EAGAN, Minn. — The 2021 NFL Draft is just 44 days away.
And while free agency officially begins at 3 p.m. (CT) on Wednesday, plenty of focus remains on the draft.
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 12 overall picks. Minnesota does not have a second-rounder, but has a pair of third-round selections plus four picks in the fourth round.
Here is the fourth edition of our Vikings 2021 Mock Draft Tracker, which includes 17 predictions from across the football world, with a dozen experts projecting a defensive lineman to the Vikings. Five other experts predict that an offensive lineman will land in Minnesota.
Here's a look at our fourth Vikings 2021 Mock Draft Tracker:
ESPN's Todd McShay
March 4, 2021
The predicted pick: Kwity Paye, Edge Rusher, Michigan
It has been nearly a decade since the last time that the first 13 teams all passed on pass-rushers (Seattle took Bruce Irvin at No. 15 in 2012). But the Vikings are seeking more impact players on the edge, and while Paye hasn't necessarily piled on production stats at Michigan (8.5 sacks over his past 16 games), he can slip blocks and has some power. Minnesota's 23 sacks were the NFL's fifth fewest last season.
Click here for McShay's full mock draft.
Bruce Feldman of The Athletic
March 13, 2021
The predicted pick: Jaelan Phillips, Edge Rusher, Miami
Minnesota needs a bunch of help on the D-line, and Phillips, once the nation's top-ranked recruit, could be a very good fit here. Phillips' rise is interesting. He fizzled out at UCLA after some injuries and really got into focusing on a fledgling music career. He transferred to Miami and rejuvenated his football career, buying into the program and reshaping his body. At UCLA, he played at around 240-250 pounds, but at Miami he got up to 270 pounds and was in the best shape of his life. At one point, he registered 22 mph on the GPS, a remarkable number for an athlete that size, and he proved to be a terrific fit in UM's 4-3 system. He had 11 TFLs, 6.5 sacks and 26 tackles in his final four games for the Canes in 2020.
Click here for Feldman's full mock draft.
NFL.com's Chad Reuter (four rounds)
March 5, 2021
TRADE: Reuter has the Vikings trading back from the 14th pick to No. 28 with the Saints. Minnesota added a future first-rounder in the deal.
The predicted pick at No. 28: Ronnie Perkins, Edge Rusher, Oklahoma
The Vikings are happy to get a much-needed pass rusher, along with the first-round pick with which the Saints were willing to part in this projection. Perkins' game mirrors that of Yannick Ngakoue, the explosive pass rusher whom GM Rick Spielman traded for and then moved to Baltimore at minimal loss after it was clear there wasn't a playoff run coming in 2020.
The predicted pick at No. 78: Richie Grant, Safety, Central Florida
The predicted pick at No. 90: Tyler Shelvin, Defensive Tackle, LSU
The predicted pick at No. 120: Kellen Mond, Quarterback, Texas A&M
The predicted pick at No. 126: D'Ante Smith, Tackle, East Carolina
The predicted pick at No. 135: Kylen Granson, Tight End, SMU
Note: Reuter posted his four-round mock prior to the NFL finalizing compensatory draft selections. He projected the Vikings would receive a third-round pick, but Minnesota received a fourth and a sixth.
Click here for Reuter's full mock draft.
NFL.com's Cynthia Frelund
March 2, 2021
The predicted pick: Alijah Vera-Tucker, Guard/Tackle, Southern California
I project Vera-Tucker at guard, though he has experience at USC at both that position and tackle. His ability to stay low in his stance through contact helps project him as a very reliable (that is, possessing a high projected floor) in both passing and rushing situations, as well as in play-action, which is extremely helpful for the Vikings scheme.
Click here for Frelund's full mock draft.
NFL.com's Maurice Jones-Drew
March 9, 2021
The predicted pick: Gregory Rousseau, Edge Rusher, Miami
The Vikings defensive struggles were on full display last season, and Mike Zimmer even admitted it. They add a long, rangy edge rusher who's raw but has all the tools to be elite.
Click here for Jones-Drew's full mock draft.
Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus
March 15, 2021
The predicted pick: Kwity Paye, Edge Rusher, Michigan
Minnesota made a trade late in the 2020 offseason for edge defender Yannick Ngakoue, but that move obviously didn't work out; he was subsequently traded to Baltimore midseason. Vikings star edge defender Danielle Hunter is set to return after a neck injury kept him sidelined for the entire 2020 campaign, but Minnesota is clearly in the market for someone to pair with him to get after the passer.
Paye is a raw edge prospect with crazy athleticism and upside, much like Hunter out of LSU back in 2015. Vikings Co-Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Line Coach Andre Patterson is one of the best in the business, and he would be the perfect coach to tap into Paye's potential.
Click here for Spielberger's full mock draft.
Seth Galina of Pro Football Focus
March 8, 2021
The predicted pick: Jayson Oweh, Edge Rusher, Penn State
Mike Zimmer is going to love Oweh because his play against the run is just as good as his play when rushing the passer.
Click here for Galina's full mock draft.
Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports
March 15, 2021
TRADE: Wilson has the Vikings trading back from the 14th pick to No. 23 with the Jets. Minnesota would receive extra picks in the deal.
