How much does the NFL Combine have an effect on the stock of potential draft picks?
A lot, at least according to the draft experts.
There have been many changes since our last roll call of mock drafts. Sometimes it is because a player slotted to Minnesota is now going higher in the draft, other times because we have all this new information. And, of course, sometimes nothing has changed at all.
With free agency set to begin Wednesday -- and of course scramble the mocks once again -- we present our third edition of mock drafts and the predictions for the Vikings.
With this roundup, if we included a mock previously (some of the ones we had before have not been updated since), we'll also include the picks from that earlier mock draft (note: some mocks update often; we'll just include the pick we used) . We'll continue to provide updates leading up to the start of the draft, April 28.
And now, here's the third look of who the prognosticators think Minnesota will take in the NFL Draft:
Walter Cherepinsky of WalterFootball.com (March 9): Round 1 -- Josh Doctson, WR, TCU. "Doctson fits exactly what the Vikings are looking for, so it wouldn't surprise me if he's the pick at this juncture."; Round 2 -- Vadal Alexander, G, LSU; Round 3 -- Sean Davis, S, Maryland; Round 4 -- Willie Henry, DT, Michigan; Round 5 --Tyler Johnstone, OT, Oregon. (Previously: Round 1 -- Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor; Round 2 -- Denver Kirkland, OL, Arkansas; Round 3 -- Blake Martinez, LB, Stanford; Round 4 -- Willie Henry, DT, Michigan.)
Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN.com (March 8): Josh Doctson, WR, TCU. "Stefon Diggs was a great value, and as they move indoors the Vikings need to add another weapon in the passing game. Doctson is great after the catch and would be a great fit in the offense." (Previously: Cody Whitehair, OG, Kansas.)
Scott Wright of DraftCountdown.com (March 8): Round 1 -- Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State; Round 2 -- Germain Ifedi, OL, Texas A&M; Round 3 -- Jayron Kearse, S, Clemson.
Chad Reuter of NFL.com (March 7): Round 1 -- Josh Doctson, WR, TCU. "Doctson's combine workout made teams forget about his injured wrist. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is looking for a receiver in whom he can trust to win 50-50 balls."; Round 2 -- Darian Thompson, S, Boise State; Round 3 -- Joshua Perry, OLB, Ohio State; Round 4 -- Christian Westerman, OG, Arizona State. (Previously: Round 1 -- Doctson; Round 2 -- Kyler Fackrell, OLB, Utah State; Round 3 -- Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah; Round 4 -- Willie Beavers, OG, Western Michigan. )
Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com (March 7): Round 1 -- Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss. "The Vikings could use a big possession receiver to pair with Stefon Diggs. Treadwell's run blocking would be a great fit for Minnesota's ground-based offense."; Round 2 -- Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame; Round 3 -- James Bradberry, S/CB, Samford; Round 4 -- Kolby Lisenbee, WR, TCU. (Previously: Round 1 -- Darron Lee, LB, Baylor; Round 2 -- Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor; Round 3 -- Von Bell, S, Ohio State; Round 4 -- D.J. Foster, RB/WR, Arizona State.)
Dan Kadar of SBNation/Mocking the Draft (March 7): Cody Whitehair, OG, Kansas State. "Whitehair is the draft's best guard and could be starting left guard the Vikings have needed for some time." (Previously: Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State).
Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com (March 7): Josh Doctson, WR, TCU. "This is a polished receiver who put up big numbers in college. He would help fill a big-time need in the offense. He could grow with Teddy Bridgewater and Stefon Diggs as a passing trio."
Dane Brugler of NFLDraftScout.com (March 7): Cody Whitehair, OG, Kansas State. "With glaring needs on the offensive line, is it too early to draft a guard? Not if the pick is Whitehair, who is this year's version of Zack Martin and ready to start in the NFL today." (Previously: Whitehair.)
Will Brinson of CBSSports.com (March 7): Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame. "Teddy Bridgewater can throw a deep ball with some touch and now he's got someone who can stretch the field in Norv Turner's offense."
Rob Rang of NFLDraftScout.com (March 6): Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State. "The Vikings' clear top need is re-tooling an offensive line that struggled with injuries and disappointing play in 2015. Most of Decker's experience lies outside but he also possesses the grit and strength to handle sliding inside to guard, giving his future NFL team plenty of options." (Previously: Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State.)
Jared Dubin of CBSSports.com (March 6): Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana. "If the Vikes really want to take the training wheels off the offense and let Teddy Bridgewater ride, they're going to have to do a better job protecting him. Enter Spriggs."
Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times (March 6): Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss.
