Minnesota Vikings Off-Season Needs: Linebacker
Jan 2, 2015; Tempe, AZ, USA; Washington Huskies linebacker Shaq Thompson (7) against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the 2015 Cactus Bowl at Sun Devil Stadium. Oklahoma State defeated Washington 30-22. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
With the NFL Combine happening right now there is a lot of buzz about the NFL Draft ramping up. As we all know, the Vikings first pick is at number 11 in the first round. My current preference would be Teddy Bridgewater‘s old pal DeVante Parker, the receiver out of Louisville. Incidentally, Parker seems keen on the idea himself, as Dan Zinski over at The Viking Age pointed out. But this article is about linebackers so let’s look at some options.
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Shaq Thompson currently figures to be one of the first linebackers taken. He seems like a good fit for Minnesota according to Arif Hasan at the Viking Journal, but they would probably have to take him at 11 to get him. Again, not my preference but certainly an intriguing option. Who knows, maybe Spielman will do his usual first day maneuvering and try to get Parker and Thompson.
Most of the middle linebackers coming out in the draft are being projected for the second round or later. Some more names to watch for are Barr’s former UCLA teammate Eric Kendricks and Denzel Perryman out of Miami.
As the combine wraps up and free agency draws closer we will reexamine where these players and others may fit in with the Vikings. We will also take looks at other positions the Vikings need help to move up in the standings in 2015.