Vikings Trade for ‘Hall of Famer’ in Latest Mock Draft
In a Pro Football Network mock draft on Sunday, NFL analyst AJ Schulte details a unique turn of events for the Minnesota Vikings. Schulte forecasts the Vikings sending the 14th, 78th, and 143rd overall picks in the 2021 NFL Draft to the Dallas Cowboys for the 10th selection and the 179th pick. In that deal, Minnesota chooses Kyle Pitts, a tight end from Florida.
Normally during this mock-draft season when the Vikings do something fancy in the 1st Round, it pertains to the selection of a quarterback – and that is usually Mac Jones from Alabama. But not this time. The Vikings finagle their way into a second tight end of the future with Pitts.
The team would then showcase a one-two punch of Kyle Pitts and Irv Smith Jr. at tight end – with Dalvin Cook in the backfield and an Adam Thielen-Justin Jefferson combination to the left and right. Woah.
Here are Schulte’s thoughts on the mock deal:
“A team has never traded up to take a tight end in the top 10 in the history of the modern draft. Not a single time. It’s a risky move, obviously, but hey, we’re here to party. I based this trade on the 2018 NFL Draft deal between the Raiders and Cardinals. I’ve had this pick written in for a few days, but recently, the Vikings released long-time TE Kyle Rudolph, further affirming this pick in my mock. Kirk Cousins heavily targets his tight ends, and he’s not had a weapon like Pitts since prime Jordan Reed. While the Vikings go all-in on Kirk Cousins, an offense boasting Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, Dalvin Cook, Irv Smith, and Kyle Pitts is a loaded skill position group to threaten defenses at all levels.”
TE Not a Team Need. Who Cares?
Let’s level with one another – the Vikings don’t need a tight end. General Manager Rick Spielman has far greater needs at the moment including defensive tackle, offensive guard, free safety, cornerback, and arguably defensive end.
The theorized duo of Irv Smith Jr. and Tyler Conklin should suffice for what head coach Mike Zimmer typically likes to do on offense – run the football and take a few deep shots.
Pitts would be the most exquisite form of gravy a football mouth could taste. On paper, his addition to the Vikings offense would be the stuff you tell your grandchildren about 40 years from now.
Embarrassment of Riches of Offense
Kirk Cousins, Dalvin Cook, Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, Irv Smith Jr. – and oh by the way – here’s a new person called Kyle Pitts. That would be Minnesota’s 2021 offense. Gulp.
In the stroke of a draft pick, the Minnesota Vikings would instantly transform from a team habitually known for defense – into one salivated over and feared offensively. Remember, the team is constructed on a backbone of defense by Zimmer, so that should not disappear if key personnel remain healthy. The Vikings would exalt balance on the football field not yet seen under Zimmer.
Of course, this mindset merely assumes Pitts is not a bust. But to date, he is considered the most sure-fire commodity in this April’s draft.
For instance, have a peek at this assertion from NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah:
Can Anyone Regret a ‘HOF’ Draft Pick?
Daniel Day-Lewis starred in a 2007 film, There Will Be Blood. Well, on a Pitts choice in the draft for the Vikings: There Will Be Naysayers.
It will sound something like, “We already have a tight end, what the hell?” Or — “But can he play guard?”
While these sentiments are not bogus, they largely minimize the long-game vision of football. Pitts is probably on track for a Hall of Fame career if the hype is real. Why can’t he do that for the Vikings? Because in 2020, they already had a tight end? Nonsense.
In 1998, the Vikings employed Cris Carter and Jake Reed – a fiercely explosive receiving corps for the time period. The franchise added a rabble-rousing pass-catcher named Randy Moss. Most feel it was wise.
Minnesota can swallow an undetermined period of shakiness at defensive tackle or guard. They’ve done it before – too often. A selection of Pitts plans for the next decade, not the next 16 games. Hell, Spielman could get out in front of the “controversy” and find creative ways to fill the DT and OG needs in free agency. There are gobs of DTs and OGs available this offseason.
Then, he could truly splurge on the Best Player Available during the draft. Most football brains nominate Pitts for that moniker.