The Minnesota Vikings entered the second day of the NFL’s first online draft holding twelve draft picks in total, with identified needs at offensive guard, offensive tackle, defensive end, defensive tackle, cornerback, wide receiver, and (potentially) safety. With such a long shopping list, it was widely expected that the team would be eager to move up to improve on the three day two picks:
- Round 2 (58th overall) — OT Ezra Cleveland, Boise State. The Vikings don’t absolutely need to replace Riley Rieff at left tackle, but if Cleveland shows he’s up to the job, it gives the team a lot of flexibility on the left side of the offensive line. There was reportedly some discussion last season to shifting Rieff inside to take the left guard position, replacing Pat Elflein, and that now appears to be a stronger option for the 2020 season. Alternatively, Cleveland could be given a season at guard (although he doesn’t have the ideal body for working on the interior OL) with an eye to replacing Rieff in 2021.
- Round 3 (89th overall) — CB Cameron Dantzler, Mississippi State. The Vikings needed at least one more cornerback and Dantzler was one of the higher-ranked day two corners on a lot of big boards. His draft stock took a hit with a slower-than-expected sprint time at the NFL combine.
- Round 3 (105th overall — compensatory pick for losing Sheldon Richardson in 2019) — traded to New Orleans for the 130th (4th round), 169th (5th round), 203rd (6th round), and 244th picks (7th round).
By this point, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was starting to show the fatigue:
tfw you're done reading picks but you got like 15 to go before you can go to bed. pic.twitter.com/6hTHbOMX0d
— Ted Social Distancing Glover (@purplebuckeye) April 25, 2020
