It's time to mock draft!

Here is last week's edition.

That one was a trip

And the new one started out similarly

Improbably, both Zach Wilson & Mack Jones was passed over by the simulator and available at 14. This is a fever-dream scenario but would set up Minnesota to trade down for a second round pick and possibly more. Trading isn't a function of the free system so I instead considered linebacker Micah Parsons from Penn State & guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC. With a year to groom behind Anthony Barr the team can wait a little longer to add to it's stable of backers but, as has been well-documented, the same cannot be said of guard. Let's say for instance, Chicago called offering 20, 52 & one of Rick's precious. It would be at the risk of missing out on the potentially best guard in class but the value would be hard to pass on. As it was I just picked the big man.

When 78 came along the opportunity to enhance the other line with an outside-in player beat out the rest of the needs. That player came in the form of Milton Williams, Louisiana Tech.. Safety, corner & OL all came into consideration with 90 but Kellen Mond continues to be a personal favorite and being able to get him at point felt like a steal.

At the 119th all 12 of the top-rated defensive players were also along the line which would give the team a tremendous opportunity to find another Griffen/Hunter type guy. The defensive backfield needs shoring up but the disparity was too great to select one purely out of need. A guy that continues to be a fit for the make-up that the team has shown is Vandy's DE Dayo Odeyingbo.

As suspected, after that came a run on DL while a potential successor at safety remained. The versatile Talanoa Hufanga will join the league from Southern Cal. Another hanger-on hails from another historically-successful program, in South Bend, and would add a little more competition to the offensive line - Robert Hainsey. The good fortune did not extend into the next pick as the athletically-gifted Dylan Moses (LB) was projected to the reigning champs before Minnesota was back on the clock.

So instead of an heir for Barr I targeted someone who could fill the potentially-vacant shoes of Jeff Gladney. It would mean Mackenzie Alexander holding down the slot-corner duties but that wouldn't be the worst approach to take. I know, that's a glowing endorsement! As for the new guy, he is Tre Brown from Oklahoma. To add another long-term option to the group I went with Keith Taylor Jr. from Washington. His physical attributes remind me of Cam Dantzler and unlike the second-year corner he could learn from Patrick Peterson all year which needs to be a thought-process for the team on Saturday!

With the second-to-last pick I thought it was imperative to add another competitor to the receiver room who could double as a return man. It's another approach the team should take during the late rounds! A top option to those ends has been Cade Johnson and he remained undrafted to the 168th pick but not the 169th.

At 199 Minnesota may be able to get much more than a $2.00 player. Illinois's Josh Imatorbhebhe has the makings of being the latest quality receiver from his original school (Southern Cal) and would serve a purpose just by adding more pressure to Olabisi Johnson. Instead of resting on the fact that the top two are among the best in the league Minnesota should actively pursue making the WR group even better with minimal investment.

So, to recap, this one finished G, DL, QB, DE, S, OT, CB, CB, WR, WR.

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