Minnesota Vikings

HEIGHT: 6'2 1/8"

WEIGHT: 229

POSITIVES

—Plays like a former quarterback at linebacker, taking aggressive or disciplined angles based on down and distance situations.

—Physically stops ball-carriers in their tracks with little to no forward push in short yardage situations.

—Rare speed and overall athleticism for the position, which is only highlighted by his high motor and sideline-to-sideline playing style.

—Foot speed leads to high-impact plays both as a blitzer off of the edge and in coverage.

—Consistently wins against running backs and tight ends in pass protection.

—Great run-pass instincts when keying offensive linemen on reads.

NEGATIVES

—Lacks the same level of physicality he has as a tackler when he is engaged with offensive linemen and is asked to stack and shed.

—Angles can be overaggressive at times, like he does not notice other players around him that his path works through.

—Limited reps at the position hurt him as a pass-rusher, where he is fairly unrefined when lining up against offensive line assignments.

—30” arms may be an issue for a run-and-chase linebacker who is asked to disengage with NFL bookends consistently.

2020 STATISTICS

91 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 1 interception, 3 pass deflections, 1 fumble recovery, 1 forced fumble

NOTES

—As a prep, Surratt was North Carolina’s Gatorade player of the year as a quarterback, a position where he set multiple state records, and he also made all-state lists as a basketball player.

—He was named North Carolina’s starting quarterback as a freshman, but inconsistency and injury dropped him down the depth chart before Surratt switched positions as a redshirt junior.

—His younger brother, Sage Surratt, set state records as a wide receiver and basketball player. The former first-team All-ACC receiver at Wake Forest is also a member of the 2021 NFL draft class.

OVERALL

New to the position, former quarterback Chazz Surratt has a high ceiling set by his rare physical traits. Unfortunately, his floor is set by some limiting factors, like his intensity when engaged by offensive linemen and his 30” arms.

Surratt has an opportunity to be a major factor as an outside linebacker, but he needs to continue his progression path as a professional to resolve some of the holes in his game. Overall, Surratt is one of the most well-defined boom-or-bust prospects in this class, as his positives and negatives are so clearly defined.

GRADE: 7.8/10 (Round 2)

OVERALL RANK: 46/300

POSITION RANK: LB4

PRO COMPARISON: Deone Bucannon

Written by B/R NFL Scout Justis Mosqueda

The Minnesota Vikings have a new addition to their quarterback room after drafting Kellen Mond out of Texas A&M with the No. 66 overall pick of the 2021 NFL draft.

The 21-year-old joins a Vikings team currently led by signal-caller Kirk Cousins, who is coming off a 2020 season where he threw a career-high 35 touchdown passes. The 32-year-old has two years remaining on his current contract.

Here's a look at how the Vikings' depth chart looks with Mond in the mix.

    

Vikings' Offensive Depth Chart

QB: Kirk Cousins, *Kellen Mond, Jake Browning

RB: Dalvin Cook, Alexander Mattison, Ameer Abdullah, Jake Bargas

FB: C.J. Ham

WR 1: Justin Jefferson, Olabisi Johnson, Dan Chisena

WR 2: Adam Thielen, Chad Beebe, K.J. Osborn 

TE: Irv Smith Jr., Tyler Conklin, Hale Hentges, Brandon Dillon

LT: Christian Darrisaw, Rashod Hill

LG: Dakota Dozier, Kyle Hinton, Zack Bailey

C: Garrett Bradbury, Mason Cole

RG: Ezra Cleveland, Dru Samia

RT: Brian O'Neill, Olisaemeka Udoh, Blake Brandel

Depth chart info provided by Ourlads and Over the Cap.

     

The 6'3", 217-pounder led the Aggies to a 9-1 record in 2020, concluding his career with a victory over No. 13 UNC in the Orange Bowl.

In his senior season, Mond threw for 2,282 yards and 19 touchdowns with three interceptions.

The San Antonio native was installed as the team's primary starter almost as soon as he stepped foot on campus, starting eight games as a freshman in 2017 before going on to get the start in every game for the rest of his collegiate career. 

Mond finished as the school's all-time leader in total offense (11,001 yards), passing yards (9,429), passing touchdowns (71), completions (785) and passing attempts (1,332).

There's no pressure on Mond to contribute right away with Cousins calling signals for at least two years, but adding the Aggie gives the Vikings an option in 2023 should Minnesota decide to head in a different direction. He could also be a great insurance policy if Cousins is forced to miss time until then.

