EAGAN, Minn. — The countdown is on to the 2021 NFL Draft.
The league's annual marquee offseason event is just over two weeks away. 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 still 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 plus four picks in the fourth round.
Here is the sixth edition of our Vikings 2021 Mock Draft Tracker, which includes 18 mock drafts from across the football world.
Offensive linemen were the slim favorite with eight projections, followed by seven predictions for an edge rusher. The final three uses of a first-round pick are spread throughout a defensive tackle, cornerback and wide receiver.
Here's a look at our sixth Vikings 2021 Mock Draft Tracker:
ESPN's Mel Kiper, Jr.
April 13, 2021
The predicted pick at No. 14: Christian Darrisaw, Tackle, Virginia Tech
That's four mock drafts for the 2021 class for me, and four offensive linemen to Minnesota in the first round. It's a glaring hole on this roster. Darrisaw was outstanding at left tackle for the Hokies last season; our Stats & Info team tracked him at 264 total pass-block plays, and he allowed just three pressures and one sack. Put him at left tackle on day one for the Vikings.
Click here for Kiper's full mock draft.
ESPN's Todd McShay
April 5, 2021
The predicted pick at No. 14: Rashawn Slater, Tackle/Guard, Northwestern
Slater is super versatile and could play any of the five positions along the Vikings line. That's a good thing, because it has a lot of holes — Minnesota gave up 39 sacks in 2020, lost Riley Reiff and added only Mason Cole to the mix in the offseason. After rebooting the secondary, the Vikings now have to be focusing on protecting Kirk Cousins and opening lanes for Dalvin Cook.
Click here for McShay's full mock draft.
ESPN's Mike Tannenbaum
April 6, 2021
The predicted pick at No. 14: Kwity Paye, Edge Rusher, Michigan
I think linemen Rashawn Slater or Alijah Vera-Tucker (USC) could be matches here, but I'd opt for an impact pass-rusher. Paye is a similar player to Everson Griffen, who thrived with the Vikings.
Click here for Tannenbaum's full mock draft.
NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah
April 6, 2021
The predicted pick at No. 14: Jaelan Phillips, Edge Rusher, Miami
Phillips is the most talented edge rusher in the draft. If not for some durability concerns, he would go higher than this pick.
Click here for Jeremiah's full mock draft.
NFL.com's Peter Schrager
April 8, 2021
The predicted pick at No. 14: Kwity Paye, Edge Rusher, Michigan
Paye improved every year at the college level and can play all three downs. He's as polished as any of the QB hunters in this class. Minnesota needs pass-rush help ASAP.
Click here for Schrager's full mock draft.
NFL.com's Adam Rank
April 1, 2021
The predicted pick at No. 14: Kwity Paye, Edge Rusher, Michigan
Here's another raw pass rusher who is actually coming in at a pretty good value right here. If the Chargers ignore me (again, not offended) and go with Paye, I wouldn't hesitate to rush the card up there for Rosseau. The thing is, Minnesota, you used to be really good on defense. Those days are over now. But Paye would help push you back in the right direction.
Click here for Rank's full mock draft.
Ben Linsey of Pro Football Focus
April 5, 2021
The predicted pick at No. 14: Christian Darrisaw, Tackle, Virginia Tech
The release of Riley Reiff only further weakened what was already a shaky offensive line in Minnesota. The pre-draft options for the tackle opposite Brian O'Neill — who will be playing on the last year of his rookie contract in 2021 — include moving Ezra Cleveland back out to tackle after playing guard as a rookie last season and giving 29-year-old Rashod Hill a shot at the job. Darrisaw in the first round is a more appealing option than either of those two.
The 16th-ranked player on PFF's Big Board broke out in 2020 to the tune of an elite 95.6 overall grade against a respectable slate of ACC edge rushers. He brings some legitimate power with him in that 6-foot-5, 314-pound frame.
Click here for Linsey's full mock draft.
Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus
April 12, 2021
The predicted pick at No. 14: Christian Barmore, Defensive Tackle, Alabama
The Vikings would shed a silent, single tear if Darrisaw went one pick before their chance to snag him. They end up pivoting back to a pick many were penciling in for this team before free agency. Minnesota may already have Michael Pierce returning and new free agent acquisition Dalvin Tomlinson on board, but neither of those players can rush the passer the way Barmore did in his final season at Alabama. There is space for all three to be impact players on the same line throughout a season. This is a pick that would anger a lot of Vikings fans, but it would be the smartest move in this situation.
Click here for Monson's full mock draft.
Arif Hasan of The Athletic (four rounds included)
April 12, 2021
The predicted pick at No. 14: Alijah Vera-Tucker, Guard/Tackle, Southern California
Quarterbacks went in the first three picks, which might have given us some hope a lineman would fall to us, but with Penei Sewell going fourth to the Falcons and Rashawn Slater going next to the Bengals, the pickings got slim fast. Christian Darrisaw went to the Panthers, meaning we just had to hope the Chargers didn't snatch Vera-Tucker or we would have traded down.
They picked Kwity Paye, which means the Vikings got the USC combo tackle/guard, allowing them to have someone play to the left of Garrett Bradbury. While something still needs to be done about right guard or left tackle — assuming Cleveland plays the other spot — Vera-Tucker gives us some breathing room.
It helps that when stacking up every player on our mock Vikings board, Vera-Tucker is at the top of the list.
Vera-Tucker's experience at tackle is great to have, but his power, athleticism and balance make him an ideal fit for a guard in a zone scheme. The Athletic's Dane Brugler argued Vera-Tucker has a "Pro Bowl ceiling," and though he has anchor issues, his technique, instinct and upper-body strength should serve the Vikings well.
TRADE: Minnesota moves back to No. 46 in a deal with New England. The Vikings gave up Nos. 78 and 125 to move into the second round.
The predicted pick at No. 46: Sam Cosmi, Tackle, Texas
Drafting Cosmi allows us to put Vera-Tucker in his best position on the inside, and we get to hold a competition among Cleveland, Cosmi and Rashod Hill for left tackle — providing a very good likelihood the winner produces a pretty good player. Hopefully, the consolation prize — right guard — also produces some quality play. Either way, the Vikings would be finally investing in the offensive line in a way that might make fans happy.
We've mentioned Cosmi has one of the best testing profiles we've ever seen from a tackle, with only Tristan Wirfs outdoing him in the past five years from an athletic perspective. Cosmi doesn't have the arm length of a traditional tackle but he more than makes up for it with his agility and speed, and he has a strong track record of pass-protection success in the Big 12. While there's still work to do from a technical perspective, he has all the tools to help the Vikings succeed.
The predicted pick at No. 90: Pete Werner, Linebacker, Ohio State
The predicted pick at No. 119: Cameron Sample, Edge Rusher, Tulane
The predicted pick at No. 134: Anthony Schwartz, Wide Receiver, Auburn
The predicted pick at No. 143: James Wiggins, Safety, Cincinnati
Click here for Hasan's full mock draft.
Ben Standig of The Athletic
April 5, 2021
The predicted pick at No. 14: Christian Darrisaw, Tackle, Virginia Tech
Enter Darrisaw, a 6-foot-4, 322-pounder with good arm length and feet for the position. One scout said Darrisaw is a "talented dude. Good athlete, big man. Dancing bear. He's light on his feet. One of those guys who athletically can play on balance and stay in front of people. You can rely on that guy to block the edge. He's a little raw, but he'll be just fine." Darrisaw won't fall any further than Washington at No. 19 or Chicago at No. 20, but his ceiling is a bit harder to gauge without knowing when Slater and Vera-Tucker are taken or how many teams rank Darrisaw behind only Sewell.
Click here for Standig's full mock draft.
Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports
April 12, 2021
The predicted pick at No. 14: Christian Darrisaw, Tackle, Virginia Tech
The Vikings have needs along the offensive line and Darrisaw, an athletic tackle who plays to the whistle, is only scratching the surface on his potential.
