Viktor
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- Mar 19, 2019
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AT THE MIC
Note: players that are included in this section have been listed among the top players in their position group by NFL Media analysts Daniel Jeremiah and/or Bucky Brooks, have a Vikings/local connection or have been linked to the Vikings in a mock draft by an expert or mentioned as a possibility in an interview. They are grouped by position and listed alphabetically by last name. The quotes are from sessions with multiple media members in Indianapolis.
RB J.K. Dobbins | Ohio State
Jeremiah has Dobbins as the 34th overall prospect.
42 games; 725 rushes for 4,459 yards (6.2 yards per carry) and 38 touchdowns; 71 receptions for 667 yards and five touchdowns
On his legacy at Ohio State: "I haven't really had time to just sit down and think about it because soon after the game when I was declaring [for the draft], I wanted to go start training. So I haven't had the time to sit down and think about it, but you know, a lot of guys will mention how I ran for more [career] yards than Ezekiel Elliott, Eddie George and Archie Griffin in one season. It's pretty surreal. It's definitely amazing. I'm very, very blessed. I just haven't had time to sit down and think about it."
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire | LSU
Jeremiah has Edwards-Helaire as the 32nd overall prospect.
41 games; 370 rushes for 2,103 yards (5.7 yards per carry), 23 touchdowns; 69 receptions for 595 yards and one touchdown
On making his way up the depth chart: "I had mentors early on, especially like freshman, sophomore year. But ultimately I feel like every question was answered this year. Every week it was always something, 'Does he have breakaway speed?' And then bust an 80-yard touchdown. 'Can he make a guy miss?' Made plenty of guys miss. 'Is he going to show up [for the] 'Bama game?' Ultimately, all the questions were answered, so I feel like my resumé is all checked out."
T Mekhi Becton | Louisville
Jeremiah has Becton rated as the No. 5 overall prospect. In one of the biggest discrepancies between Jeremiah and Brooks, Becton is the fourth-best tackle in Brooks' position rankings.
34 games (33 starts); opted to skip Louisville's bowl game after the 2019 season
On why he thinks he is a franchise LT: "I feel I'm the most dominant tackle in this draft. You wouldn't go wrong picking me. … The tape shows it. It shows that I finish almost every play. It's as simple as that."
T Tristan Wirfs | Iowa
Jeremiah rated Wirfs at 13th overall but projected him to shift to guard. Brooks kept him at tackle and has him as the second-best option.
35 games (33 starts); in 2017, became first true freshman to start at a tackle position during Head Coach Kirk Ferentz's time at Iowa
On being one of two freshmen on Iowa's Leadership Council: "You know, I think it's pretty important. Growing up in a small town (Mount Vernon, Iowa), I don't want to say I was a designated leader, but being a bigger kid, guys look up to you. And coming to Iowa and being able to do that was pretty special. I've never been a rah-rah kind of guy, yelling, trying to lead people that way. It's always been more lead by example. I try my best."
C/G Lloyd Cushenberry | LSU
Brooks has Cushenberry as his top interior offensive lineman.
39 games (28 starts)
On if he thinks centers are "born not made" … and how he learned to snap: "Maybe I was born to be a center. I didn't play it in high school, so I had to teach myself how to snap and get comfortable being a vocal guy. I'm not really that vocal off the field, but on the field I'm completely different. I make a lot of the calls. I'm the main communicator, and I've gotten used to that. Now I love it. I take pride in that. … I found some videos on YouTube, and basically, I taught myself in the offseason before I enrolled. Once I got to campus, I actually stole one of the balls from the equipment room and me and my roommate (Lindsey Scott) — he was a quarterback my freshman year — would just snap. I got the rhythm, and we found it."
C/G Tyler Biadasz | Wisconsin
Brooks ranked Biadasz as the second-best option on the interior of the offensive line.
41 games (41 starts); won 2019 Rimington Trophy (nation's top center)
On playing any of the three interior OL spots: "I'm very comfortable with all three spots. … I think I have a very high football IQ. Playing center, you know what [guards] do. It's not like different combination blocks. You're not snapping a football, but … I've practiced and I've worked with tackles before. It's just as fun as working with a guard, at center.