It’s an Unfamiliar Name for Vikings in SI.com’s “Mock Draft for the People”
Dustin Baker
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By now — just four days before the 2021 NFL Draft — the Minnesota Vikings have been mock-drafted virtually everyone in the Top 20 batch of prospects outside of Trevor Lawrence and Zack Wilson. Those two men are firmly cemented into the plans of the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets.
The Vikings are most commonly mock-drafted Kwity Paye of Michigan, Alijah Vera-Tucker of USC, Christian Darrisaw of Virginia Tech, and Jaelan Phillips of Miami.
SI.com‘s Gary Gramling put together what he calls a mock draft “for the people” on Sunday. Gramling describes his mock draft as:
“Some mock drafts tell you what will happen, others tell you what should happen. This is the only mock draft that tells you what could happen. That’s how I began last year’s Mock Draft for The People, and it’s how I’ll begin this year’s as well, because you didn’t even read this introduction.“
In that for-the-folks hodgepodge prediction, Gramling sends Azeez Ojulari, an EDGE rusher from Georgia, to the Vikings with their 14th pick. From left to right, this choice would give Minnesota a defensive line of Danielle Hunter, Michael Pierce, Dalvin Tomlinson, and Azeez Ojulari.
Gramling says of Ojulari to Minnesota:
“The problem with the Vikings bringing in Yannick Ngakoue last offseason wasn’t that he isn’t good (he’s very good). But Danielle Hunter is underpaid, and if they paid a pending free-agent like Ngakoue, Hunter’s new contract would have to top it. They’ll have to give Hunter a new deal regardless, but addressing the other defensive end spot via draft guarantees that second DE will be making less than Hunter, therefore avoiding the awkwardness of bringing in a high-paid vet. An edge-bending force, Ojulari is the best edge player in this class, and all draft season I’ve been shouting that from the rooftops. It’s been a huge issue with the neighborhood association.”
So, he sees this as a placation of sorts toward Hunter. The tea leaves suggest that Hunter will probably get a hefty contract extension in the coming months — or soon after the 2021 season concludes. Of course, Ojulari would live on a rookie deal for five years.
Pro Football Focus considers the Georgia EDGE rusher the 25th-best prospect in the draft. He’s sandwiched between Walker Little, a tackle from Stanford, and Terrace Marshall, a wide receiver from LSU.
The Draft Network is a bit higher on Ojulari. The draft entity situates the pass rusher as the 19th-best rookie prospect in the 2021 draft class.
The scouting report authored by Pro Football Network is rather complimentary. Aside from lacking noteworthy bulk, Ian Cummings and Tony Pauline deliver this dazzling synopsis on Ojulari:
“Gifted pass rusher who is rounding into a complete defender. Fires off the snap with an explosive first step, plays with excellent balance as well as body control, and effectively uses his hands. Keeps his feet off the initial block, consistently gets leverage on opponents, and makes a lot of athletic plays. Focused on by opponents but tough to move off the point. Agile, easily changes direction, and nicely redirects to the ball handler. Displays terrific speed as well as force off the edge, but can also flip his hips and drop off the line to play in space. Pursues with speed chasing the action, covers a lot of area, and quickly gets out to the flanks.“
Ojulari would be the first EDGE rusher chosen by the Vikings in the 1st Round since April 23, 2005 (Erasmus James).