HEIGHT: 6'2 5/8"

WEIGHT: 211

      

POSITIVES

— Above-average height with long arms.

— Flashes of a beautiful, tight spiral to all three levels. Can deliver deep balls on a line and intermediate field throws don't have dip.

— Good, smooth athlete. Plays with bounce and lightness in his feet and can accelerate quickly.

— Tough mindset and is willing to stand strong in the pocket and take hits with the ball in his hands.

— When he's throwing on time and in rhythm, he will get hot with his accuracy.

       

NEGATIVES

— Has been overcoached in some areas and can feel robotic in progressions and mechanics.

— Struggles to consistently throw with touch. Throws are all essentially different flavors of line drive. Accuracy can come and go.

— Way too often will get locked into his read and try to jam throws into a crowd of defenders.

— Play feels chaotic after the ball is snapped. Doesn't have natural feel in the pocket, and his mental clock doesn't move as quickly as it should. 

— Slight build, especially his lower body. Is a good athlete but isn't a dynamic runner because of average contact balance and lateral quickness. 

      

2020 STATISTICS

10 G, 188-of-297 (63.3%), 2,282 YDS, 19 TD, 3 INT

74 ATT, 294 YDS, 4 TD

      

OVERALL

Kellen Mond is a tough and athletic QB who throws beautiful deep balls with flashes of accuracy and to all three levels, but inconsistency in his play limits even his strengths. Mond has a tendency to be robotic in his play, not just mechanically but also in his mental processing. He will hang on reads and "wish" his receivers open, sometimes throwing balls late or attempting to jam a line drive into a crowd of defenders. Mond's accuracy is tied into his anticipation: If he sees his first read opening how he had planned in his head, he will consistently deliver beautiful, tight spirals with good arm strength.

When things go differently, he can turn into a bit of a chaotic player who has trouble putting throws where he wants them, and he lacks the touch to be more creative with his ball placement. Mond is a good, smooth athlete who can eat up yards with his strides but doesn't make a lot of defenders miss in the open field, and while he plays tough, his slight build raises questions about his durability and play strength.

Overall, Mond will benefit from being in a situation where less is more and he can narrow down his progressions to be more manageable. He is a smooth mover who has enough flashes and the work ethic and toughness that he projects to be an intriguing backup at the NFL level who will need a lot of time and the right situation to improve on his overall consistency to ascend to anything more. 

        

GRADE: 7.1/10 (Spot starter, 4th round)

OVERALL RANK: 152/300

POSITION RANK: QB8

PRO COMPARISON: Akili Smith

     

Written by B/R NFL Scout Nate Tice

The Minnesota Vikings selected Virginia Tech offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw with the 23rd overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft.

Got us a DAWG

Welcome to the #Vikings, @Bigdawgchris1 pic.twitter.com/3qcbOlxKR6

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 30, 2021

Oregon's Penei Sewell was almost universally regarded as not just the best tackle on the board but also one of the top players overall in this year's draft class. In the B/R NFL Scouting Department's Final Big Board, he was the No. 4-ranked prospect.

For teams that didn't stand much of a chance to land the Ducks left tackle, Darrisaw became one of the most obvious alternatives. Here's where he fits in the Vikings depth chart:

QB: Kirk Cousins, Jake Browning, Nate Stanley

RB: Dalvin Cook, Alexander Mattison, Ameer Abdullah, Jake Bargas

FB: C.J. Ham

WR 1: Justin Jefferson, Olabisi Johnson, Dan Chisena

WR 2: Adam Thielen, Chad Beebe, K.J. Osborn 

TE: Irv Smith Jr., Tyler Conklin, Hale Hentges, Brandon Dillon

LT: Christian Darrisaw*, Rashod Hill

LG: Dakota Dozier, Kyle Hinton, Zack Bailey

C: Garrett Bradbury, Mason Cole

RG: Ezra Cleveland, Dru Samia

RT: Brian O'Neill, Olisaemeka Udoh, Blake Brandel

  

Depth chart info provided by Ourlads and Over the Cap.

The Upper Marlboro, Maryland, native made an immediate impact for the Hokies, starting 12 games as a true freshman in 2018. The 2020 season was his best in Blacksburg as he went on to earn All-ACC first-team honors.

PFF's Seth Galina wrote how Darrisaw excelled as a run-blocker and showed big progress in that category from year to year. His run-blocking grade rose from 64.0 to 78.6 between 2018 and 2019 and jumped significantly to 93.4 last year.

#VirginiaTech LT Christian Darrisaw is a human bulldozer.

