Vikings Fans Aren't Going to Like Mel Kiper's Projected First-Round Draft Selection for Them

Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest batch of predictions for the 2020 NFL Draft has a lot of fans buzzing, but not all of it is positive. For the Minnesota Vikings, they fall into that category, because fans might not like who he's projecting the team to select in the first round.

Kiper is banking on the depth of this year's draft class as a reason for the Vikings to reach on Baylor wide receiver Denzel Mims, who has risen on draft boards this year since the Combine. The 6-3, 207-pound wideout ran a 4.38 40-yard dash, and he's a prime example of a guy whose physical attributes and athleticism give him a high ceiling, but we all know how Baylor wide receivers turn out in the NFL. Just look at Corey Coleman and Kendall Wright in recent years.

The main reason Kiper sees the Vikings taking a receiver is the departure of Stefon Diggs, who is a big playmaker that be sorely missed in the 2020 season. However, with Adam Thielen and Kyle Rudolph still on the roster, Kirk Cousins won't be starving for targets, and perhaps wasting a high pick on a wideout who faced creampuff Big 12 defenses in 2019 may not be the best investment.

Minnesota already struck out on Laquon Treadwell back in 2016, so they might need to look to the later rounds to draft a wideout to avoid this again.

The Vikings have so many needs right now. Diggs will be hard to replace, but a first-round receiver needs to be a sure thing, and Mims just doesn't appear to be that.