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In order to figure out these questions we need to address two things. Firstly, what are the team needs, and secondly, what have they done in free agency.



Going into the offseason, the Vikings had three main areas of concern: who would play the quarterback position, finding a more solid option next to Linval Joseph at DT, and continuing to rebuild the OL. It could also be argued that improvement at cornerback be a high priority.



The Vikings successfully filled both the QB and DT needs in free agency, but still have work to do with the offensive line, and that is likely where the first pick will be spent.



So what are the options?



In order to figure that one out, let's look at the top ranked OL prospects:



1) Quenton Nelson OG Notre Dame 6'5" 329 Lbs 33 3/4" Arm Length



Nelson is the undisputed number one offensive lineman in this draft. If anyone tells you differently, just slap them and laugh. Nelson has the combination of size, strength, power, and athleticism that makes defenders very uncomfortable, usually because they wind up sitting on their rear end as Nelson unleashes his powerful punch and aggressive mindset.



Unfortunately he will be long gone by the time pick 30 rolls around, so his name won't be on the Vikings card.



2) Isaiah Wynn OG Georgia 6'3" 313 Lbs 33 3/8" Arm Length



Wynn has played at both left tackle and guard for Georgia, but his size makes him a guard for the NFL. He is good in both run blocking and pass protection with excellent technique and footwork, has good mobility, and is also very athletic. Wynn finishes his blocks well and plays through the whistle, a similar trait to last year's draft pick Pat Elflein.



I would love for the Vikings to select Isaiah Wynn, but I fear he may be gone before pick 30.



3) Will Hernandez OG UTEP 6'2" 327 Lbs 32" Arm Length



Hernandez is a four-year starter at LG for UTEP. Like the other two guard prospects listed here, he possesses the athleticism, strength, and power that you would expect from a possible first-round pick. He also has the toughness and technique required to be a day-one starter; however, he has shorter arms than NFL evaluators like and that could hurt his draft stock.



Because of the arm-length issue, Hernandez could slide down the board a little and definitely be available when the Vikings are on the clock.



4) Billy Price C/OG Ohio State 6'4" 305 Lbs 32 3/8" Arm Length



Price was a standout at Ohio tying Pat Elflein's record of 55 straight starts. He was a team captain and played both right and left guard before switching to center after Elflein left for the NFL. He won the Remington Trophy in 2017 for best college center. Price is a dominant force on the interior with elite strength and technique; he dominates at the point of attack with explosiveness and attitude to crush defenders. Scouts were eagerly looking forward to seeing Price at the combine, especially his power on the bench press. Unfortunately, Price suffered a pectoral injury during his workout which initially sent shock waves through the draft community. The injury was diagnosed as only a partial tear of the muscle, and after immediate surgery, it is expected that Price will be okay to start the regular season.



Price was expected to be a mid to late first-round pick, and it will be interesting to see how teams feel after the injury set back. For the Vikings, Billy Price could very well be the name on the card when pick 30 comes around. Despite the injury, I would still take him in round 1 and reunite the old Ohio State connection of Elflein and Price.



5) James Daniels C Iowa 6'3" 306 Lbs 33 3/4" Arm Length



Daniels is a fluid mover with tremendous initial quickness to win positioning on most zone block he's asked to make. He will need to improve his functional strength, but once into an NFL program this shouldn't be an issue. He loves to get to the second level and crush linebackers and defensive backs. His draft position will largely depend on if teams feel he is limited to zone blocking schemes or can advance his game to play in other systems.



Although the Vikings drafted Pat Elflein last season to play center, it is still likely Daniels could come under strong consideration at pick 30. Elflein could then slide to guard. Rick Spielman has often said his job is to find the best players and then let the coaches work out where they fit.



6) Mike McGlinchey OT Notre Dame 6'8" 309 Lbs 34" Arm Length



McGlinchey is the highest-rated tackle in the draft; however, it should be noted this tackle class is nowhere near as strong is the interior linemen. In an ideal world, the five guys listed above would all come off the board before any of the tackles, but the NFL is far from an ideal world and tackles are always highly-prized commodities and often over-drafted. McGlinchey has prototypical size for an NFL tackle and possesses good technique and footwork. He has played on both sides, but is more comfortable at RT. His biggest obstacle is a lack of core strength, which could be a problem against speed rushers, so he will need to work hard on improving in that area, otherwise he will be spending too much time helping his QB off the turf.



McGlinchey will be a first-round pick and likely the first OT off the board. He won't be available when the Vikings are up at pick 30.



7) Connor Williams OT Texas 6'5" 320 Lbs 33" Arm Length



Williams was excellent in 2016; however, he suffered a knee injury three games in to the 2017 season which saw him miss a big chunk of the season, returning for the final two regular season games. He is relatively athletic and has excellent technique and solid footwork. He's a noted hard-worker in the weight room and a team leader at Texas. His biggest problem is a lack of lateral movement since returning from the knee injury.



Even with the issues Williams had in 2017, he is still expected to come off the board in the top 20 picks. He may well be a boom or bust prospect, but NFL GMs gamble when it come to finding help at OT.



