Who ya got? Possible Vikings first-round picks

April 20, 2019 at 9:33PM
The stage was set for the 2018 NFL Draft in Texas
The stage was set for the 2018 NFL Draft in Texas (Brian Stensaas — New York Times/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Possible Vikings first-round picks

Offensive linemen

Garrett Bradbury, C, North Carolina State

He wowed with 34 bench press reps and a 4.92-second 40-yard dash at the combine. Like Brian O'Neill, he's a former tight end whose mobility would suit the Vikings' outside zone scheme — either as a guard or a center if the team moved Pat Elflein.

Jonah Williams, T/G, Alabama: His size (6-4, 302 pounds) could make him a guard in the NFL, but his polish and technique could make him an immediate starter. He might not have the highest ceiling of the linemen in the class, but he seems to have enough of a foundation to contribute quickly.

Andre Dillard, T, Washington State

The athletic tackle could be gone by the time the Vikings pick at No. 18, but if he's there, he'd be tempting as the left tackle of the future. Drafting Dillard could mean the Vikings move Riley Reiff to guard, but his footwork should give him the ability to deal with speed rushers coming off Kirk Cousins' blind side.

Chris Lindstrom, G, Boston College: Another athletic lineman who'd fit well in the Vikings' outside zone running scheme, Lindstrom is the son of a former NFL offensive lineman.

Others

Ed Oliver, DT, Houston

It seems unlikely the tackle will be on the board at No. 18, but if he is, the Vikings might find him too tempting to pass up. He'd step in as a replacement for departed free agent Sheldon Richardson who could deliver interior pass-rushing presence with the ability to tackle in space.

Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson: He's bigger than Oliver but would fit as a pass rusher next to Linval Joseph; his ability to slip past blockers could help him make immediate contributions. Wilkins was part of three national championship teams at Clemson, and he's won rave reviews for his leadership in the program.

T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa

NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah called the Vikings a "sleeper team" for a tight end, given the time they've spent scouting the position, and Hockenson could step in as either a complement to Kyle Rudolph now or a potential successor in the future. The team has looked for another receiving tight end in recent years, pursuing Jared Cook in free agency in 2017 and talking to the Rams about a trade for Tyler Higbee before last season, and could have an immediate role for Hockenson.

NC State offensive lineman Garrett Bradbury runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) ORG XMIT: INDC1
Bradbury (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Washington State offensive lineman Andre Dillard runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) ORG XMIT: INDC1
Dillard (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Houston defensive lineman Ed Oliver Jr. participates in drills during Pro Day at the indoor football practice facility at the University of Houston Thursday, March, 28, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) ORG XMIT: TXMW136
Oliver (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) ORG XMIT: INMC102
Hockenson (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
about the writer

about the writer

Ben Goessling

Sports reporter

Ben Goessling has covered the Vikings since 2012, first at the Pioneer Press and ESPN before becoming the Minnesota Star Tribune's lead Vikings reporter in 2017. He was named one of the top NFL beat writers by the Pro Football Writers of America in 2024, after honors in the AP Sports Editors and National Headliner Awards contests in 2023.

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