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com (March 4): Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame. "Teddy Bridgewater had to be happy with the addition of Stefon Diggs last season, but he'll be downright giddy if Fuller's big-play ability is added into the huddle."
DraftTek (March 4): Round 1 -- Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State; Round 2 -- Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah; Round 3 -- Kyle Murphy, OT, Stanford; Round 4 -- Cyrus Jones, CB, Alabama; Round 5 -- Kolby Listenbee, WR, TCU; Round 6 -- C.J. Prosise, RB, Notre Dame; Round 7a -- Tom Hackett, P, Utah; Round 7b -- Willie Henry, DT, Michigan. (Previous: Round 1 -- Jeremey Cash, S, Duke; Round 2 -- Lee; Round 3 -- De'Runnya Wilson, WR, Mississippi State; Round 4 -- Jordan Howard, RB, Indiana; Round 5 -- Jones; Round 6 -- Matt Ioannidis, DT, Temple; Round 7a -- Jamal Palmer, DE, Baylor; Round 7b -- Clay DeBord, OT, Eastern Washington.)
Nate Davis of USAToday.com (March 4): Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State. "Secondary depth could be problematic in the wake of free agency. Apple would remedy that and has the upside to be a top corner down the road. And you can't have enough corners in a division with so many gunslingers." (Previously: Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville.)
Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (March 4): Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State. "The Vikings may release disappointing first-round pick Matt Kalil soon, so a replacement will be in order."
Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (March 4): Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss. (Previously: Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State.)
MyNFLDraft.com (March 4): Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame. (Previously: Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson.)
Peter Schrager of FOXSports.com (March 3): Josh Doctson, WR, TCU. "If Teddy Bridgewater is in need of a guy to grow old with, I could see Doctson being that guy."
Josh Norris of Rotoworld.com (March 3): Josh Doctson, WR, TCU. "All Josh Doctson did was show up at the NFL Combine, go through an entire workout and test like the top athlete at the position. We all love his ability to make contested catches, floating in the air with outstanding body control. His routes are further ahead than given credit for. Teddy needs a receiver like Doctson." (Previously: Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State.)
Charles Davis of NFL.com (March 3): Josh Doctson, WR, TCU. "The Vikings must get more dynamic through the air, and the selection of Doctson adds another young target to aid QB Teddy Bridgewater's development."
Eric Edholm, Yahoo.com (March 3): Josh Doctson, WR, TCU. (Previously: Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State.)
Hunter Stewart of TheNewNFLDraft.com (March 3): Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama. "The Vikings finally get an ILB who can be an immediate starter and impact player on the inside." (Previously: Ragland.)
Bucky Brooks of NFL.com (March 2): Josh Doctson, WR, TCU. "Doctson would give Teddy Bridgewater a big-bodied playmaker to target in key moments."
Todd McShay of ESPN.com Insider (March 2): Vonn Bell, S, Ohio State. "WR Josh Doctson would make sense here too, but this is a pure value pick. Bell is currently No. 17 on our board, and the Vikings are in need of a playmaker opposite of Harrison Smith." (Previously: Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State.)
Chris Burke of SI.com (March 2): Josh Doctson, WR, TCU. "This is precisely the type of weapon Minnesota is missing opposite 2015 rookie star Stefon Diggs. Doctson may start a bit slow as he adjusts, but it won't take him long to start making huge plays." (Previously: Round 1 -- Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State; Round 2 -- Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah.)
Eddie Brown of the San Diego Union-Tribune (March 2): Round 1 -- Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor. "Many consider Coleman the best deep threat in the nation. It's hard to argue, and it's scary to think of the play-action possibilities Teddy Bridgewater will face with this addition."; Round 2 -- Su'a Cravens, OLB, USC; Round 3 -- Karl Joseph, S, West Virginia; Round 4 -- Connor McGovern, OG, Missouri. (Previously: Round 1 -- Coleman; Round 2 -- Vadal Alexander, OG, LSU; Round 3 -- Kyle Murphy, OT, Stanford; Round 4 -- Jihad Ward, DE, Illinois.)
Steve Palazzolo of Pro Football Focus (March 2): Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State (Previously: Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor.)
Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com (March 1): Josh Doctson, WR, TCU. "The Vikings need more weapons on offense and Doctson turned some heads with his performance at the combine." (Previously: Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor.)
Pat Kirwan of RealFootballNetwork.com (March 1): Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State. "Lee is an outstanding run and hit guy with skills to play man to man coverages. He could be the immediate replacement for Chad Greenway."
Jon Ledyard of USA Today's DraftWire.com (Feb. 29): Jack Conklin, OL, Michigan State. (Previously: Joshua Garnett, OG, Stanford.)
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