8) Kolton Miller OT UCLA 6'9" 310 Lbs 34 1/8"Arm Length



Miller is an average athlete and somewhat polarizing in terms of where he sits in the talent level rankings. Some scouts love him and see him as a late first to an early second rounder, and others see him as over-hyped and a mid to late third-round pick. While he is a tall guy, he lacks hip flexibility and this can cause problems with pass protection; he can get off balance, allowing edge rushers to gain the upper hand.



Kolton Miller may be on the board when the clock is ticking on pick 30, but hopefully the Vikings pass him by. I don't like him as a first-round prospect and would rather the Vikings look to another position rather than reach on a hit or miss prospect.



Summary



I expect both Nelson and Wynn, along with the three tackles, to be gone before pick 30. This leaves Hernandez, Price, and Daniels as the three possible choices if the Vikings were to select an offensive lineman at pick 30. Of those three, Billy Price would be my pick. He possesses an elite skill set and position flexibility to make him a day-one starter for the Vikings. Whose name will be on the first card the Vikings hand in on April 26th? What position will it be? Fear not Purple Pain freaks, for the answers shall be revealed (maybe).In order to figure out these questions we need to address two things. Firstly, what are the team needs, and secondly, what have they done in free agency.Going into the offseason, the Vikings had three main areas of concern: who would play the quarterback position, finding a more solid option next to Linval Joseph at DT, and continuing to rebuild the OL. It could also be argued that improvement at cornerback be a high priority.The Vikings successfully filled both the QB and DT needs in free agency, but still have work to do with the offensive line, and that is likely where the first pick will be spent.So what are the options?In order to figure that one out, let's look at the top ranked OL prospects:1)Nelson is the undisputed number one offensive lineman in this draft. If anyone tells you differently, just slap them and laugh. Nelson has the combination of size, strength, power, and athleticism that makes defenders very uncomfortable, usually because they wind up sitting on their rear end as Nelson unleashes his powerful punch and aggressive mindset.2)Wynn has played at both left tackle and guard for Georgia, but his size makes him a guard for the NFL. He is good in both run blocking and pass protection with excellent technique and footwork, has good mobility, and is also very athletic. Wynn finishes his blocks well and plays through the whistle, a similar trait to last year's draft pick Pat Elflein.3)Hernandez is a four-year starter at LG for UTEP. Like the other two guard prospects listed here, he possesses the athleticism, strength, and power that you would expect from a possible first-round pick. He also has the toughness and technique required to be a day-one starter; however, he has shorter arms than NFL evaluators like and that could hurt his draft stock.4)Price was a standout at Ohio tying Pat Elflein's record of 55 straight starts. He was a team captain and played both right and left guard before switching to center after Elflein left for the NFL. He won the Remington Trophy in 2017 for best college center. Price is a dominant force on the interior with elite strength and technique; he dominates at the point of attack with explosiveness and attitude to crush defenders. Scouts were eagerly looking forward to seeing Price at the combine, especially his power on the bench press. Unfortunately, Price suffered a pectoral injury during his workout which initially sent shock waves through the draft community. The injury was diagnosed as only a partial tear of the muscle, and after immediate surgery, it is expected that Price will be okay to start the regular season.5)Daniels is a fluid mover with tremendous initial quickness to win positioning on most zone block he's asked to make. He will need to improve his functional strength, but once into an NFL program this shouldn't be an issue. He loves to get to the second level and crush linebackers and defensive backs. His draft position will largely depend on if teams feel he is limited to zone blocking schemes or can advance his game to play in other systems.6)McGlinchey is the highest-rated tackle in the draft; however, it should be noted this tackle class is nowhere near as strong is the interior linemen. In an ideal world, the five guys listed above would all come off the board before any of the tackles, but the NFL is far from an ideal world and tackles are always highly-prized commodities and often over-drafted. McGlinchey has prototypical size for an NFL tackle and possesses good technique and footwork. He has played on both sides, but is more comfortable at RT. His biggest obstacle is a lack of core strength, which could be a problem against speed rushers, so he will need to work hard on improving in that area, otherwise he will be spending too much time helping his QB off the turf.7)Williams was excellent in 2016; however, he suffered a knee injury three games in to the 2017 season which saw him miss a big chunk of the season, returning for the final two regular season games. He is relatively athletic and has excellent technique and solid footwork. He's a noted hard-worker in the weight room and a team leader at Texas. His biggest problem is a lack of lateral movement since returning from the knee injury.8)Miller is an average athlete and somewhat polarizing in terms of where he sits in the talent level rankings. Some scouts love him and see him as a late first to an early second rounder, and others see him as over-hyped and a mid to late third-round pick. While he is a tall guy, he lacks hip flexibility and this can cause problems with pass protection; he can get off balance, allowing edge rushers to gain the upper hand.I expect both Nelson and Wynn, along with the three tackles, to be gone before pick 30. This leaves Hernandez, Price, and Daniels as the three possible choices if the Vikings were to select an offensive lineman at pick 30. Of those three, Billy Price would be my pick. He possesses an elite skill set and position flexibility to make him a day-one starter for the Vikings.