Vikings get new playmaker on defense in latest mock draft

[ASFN Admin]

The most significant wave of free agency is over (as is Aaron Rodgers-to-the-Vikings speculation), which means most of our attention now moves to the NFL draft. Most of the Vikings' most pressing needs were addressed in the first two weeks of free agency, giving the team lots of flexibility heading into the draft.

Marcus Mosher of The 33rd Team has the Vikings staying at 24 in his latest mock draft, selecting South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori. Says Mosher:

Just imagine what Brian Flores could do with a player like Nick Emmanwori on his defense. The South Carolina star posted a perfect 10.0 RAS, measuring in at 6-3, 220 pounds. But Emmanwori isn’t just a workout warrior. He’s got good tape and solid ball production.

He can play either safety spot, but his best work might come when he is in the box and being used as a blitzer. Flores could create an entire defense around his athleticism and size, which would be terrifying for opposing offensive coordinators.

Emmanwori can be a long-term solution at safety whenever Harrison Smith decides to hang up his cleats while also getting some snaps in the 2025 season. Flores has utilized plenty of three-safety looks in his two seasons in Minnesota, and it appears he's set to do so again this year after the Vikings extended Theo Jackson.

In 2024, Emmanwori lined up all over the field. He took 146 snaps in the slot, 414 in the box, and 193 as a deep safety. He intercepted four passes, and PFF gave him a coverage grade of 86.8. PFF was a fan of him in the running game, too, giving Emmanwori a 73.8 run-defense grade. That versatility could get him on the field sooner rather than later.

This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Vikings get some help from the SEC in latest mock draft

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