That's what a people mover looks like! And why the 1st round buzz is legit.

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) December 6, 2020

The Athletic's Bob McGinn also spoke to an anonymous scout who described the the 6'5", 314-pound blocker as "super light on his feet." However, multiple scouts also expressed concerns about his effort level, explaining how he was so good that the game came easier to him, which won't be the case early on in the NFL.

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com compared Darrisaw to two-time Pro Bowler Russell Okung:

"Athletically gifted left tackle prospect with the natural talent to be as good as he wants to be. Darrisaw plays with plus body control. He has the initial quickness and smooth agility to get to any and all blocks in the run game. The tape shows a player who's able to make jaw-dropping cutoffs on the backside but who gives half-hearted effort securing down blocks and squeezing down to help protect the B-gap. He's flexible and loose in pass pro, with the foot quickness and hand strength to punch and close up shop on would-be edge rushers."

Darrisaw has the size and athleticism to stick at left tackle. His ability to open running lanes means at worst he should slot in as a starting right tackle for years to come.

And as long as he can address the questions about his focus and effort, he should collect multiple Pro Bowl nods across his time in the NFL.

Riley Reiff started 58 games at left tackle over four seasons in Minnesota, but his time with the franchise came to an end in March. That created a clear need for the team early in the draft.

With Sewell and Rashawn Slater already off the board, Darrisaw was the most obvious option for the Vikings to replace Reiff on the left side of the line.

HEIGHT: 6'4 ¾"

WEIGHT: 322

  

POSITIVES

—Very good initial and lateral quickness to create space out of his stance as a pass protector and get his second step in the ground as a run-blocker.

—Comfortable on an island in pass protection with the patience and confidence to not bite on stutters and hesitations.

—Impressive balance and agility to recover and redirect against counter moves.

—Works off multiple threats with active, clear eyes when uncovered to secure most dangerous man.

—Packs heat in his punch to stun and upend defenders on contact with overwhelming power to finish.

—Once latched shows very good grip strength to sustain, steer and control defenders.

—Excellent range and aiming points to cut off the 3-technique on the backside of zone.

NEGATIVES

—Relies on upper body strength to move defenders; needs to bring his feet and unlock his hips more consistently at the point of attack.

—Gets lackadaisical in the run game, resulting in some whiffs that should be avoided with better concentration.

—Doesn't have a lot of experience mixing up and diversifying his pass sets.

—Can shore up set points against wide-9-aligned rushers to not overset and create a soft inside shoulder.

2020 STATISTICS

—Missed Week 9 versus Pittsburgh after reaggravating a groin injury suffered in Week 6 versus Louisville.

—First-team All-ACC by the AP.

—Nine starts with the team opting out of its bowl game.

NOTES

—Attended Fork Union Military Academy for one year (2017) to qualify academically.

—Started 34 career games at left tackle, including 12 as a true freshman in 2018.

—Played the majority of his true freshman year in 2018 on an ankle injury suffered in Week 2 that needed surgery after the season, causing him to miss the spring of 2019.

—Three-star recruit out of Riverdale Baptist High School (Maryland) with just one FBS Division I offer (Virginia Tech).

—Tested positive for COVID-19 in September and was asymptomatic.

   

OVERALL

Darrisaw has a large frame with a burly upper body, eye-catching initial quickness out of his stance and plenty of athletic ability to operate on an island as a pass protector effectively while playing with overwhelming power in the run game.

Darrisaw uses heavy hands and dominating grip strength to jolt defenders at the point and erase second-level defenders on his climb plus excellent technique to cover up and cut off the backside of zone runs. He has the patience and processing skills to diagnose games and the most dangerous man against the blitz while providing punishing help when uncovered.

He needs to be more consistent at bringing his feet and hips at the point of attack in the run game and could play with better focus on every play. Darrisaw's physical tools and skill set are ready to make an impact right away at tackle, while his effort will need to be more consistent to fulfill his considerably high ceiling.

   

GRADE: 8.3/10 (1st round)

OVERALL RANK: 18/300

POSITION RANK: OT4

PRO COMPARISON: Dion Dawkins

   

Written by B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn

Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson will be immortalized in a video game, but it's not the latest Madden. 

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Pro Bowler will be the first NFL player featured in Fortnite as it implements his Griddy dance into the game.

