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Even though the Vikings traded for Yannick Ngakoue, he was traded away after playing only six games with Minnesota. Even so, Ngakoue, who's now in Baltimore, still leads the Vikings in sacks (five) this season. Topping Bruce Feldman's annual college football freaks list, Paye runs a 4.57 forty and his 3-cone time (6.37) would have been the best time at last year's combine.

Coach Mike Zimmer didn't hold back when he called his defense the “worst one I've ever had.” Nixon, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, is the only player who is a finalist for both the Outland Trophy and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Defensive Player of the Year). He'd pair nicely with Danielle Hunter.

Another team that needs help along the offensive line is the Minnesota Vikings. They drafted Ezra Cleveland last year in the second round and moved him inside, and he has been starting at right guard since Week 6. With Cleveland now on the inside they can address offensive tackle again with a versatile player that has seen time on both the right and the left edges. Rashawn Slater was the right tackle for Northwestern his first two years on campus, but then kicked to the left side in 2019 and showed great potential on that side.

Slater opted out of the 2020 season, but that has not stopped him from remaining near the top of the offensive tackle class. For some, Slater is perhaps the second-best tackle in the group. The Vikings get great value with this pick.

Even when Danielle Hunter returns from injury, Minnesota will have a need at edge defender. Veterans Ifeadi Odenigbo and Jalyn Holmes and rookie D.J. Wonnum have all earned sub-61.0 PFF grades through Week 16. The Vikings also rank 32nd in the NFL in quarterback pressure percentage at 21.6%.

Rousseau is far from a polished prospect, but the former Miami (Fla.) defender is a high-end athlete with ridiculous size and length for the position (6-foot-6, 260 pounds). He earned a 76.2 PFF grade playing up and down the line of scrimmage for the Hurricanes in 2019 and can immediately step in as a chess piece in Zimmer's defense while he develops his pass-rushing skill set.

The Vikings have needs along the interior offensive line and Vera-Tucker, who is a stud on the interior but has starred at tackle this season for USC, has the versatility to line up anywhere.

Paye is a damned freak. He is listed at over 270 pounds, and it has been reported that his 3-cone was in the 6.3 range. That is disgusting. A young man that large should not be able to change direction like that. But he has short arms and has never had big production numbers. Remind you at all of Rashan Gary?

He doesn't have the recruiting legend Gary did, but they had somewhat similar careers in college. The Vikings need reinforcements on that defensive line, and Paye's outside-in ability should make him a nice weapon for Mike Zimmer.

One of the biggest risers in college football this year, Ojulari consistently clowned left tackles throughout the SEC. He earned an 87.7 pass-rushing grade in nine games this season. Ojulari is undersized at 240 pounds, but his bend makes us think that it won't be a massive issue in the NFL.

With Brian O'Neill and Ezra Cleveland providing a blueprint, it seems like the Vikings prefer lean, athletic offensive linemen who can be molded into their roles. Cosmi is athletic and full of potential. If he can get stronger in the running game, he could be very special on the blindside.