NFL Draft: Vikings 'absolutely not' locked in on offensive line in first round

EAGAN, Minn. (KMSP) - Outside of TCO Performance Center, crews are still putting the finishing touches in place, but inside is where the Vikings are starting to lay the foundation for next season on the field.

“We’re always going to continue the philosophy of building through the Draft,” said Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman.

The NFL Draft is coming up on Thursday and Spielman has eight picks at his disposal. The first one comes up in the first round at number 30 – a spot that will be a fluid situation all the way to Draft Day.

“It’s so unpredictable,” said Spielman. “You can’t predict what trades are going to happen in front of you. You can’t predict what players are going to drop to you… What if we trade back and these players are available to us – are we just as happy getting one of these players and another pick.”

The Vikings have already attacked free agency, going out to get quarterback Kirk Cousins and others, but there are still needs elsewhere, like offensive line. It’s a position of interest, but not the only one the Vikings are honed in on.

“As everyone thinks we’re locked in on an offensive line, that’s absolutely not the case,” said Spielman. “I think right now the way our draft boards developed, we have five different positions that we can go in any direction, depending on how the board’s fallen.”

Everyone is wondering about the Vikings’ first selection, but they’ve been able to find key pieces in later rounds as of late. Defensive end Everson Griffen was drafted in the fourth round, wide receiver Stefon Diggs in the fifth. 

“The message to anyone getting drafted is that it’s a marathon not a sprint,” said Cousins. “The draft is more of a beginning than an end and just understand that tough times don’t last, but tough people do.”