2021 NFL Mock Draft: Zach Wilson rises to Jets at No. 2 in 3-round projection

The Minnesota Vikings were a major disappointment in 2020 after winning 10 games the prior season. They hoped to be on the way to contending with the Green Bay Packers after taking that step in 2019 but then things went off the rails in 2020.

Minnesota had to shed a lot of talent, especially on defense, due to salary cap reasons. They did also trade away Stefon Diggs but rookie Justin Jefferson played well enough that this wasn’t the reason for their struggles.

Even with Jefferson stepping up, the Vikings were 1-5 to start the season and started to give up on the season. They traded away Yannick Ngakoue to pick up more draft capital as they look to rebuild. Again.

As for their No. 14 pick, it will be tempting to go with a defensive player and an interior lineman would be ideal. But this draft doesn’t really have elite talent at that spot, so they decide to wait on that spot and instead, pick an interior offensive lineman in Alijah Vera-Tucker.

After playing left tackle for USC, Vera-Tucker should be kicking inside to guard at the next level and he’s the kind of player who would fit well in the Vikings’ run-first offense.