Unlike the Minnesota Vikings’ first-round draft pick, the Vikings’ second- and to a lesser extent third-round picks were not much of a surprise. The rumor before the second-round began was that the Vikings were looking to trade down for additional pick(s), but that didn’t happen technically. The Vikings did trade down two spots from 49 to 51 and in return moved up from 196 to 159, trading a sixth-round pick for a fifth-rounder. They also traded Jonathan Greenard and 244 for 98 and a 2027 third-round pick.
So, while they did come away with another third-round pick next year and upgraded two picks this year, they maintained the same number of picks this year.
#51 – LB Jake Golday
After trading back, the Vikings selected linebacker Jake Golday. The Vikings had met with Golday in a Top 30 visit and the Vikings needed to get younger at linebacker so picking Golday, who was expected to go in this range, wasn’t a surprise. They chose Golday over linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., who was also available and had been on a Top 30 visit with the Vikings as well. This is a solid pick and good fit for Brian Flores’ scheme. Golday is a solid run defender and good blitzer (he’s played edge rusher in college as well). He has some work to do in coverage, but has the skill set to be a quality three-down linebacker. Local Vikings beat reporter Kevin Seifert with ESPN reports that Golday will, interestingly, backup OLB Andrew Van Ginkel, suggesting Golday may be more of an outside/inside linebacker hybrid.
#82 – NT Domonique Orange
The Vikings went back to bolstering their defensive line with another massive human in Orange, who dropped to the mid-third-round. He is a solid run defender with some pass rush upside who will line up at nose tackle. Drafting a big nose tackle to go along with Caleb Banks at three-technique rounds out the Vikings’ defensive interior line rotation, most likely for several years. Not sure if the Vikings expected Orange to drop this far, but his being available here may have impacted their plan for this pick. Vikings’ interim GM Rob Brzezinski said they were not intending for Day Two to be as defensive as it turned out, but that’s how it unfolded according to their draft board. But the Vikings had met with Orange on a Top 30 visit and had a need for a larger nose tackle to upgrade their rotation. Orange does that.
#97 – OL Caleb Tiernan
I was a little surprised that the Vikings went offensive line in the third round, but maybe with an additional third-round pick and no fourth rounder, maybe that factored in to the decision. The Vikings needed to add another guard with Blake Brandel taking over the starting center spot, and Tiernan should do that. He played left tackle at Northwestern but shorter arms and dense frame means he’ll likely slide in to guard. He could also challenge Will Fries next year if he develops well. Fries’ contract is structured so the Vikings could move on from him next year if they wanted. Tiernan was the highest-graded tackle outside of those who went in the first-round and was a good value at the end of the third-round, which may have prompted the pick here.
#98 – S Jakobe Thomas
It wasn’t a surprise that the Vikings drafted a safety in Day Two- the Vikings had met with a couple expected to go on Day Two, just not Jakobe Thomas, at least publicly. But if the Vikings are looking for someone to replace The Hitman, Thomas brings it as a tackler. Thomas is more of a box safety than free safety and has the same size and 40-time speed as Harrison Smith coming out. There was no public reporting of the Vikings meeting with Thomas. He’s an interesting pick- a real football player who coaches say wants to be great- who plays fast (too fast at times), and brings it as a tackler and blitzer and shows good ball skills.
The Brian Flores Draft
With four of the first five of the Vikings’ draft picks going for defensive players, this has become largely a Brian Flores draft. Outside of Dallas Turner, the Vikings haven’t spent a top 100 pick on a defensive player since Brian Flores was hired. Now he has four in one draft. The former scout now has an influx of young talent to mold as he evolves his defense and turns over an aging roster.
The Vikings were willing to take a chance with their first-round pick in Caleb Banks, a high risk/reward prospect. But the Day Two picks, an area of the draft that could make or break this draft class for the Vikings, looks pretty solid. Golday and Orange look like they could develop into core players- and Jakobe Thomas too.
We’ll see how things unfold, but the Vikings Day Two picks look like a solid attempt to rejuvenate the Vikings defense.
Stay tuned.