The predicted pick at No. 23: Levi Onwuzurike, Defensive Tackle, Washington
The Vikings trade down, get a couple of picks and still land a playmaking interior defensive lineman. Onwuzurike might have the quickest first step of any DL in the class and that, with his pure power, makes him an interesting early round prospect.
Click here for Wilson's full mock draft.
Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports (three rounds)
March 13, 2021
The predicted pick at No. 14: Kwity Paye, Edge Rusher, Michigan
Minnesota's defensive line needs a complete overhaul, and Paye is the top edge rusher on many team's boards.
The predicted pick at No. 78: Austin Watkins, Jr., Wide Receiver, UAB
Watkins is an underrated prospect who was held back by poor quarterback play in 2020 but runs sudden routes and is a productive contested-catch receiver.
The predicted pick at No. 90: Daviyon Nixon, Defensive Tackle, Iowa
Nixon is a hyper, one-gap penetrator with developing pass-rush moves.
Click here for Trapasso's full mock draft.
Josh Edwards of CBS Sports
March 11, 2021
The predicted pick: Gregory Rousseau, Edge Rusher, Miami
The first edge rusher does not go until the teens. Barring a re-surfacing from training to post freakish training numbers, Gregory Rousseau will not be taken within the top 10.
Click here for Edwards' full mock draft.
Pete Prisco of CBS Sports
March 9, 2021
The predicted pick: Rashawn Slater, Tackle, Northwestern
They need to upgrade at left tackle and Riley Reiff [is now] gone for cap reasons. Slater opted out last year, but he has the skills to be an immediate starter on the left side, which would mean keeping Ezra Cleveland at right guard.
Click here for Prisco's full mock draft.
The Ringer's Danny Kelly
March 11, 2021
The predicted pick: Alijah Vera-Tucker, Guard/Tackle, Southern California
The Vikings desperately need to shore up their leaky offensive line, and a consistent, athletic blocker like Vera-Tucker would go a long way toward that goal. The former Trojans standout could be the long-term answer for the team at left tackle, and he brings the skill set to play inside at guard.
Click here for Kelly's full mock draft.
Nate Davis of USA TODAY
March 12, 2021
The predicted pick: Kwity Paye, Edge Rusher, Michigan
Coach Mike Zimmer has converted vast potential into vast production before – look no further than Vikes DE Danielle Hunter. Deploying Paye opposite Hunter would give him a chance to thrive while theoretically adding juice to what was the NFC's worst pass rush in 2020 and a poor defense Zimmer deemed the "worst one I've ever had."
Click here for Davis' full mock draft.
Joe Marino of The Draft Network
March 15, 2021
The predicted pick: Christian Darrisaw, Tackle, Virginia Tech
Minnesota moved on from Riley Reiff at left tackle, creating an opening, and I love the idea of Darrisaw being the guy to step in while keeping Ezra Cleveland at guard, where he found success as a rookie. Darrisaw is a powerful blocker with terrific range and mobility. He is dynamic blocking in space and can reach landmarks in wide zone run schemes that make him a great fit in Minnesota.
Click here for Marino's full mock draft.
Jordan Reid of The Draft Network (three rounds)
March 11, 2021
TRADE: Wilson has the Vikings trading back from the 14th pick to No. 22 with the Titans. Minnesota would add the 53rd pick (second round) and the 126th pick (fourth round) in the deal and send the 119th pick to Tennessee.
The predicted pick at No. 22: Samuel Cosmi, Tackle, Texas
Another team that I think should be circled with a sharpie as a trade-back candidate is the Vikings. Rick Spielman's batting average is nearly 1.000 in the second round, as he's drafted players such as Eric Kendricks, Dalvin Cook and Brian O'Neill in that area. Without a second-rounder, he could work hard to recoup the pick he lost in the Yannick Ngakoue trade. With the team not wanting to reveal their draft and/or free agency plans by remaining coy about their future plans for 2020 second-round pick Ezra Cleveland (on whether or not they plan to keep him at guard or move him to tackle), they opt to select the heir apparent to Riley Reiff. Cosmi is an athletic blocker that contains lots of upside. Right down the alley of what we've seen the team prefer in past draft classes, he enters a situation where he could redshirt as a rookie prior to taking over as the entrenched option in 2022.
The predicted pick at No. 53: Daviyon Nixon, Defensive Tackle, Iowa
The predicted pick at No. 78: Andre Cisco, Safety, Syracuse
The predicted pick at No. 90: Jordan Smith, Edge Rusher, UAB
Click here for Reid's full mock draft.
Nick Farabaugh of Pro Football Network
March 14, 2021
The predicted pick at No. 14: Azeez Ojulari, Edge Rusher, Georgia
The Vikings have lots of needs on the defensive side of the ball, and they add Azeez Ojulari to try and assuage the issue in their pass rush. Ojulari's natural bend and explosiveness are fantastic, and he should join Danielle Hunter in making a most feared pass-rushing duo in the NFC.
Click here for Farabaugh's full mock draft.
Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network
March 13, 2021
The predicted pick at No. 14: Gregory Rousseau, Edge Rusher, Miami
This is a bit of a reach based on my board. At any rate, the Vikings need an edge rusher, and Gregory Rousseau is one of the best in this draft, nevermind being a terrific fit.
Click here for Pauline's full mock draft.