Jefferson showcased the dance throughout his rookie 2020 season, including on his way to the end zone on this memorable play in September:

Justin Jefferson stunts on the Titans before scoring a 71-yard TD 😳

The rookie has 175 yards with a quarter to go

(Via @Vikings)pic.twitter.com/DHAstEEXvl

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 27, 2020

The LSU product continued to produce throughout the year, finishing with 88 catches for 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns.

As the year progressed, even some of his older teammates got in on the Griddy dance:

Thielen tried to do the Griddy like Justin Jefferson 😂

(via @thecheckdown)pic.twitter.com/XQNtKDDHWB

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 4, 2020

Kirk Cousins hits the Griddy 😂

He gave it his all @brgridiron

(via @thecheckdown)pic.twitter.com/6Dpu6Dwa0x

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 3, 2021

The sensation continued to the point it will now be available as a dance in Fortnite, a game that has implemented other viral dances such as the floss, dab and the running man.

As Schefter reported, Fortnite has paid the creator of the dance, Allen Davis, for the rights.

Jefferson, who is a gamer himself and competed in the Streamer Bowl earlier this year, helped popularize it but won't take royalties.

Fortnite has also partnered with the NFL in the past to bring new skins to the game while introducing other events. 

The latest to benefit from the NFL's jersey number rule change? Minnesota Vikings cornerback Patrick Peterson—and a high school in Wisconsin. 

Peterson, who signed with the Vikings in March, decided to swap the No. 21 that he wore through 10 seasons with the Arizona Cardinals for the No. 7 that he wore collegiately with LSU, where he was a two-time first-team All-SEC honoree.

Oh let’s do it @P2 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/Ckd7V7WRQG

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 25, 2021

The league's new jersey rules open up single digit numbers to positions other than quarterbacks, punters and kickers.

Vikings quarterback Nate Stanley was willing to give up the No. 7 he wore as a rookie last season, but it came with a price. In exchange for the number, Peterson donated shoulder pads to the football team at Wisconsin's Menomonie High School, where Stanley attended, according to Eric Smith of Vikings.com. 

Stanley will wear No. 14 this season. 

They may not be the only players on the Vikings to wear new numbers this season. Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported that running back Dalvin Cook was considering switching numbers, though Cook has since tweeted his current jersey number. 

Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook has reportedly decided not to switch to No. 4 because of the cost of buying up the remaining stock of his current No. 33 jerseys.

According to ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio, Cook or any other player who wants to switch numbers must buy all remaining inventory of jerseys with their previous number. They reportedly must purchase the remaining supply from Fanatics at retail price.

Cook, who wore No. 4 during his playing days at Florida State, was reportedly considering a switch and "looking at the inventory costs" this week, per Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press.

The switch became a possibility after the NFL passed a new jersey number rule this week that will relax some of the previous restrictions.

Now, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, linebackers and defensive backs are allowed to wear single-digit numbers, which is something that is commonplace in high school and college football.

The No. 4 jersey treated Cook well in college, as he registered three 1,000-yard rushing seasons with the Seminoles, including a junior campaign in which he rushed for 1,765 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Cook has thrived with the No. 33 on his back in the NFL, however, earning Pro Bowl nods in each of the past two seasons.

The 2017 second-round pick is coming off his best NFL season to date, rushing for 1,557 yards and 16 touchdowns while also catching 44 passes for 361 yards and one score in 2020.

That production helped Cook land a five-year, $63 million extension with the Vikings in September.

Despite that contract, Cook thought better of investing heavily in a mountain of his own jerseys.

Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook will reportedly take advantage of the NFL's relaxed jersey number rules, according to Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. 

Tomasson reported that Cook "would love" to swap the No. 33 he has worn for all four of his professional seasons in favor of the No. 4 he wore in high school and at Florida State. 

The change isn't official as the organization considers "inventory costs." 

The NFL told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that number changes would have to be approved based on existing inventory of unsold jerseys featuring the old number. Per Florio, if a player wants to change their jersey for the upcoming year, they would have to purchase the existing, unsold jerseys before the change will be allowed. 

The league's new rule opened up single-digit jersey numbers to players other than quarterbacks, kickers and punters. 

Cook is an anomaly on the Vikings, as wide receiver Justin Jefferson and cornerback Cameron Dantzler have already decided not to return to the single-digit numbers they wore collegiately (h/t Tomasson). 

Elsewhere, DeAndre Hopkins posted on Instagram on Thursday that he's ready to "bring back the 6" that he wore at Clemson. 

While several players have made decisions regarding their number, the changes to the rule have at least one opponent in Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, who wrote on Instagram on Thursday that he thought the new rules would "make for a lot of bad football."