 of 898 total votes (49.7 percent). Alabama defensive tackle Christian Barmore, Miami edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and a 'other' selection were also candidates.
Vera-Tucker appeared in 31 career games in college, starting 19 of them.
