Minnesota Vikings: 2019 NFL Draft prospects who belong on team’s radar

The Minnesota Vikings may still be in the thick of the playoff hunt, but a look ahead to the 2019 NFL Draft doesn’t feel too premature at this point.

Yes, the Minnesota Vikings are 5-3-1 and would technically be headed to the playoffs if the season ended today. While that may be the case, that doesn’t mean taking an early look at a few 2019 NFL Draft prospects is a bad thing.

Right now, the Vikings scouting department is certainly doing their due diligence to prepare for next year’s incoming class of college stars. Isn’t it only the responsible thing to do to join them in the endeavor? Whether you agree or not, that’s what we’re doing today. Deal with it.

So who should Minnesota have its sights set on during the 2019 NFL Draft? More specifically, which players should Rick Spielman and Co. be targeting with their first-round pick? It’s an all-important asset that could have significant ramifications for the future of this franchise, which is why pinpointing some potential targets makes some sense.

Even if the Vikings end up winning the Super Bowl, they still need to have a game plan for the 2019 NFL Draft. Let’s join them in their early preparation for the NFL’s annual graduation ceremony.

So without further ado, here are five of college football’s top talents who I believe the Vikings should have on their radar for the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. A lot can change between now and April 25, but this is where it stands as of the early parts of November.

P.S. For this exercise, I’m working under the assumption the Vikings will pick in the 21-25 range.