The hype and anticipation for the 2020 NFL Draft is unmistakable throughout the league.
Yet as the football world counts down by Thursday night, all we can really do is wait.
Longtime ESPN draft analysts Mel Kiper, Jr., tried to fill the void by answering the most compelling last-minute questions surrounding the draft, and included the Vikings in his list.
The Vikings now have two first-round picks. Whom should they target?
Minnesota is currently scheduled to have a pair of first-round selections with the 22nd and 25th overall picks. Kiper responded that he could see the Vikings addressing the passing game on offense, while trying to slow down an opponent's passing game with a defensive pick.
Kiper wrote:
Minnesota traded away Stefon Diggs, and now it has a huge hole at wide receiver after Adam Thielen. The Vikings have to get another wide receiver with Nos. 22 or 25. Brandon Aiyuk would be a great fit. The other pick could be a cornerback or defensive end — we know Mike Zimmer is always looking for new toys to upgrade his defense.
And speaking of Aiyuk, Kiper has the former Arizona State standout as one of the most buzzworthy prospects a little more than 24 hours before the draft kicks off.
There are a few teams that are high on Arizona State wideout Brandon Aiyuk, who is dynamic with the ball in his hands. He's only 5-foot-11, but he has a huge wingspan. Expect him to be picked in the 20s.
Kiper later mentioned a pair of players who played collegiately in Minnesota as favorites of his.
He called Minnesota's Antoine Winfield, Jr., a "likely" first-round pick, and added he likes Winfield's versatility.
Winfield is more of a versatile ball-hawking center fielder, and he also could play some slot corner.
And he gave Ben Bartch some love, as the offensive tackle hails from St. John's (MN), a Division III school located roughly 80 miles northwest of downtown Minneapolis.
Kiper wrote:
The former tight end really impressed at Senior Bowl practices in January, and he could be a steal in Round 3.
Kiper ended his list of answers with a prediction and projected that the first round will be "chaotic" because of the unique aspect of this year's draft being virtiual.
No one really knows how all of these general managers and coaches are going to handle doing everything at their own homes. Making picks, executing trades, even signing undrafted free agents — it's going to be strange for everyone. And with no pro days for the majority of prospects, there are a lot of unknowns on draft boards. I can't wait.
The 2020 NFL Draft begins at 7 p.m. (CT) Thursday with a singular broadcast by ESPN and NFL Network, as well as unique coverage by ABC.
Carter to answer questions tonight on Facebook Live
Have you ever wanted to ask personally ask Cris Carter how he had so many spectacular catches? Or what it meant to him to go into the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
You have that opportunity Wednesday night as the Pro Football Hall of Famer and Vikings Ring of Honor member will answer questions on Facebook Live at 5 p.m. CT.
The chat is hosted by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in which Carter was enshrined in 2013.
The Facebook Live event can be found here.
The wide receiver currently ranks fourth all-time with 130 touchdown catches, is sixth in the NFL with 1,101 career catches and is 13th in league history with 13,899.
Carter joined the Vikings before the 1990 season, and played in Purple until 2001. He compiled eight straight 1,000-yard seasons from 1993-2000, recording double-digit scores in five of those years.
Carter ranks first in Vikings franchise history in receptions (1,004), yards (12,383) and touchdowns (110).
