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Draft expected to have Minnesota ties up and down the board

Trey Lance and Rashod Bateman are likely to hear their names called in the first round. Other players with Minnesota connections could be mid-round gems.

By Andrew Krammer

April 29, 2021 at 11:39AM

Cornerback Benjamin St-Juste with Gophers coach P.J. Fleck at Minnesota’s Pro Day on April 1. (Anthony Souffle, Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Here are the top five players with Minnesota connections expected to be selected in this week's NFL draft.

QB TREY LANCE

College: North Dakota St. | Hometown: Marshall, Minn.

He may not get drafted first, second or even third among quarterbacks, but Lance has a rare skill set expected to make him the second Bison passer taken with a first-round pick in six years. The Marshall, Minn. native is a physical marvel with intelligence, a cannon arm, and a 6-foot-4, 224-pound frame fit for tight end. If he can overcome accuracy issues and land in the right system, analysts have compared his ceiling to Bills quarterback Josh Allen.

Read Mark Craig's profile of Trey Lance

WR RASHOD BATEMAN

College: Minnesota | Hometown: Tifton, Ga.

The former Gophers star receiver could be the program's first opening-round draft pick since 2006 and running back Laurence Maroney. What has many expecting Bateman to be a first-round pick is his ridiculous production – 60 catches for 1,219 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2019 – coming from a crisp route runner with sure hands. Bateman (6-0, 190 pounds) isn't the biggest target, but he plays big, ranking eighth in the FBS in broken tackles during his college career, per Pro Football Focus. Mock draft analysts have him as a late first-round pick to the Ravens, Packers, and Bears, among others.

OT DILLON RADUNZ

College: North Dakota St. | Hometown: Becker, Minn.

Radunz started 32 straight games as the Bison left tackle, and likely improved his standing among NFL teams after a strong Senior Bowl in January, when Radunz was named the practice player of the week. At 6-foot-4 and 301 pounds, he's one of many intriguing offensive tackles in a class loaded with tall, athletic blockers. While pre-draft chatter sticks on teammate Trey Lance's experience in NDSU's pro-style offense, Radunz will benefit from a varied playbook, too. He's projected as a likely second or third-round pick.

Listen to Radunz talk about the draft process.

CB BENJAMIN ST-JUSTE

College: Minnesota | Hometown: Montreal

St-Juste (6-0, 202 pounds) is "everybody's favorite mid-round cornerback," according to NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah. The Canadian transferred from Michigan to Minnesota in 2019 and started 14 games the past two seasons. While he's got limited experience, he has an intriguing combination of height, length, and aggressiveness that NFL teams like at cornerback. St-Juste was a strong tackler at Minnesota who broke up 10 passes in 2019. He's projected as more of a developmental prospect than pro-ready.

Read about St-Juste's performance at Minnesota's pro day.

DE ELERSON SMITH

College: Northern Iowa | Hometown: Minneapolis

The former Minneapolis South tight end said he's gained 70 pounds – including 20 pounds since he last played a football game for Northern Iowa in 2019 – during his college transformation into an edge rusher. Smith drew strong reviews at the Senior Bowl in January, when he faced FBS-level competition in front of pro scouts. Listed 6-foot-6 and 252 pounds, Smith could still be asked to get even bigger for the NFL. But his impressive ascension could make him a late-round developmental pick.

about the writer

Andrew Krammer

Reporter

Andrew Krammer covers the Vikings for the Minnesota Star Tribune, entering his sixth NFL season. From the Metrodome to U.S. Bank Stadium, he's reported on everything from Case Keenum's Minneapolis Miracle, the offensive line's kangaroo court to Adrian Peterson's suspension.