Vikings bringing in multiple prospects from SEC powerhouse shed light on potential target for Brian Flores' defense

The Minnesota Vikings are finishing off their NFL Draft prep over the course of the next few weeks with one of the main objectives being top 30 visits. The process of hosting players on a top-30 visit is one of the last time that teams will get to talk to players before the NFL Draft. […]

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Georgia defensive lineman Mykel Williams (13) goes in for a sack on Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) during the second half of the SEC championship game against Texas in Atlanta, on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.
Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings are finishing off their NFL Draft prep over the course of the next few weeks with one of the main objectives being top 30 visits.

The process of hosting players on a top-30 visit is one of the last time that teams will get to talk to players before the NFL Draft. It allows them to host the player, do interviews, and a physical. The process allows them to get to know players better on a wide range of topics.

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Vikings hosting multiple Georgia Bulldogs

With their top-30 visits, the Vikings have a long history under general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah of using them as a building block to acquire talent. That's what makes them bring in four different Georgia Bulldogs players so interesting.

  • TE Benjamin Yurosek
  • DL Warren Brinson
  • DL Nazir Stackhouse
  • DL Tyron Ingram-Dawkins

Four players from the same school sends out a massive signal that the Vikings have a lot of interest in somebody. However, it's almost as likely that the Vikings have an interest in a different player on the roster rather than one of them. 

In the first three seasons under Adofo-Mensah, the Vikings have drafted five players who have taken a top-30 visit with the Vikings.

  • DT Esezi Otomewo-2022
  • WR Jordan Addison-2023
  • CB Mekhi Blackmon-2023
  • RB DeWayne McBride-2023
  • EDGE Dallas Turner-2024

Along with that, the Vikings have also selected multiple players who have had teammates take a top-30 visit to Minnesota.

  • 2022: Illinois OT Vederian Lowe (S Kerby Joseph)
  • 2023: LSU S Jay Ward and DT Jaquelin Roy (OL Anthony Bradford, CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse)
  • 2024: Alabama K Will Reichard (EDGE Dallas Turner, CB Terrion Arnold), Oregon CB Khyree Jackson (DT Taki Taimani)

Lastly, the UDFAs the Vikings have brought in have been with the Vikings as well

  • 2022: CB Kalon Barnes, EDGE Zach McCloud
  • 2023: OL Henry Byrd, OL Colby Sorsdol, DT Calvin Avery
  • 2024: DT Taki Taimani, EDGE Gabe Murphy, OL Spencer Rolland

Bringing in four Georgia players, especially since all of them play in the trenches to some degree, says they could be trying to get more information. That player could be safety Malaki Starks, but I think it's a different one: edge rusher Mykel Williams.

The Vikings love using the NASCAR package with multiple edge rushers on the field at one time. It gives defensive coordinator Brian Flores the opportunity for some unique looks and pressure packages. However, you have to have players who can kick inside on pass rush downs.

Williams is that guy. At 6'5 and 260 lbs, Williams has 34 3/8" arms and understands how to win with leverage and power. That is such a big deal when it comes to getting pressure on the interior. He can do that and be a run stuffer, even showing enough strength to handle double teams and play gap-and-a-half.

Is this a guarantee? Absolutely not, but the defensive line is a place where the Vikings could use some more help and Williams could do that and then some.

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