The NFL Draft is a week away. Here is what you need to know.
What: 81st NFL Draft
When: April 28-30. Round 1, 7 p.m. Thursday. Rounds 2-3, 6 p.m. Friday. Rounds 4-7, 11 a.m. Saturday.Â
Where: Auditorium Theatre, ChicagoÂ
TV: ESPN, ESPN2 and NFL Network.
Total number of selections: 253, including 32 compensatory choices.
Vikings draft picks (eight): First round, 23rd overall; second, 54th; third, 86th; fourth, 121st; fifth, 160th; sixth, 180th (from 49ers); seventh, 240th (from Buffalo) and 244th.
On the clock: There are 10 minutes between picks in the first round, seven in the second, five in rounds 3-6, and four in the seventh.
First-round draft order:
1. Los Angeles (from Tennessee)
2. Philadelphia (from Cleveland)
3. San Diego
4. Dallas
5. Jacksonville
6. Baltimore
7. San Francisco
8. Cleveland (from Philadelphia and Miami)
9. Tampa Bay
10. New York Giants
11. Chicago
12. New Orleans
13. Miami (from Philadelphia)
14. Oakland
15. Tennessee (from Los Angeles)
16. Detroit
17. Atlanta
18. Indianapolis
19. Buffalo
20. New York Jets
21. Washington
22. Houston
23. Vikings
24. Cincinnati
25. Pittsburgh
26. Seattle
27. Green Bay
28. Kansas City
29. Arizona
30. Carolina
31. Denver
(New England lost first round pick in Deflategate)
Top prospects:
Jared Goff, QB, California
Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon
Ezekiel Elliot, RB, Ohio State
Laremy Tunsil, OT, Mississippi
Jalen Ramsey, CB, Florida State
Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
Myles Jack, LB, UCLA
Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
Laquon Treadwell, WR, Mississippi
Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida
In the days leading up to the draft, we will break down where the Vikings stand at each position group on their roster.
Will the Vikings draft a quarterback in the later rounds?
Teddy Bridgewater is under team control for three more seasons and there are certainly worse backups than Shaun Hill, who is in the final year of his two-year deal. This may be a need next spring, depending on what happens with Hill and whether Heinicke has more room to grow.
Read more about the quarterback position.
Is it time to pick a replacement for Adrian Peterson?
The Vikings can afford to worry about this position next spring, Peterson will be 32 and heading into the final year of his contract. For now, they are set with Peterson, Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata.
Read more about the backs.
Should the Vikings use a first-round pick on a receiver?
After addressing the offensive line via coaching and free agency, all signs point toward the Vikings using the first round to add a receiver with prototypical No. 1-type size and skill.
Read more about the receivers.
How much more construction does the offensive line need?
With all the moves made in free agency, the Vikings can go to camp with what they have. But if there’s something that’s too good to pass up, they’ll probably keep trying to add strength to the position they deemed their No. 1 offseason priority.
Read more about the offensive line.
More to come:
Friday, April 22: Defensive line  Â
Monday, April 25: Linebackers
Tuesday, April 26: Defensive backs
Wednesday, April 27: Special teams
Thursday, April 28 (draft day): Mock draft roundup
Vikings free-agent tracker.
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