Minnesota Vikings: Re-doing team’s worst 2020 NFL Draft picks

Round 5, No. 176 Overall: James Proche, WR, SMU

Original Pick: K.J. Osborn, WR, Miami (FL)

This was arguably the most baffling of the Vikings’ 15 picks. In the second half of the fifth round, there was a run on fast wide receivers. Seemingly trying to join the fun before the party ended, Minnesota made the move to take K.J. Osborn out of Miami (FL).

Here’s the problem: Osborn isn’t even that fast. Sure, he’s got 4.48 speed but he was never any special in college. His best season came at Buffalo University in 2018, when he hauled in 53 passes for 892 yards and seven touchdowns. He took a step backwards in 2019 at Miami (FL), amassing 50 receptions for 547 yards and five touchdowns.

Not exactly amazing numbers, and Osborn isn’t a supreme athlete either.

Enter James Proche, who should have been the selection at No. 176. While also not a speed demon, Proche was a superstar at SMU. During his final season with the Mustangs, he caught 111 passes for 1,225 yards and 15 touchdowns. What made him special was his acrobatic abilities, sticky hands and tenacity to beat defenders to the ball.

The fifth round is meant for taking shots, and the Vikings took theirs with Osborn. The odds of it working out would have been much higher if Proche was the pick.