Click here for Wilson's full mock draft.
Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports
April 8, 2021
The predicted pick at No. 14: Jaelan Phillips, Edge Rusher, Miami
The Vikings get a polished defensive end who meets all of their typical standards from athletic and size perspectives.
Click here for Trapasso's full mock draft.
Josh Edwards of CBS Sports (three rounds)
April 8, 2021
The predicted pick at No. 14: Jaelan Phillips, Edge Rusher, Miami
Minnesota has to appease Danielle Hunter financially. In the event they cannot or can, they have another capable player at the position. Phillips brings a few risks to the table but the talent is undeniable.
The predicted pick at No. 78: Wyatt Davis, Guard, Ohio State
The predicted pick at No. 90: Kyle Trask, Quarterback, Florida
Click here for Edwards' full mock draft.
Pete Prisco of CBS Sports
April 3, 2021
The predicted pick at No. 14: Rashawn Slater, Tackle/Guard, Northwestern
They let Riley Reiff go, which means they need a left tackle. Slater has some impressive tape from 2019, but he did opt out last year. He also could play guard if they want to play Ezra Cleveland at tackle.
Click here for Prisco's full mock draft.
Jason Pruett of DRAFTPLEX
April 1, 2021
The predicted pick at No. 14: Rashawn Slater, Tackle/Guard, Northwestern
Rashawn Slater still being on the board is a dream scenario for the Vikings.
Click here for Pruett's full mock draft.
Brentley Weissman of The Draft Network (three rounds)
April 9, 2021
The predicted pick at No. 14: Jaycee Horn, Cornerback, South Carolina
The predicted pick at No. 78: Spencer Brown, Tackle, Northern Iowa
The predicted pick at No. 90: Trey Smith, Guard, Tennessee
Click here for Weissman's full mock draft.
Trevor Sikkema of The Draft Network
April 12, 2021
TRADE: Minnesota moves back to No. 19 in a deal with Washington. The Vikings give up No. 14 and get Nos. 19 and 74 (third round) in the deal.
The predicted pick at No. 19: Jayson Oweh, Edge Rusher, Penn State
The Vikings need an edge rusher, and likely knew they could get a good one later than pick No. 14. General Manager Rick Spielman doesn't have a strong history of drafting pass rushers early, but this could finally be the year where they actually invest a big pick in the priority position.
Zero sacks in 2020 be damned, Oweh is an athletic marvel who is going to be a first-round pick for some team.
Click here for Sikkema's full mock draft.
Ian Cummings of Pro Football Network (three rounds)
April 12, 2021
The predicted pick at No. 14: Jaylen Waddle, Wide Receiver, Alabama
This is a classic case of best-player-available. It may not be entirely popular because the Vikings do have more pressing needs. They still desperately need more pressure along the edge, and they also need to improve their offensive line. However, if Jaylen Waddle were to fall, he'd provide the Vikings with one of the best, if not the best, receiving corps in the league.
With Waddle, Adam Thielen, and Justin Jefferson, the Vikings would give defenses fits. Waddle, in particular, would give Minnesota a deep threat, as well as a quick separator and elite RAC threat in the short-range to potentially alleviate some pressure from Kirk Cousins' shoulders.
The predicted pick at No. 78: Liam Eichenberg, Tackle, Notre Dame
The Vikings have two solid starters on the offensive line in Garrett Bradbury and Brian O'Neill. Still, they can stand to improve the rest of the blocking unit, or at the very least, acquire more flexibility with the players they have.
One way to do that is to add a competent starting left tackle. That's what Liam Eichenberg is. He's large and long and also technically sound. Additionally, he tested better than expected at his pro day, with a 105-inch broad jump and near-elite agility numbers. With Eichenberg, the Vikings could slide Ezra Cleveland to guard and mix around their starters as they see fit.
The predicted pick at No. 90: Rashad Weaver, Edge Rusher, Pittsburgh
Click here for Cummings' full mock draft.
