Glory to the winners? According to Jordan Reid of ESPN, the Vikings utilize both of their top picks on players from the Michigan Wolverines, who won a national championship, in a new post-combine, two-round mock draft. They fill a need on both sides of the ball by doing this.
Round 1, Pick 11: Michigan’s quarterback J.J. McCarthy
Although it’s unclear whether free agency Kirk Cousins will return to Minnesota, McCarthy is a perfect fit for head coach Kevin O’Connell’s offensive plan. Although he only completed 25 or more passes in 12 of his 28 career starts, the passing sample size is small, and his combine workout was uneven, his efficiency at Michigan is remarkable (72.3% completion rate). With T.J. Hockenson, Jordan Addison, and Justin Jefferson receiving passes, the Minnesota infrastructure is well-suited to support the development of a young signal-caller. If McCarthy makes it to 11, it feels like the Vikings are ready to attack. They might even want to move up into the 5–9 bracket to acquire their boyfriend, depending on how they feel about him. McCarthy’s volume was limited by Michigan’s run-heavy approach, but he was incredibly effective and efficient, especially on third downs when his team most needed it. With his athleticism, arm talent, and intangibles, he feels like a perfect fit for Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings and has enormous upside at the next level.
Round 2, Pick 42: Michigan’s Kris Jenkins, DT
Since becoming the general manager of Minnesota, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has placed a premium on defensive prospects’ explosiveness. With those qualities, Jenkins, who weighed 299 pounds and recorded a 30-inch vertical, may cause some change on the Vikings defensive line. I also like this selection. Over the last two seasons, Jenkins has been a standout player for the Wolverines, racking up eight tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and one interception. Although his reputation is more as a run-stuffer than a dynamic pass-rusher, he tested incredibly well in the combine (9.55 RAS), displaying explosiveness that should help him exert pressure on opponents at the next level. A significant acquisition for the Vikings’ DT group in need of further talent would be this. (Fun fact: In the 2000s, Jenkins’ father, Kris, played defensive lineman for the Panthers and Jets for ten seasons, making three All-Pro teams).
