The Minnesota Vikings have some freedom in the NFL Draft to prioritize any position they want. They have that flexibility due to how well general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has maneuvered in free agency.
That isn't to say that the Vikings don't have any remaining needs, they certainly do. However, those needs are certainly less dire than what the Vikings had prior. Because of that, the Vikings can take whoever they want at the top of the NFL Draft, as long as that player is a difference-maker.
The latest installment of our SKOL Search series focuses on a very popular name in NFL Mock Drafts for the Vikings in Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III.
Luther Burden III
- Missouri
- Height: 6000
- Weight: 206
- Class: Third-year Junior
- Recruiting info: 5-star recruit in 2022 class per 247 Sports
- Stats: 192 receptions, 2,263 yards, 11.8 YPC, 21 touchdowns, 34 rushes, 234 yards, 4 touchdowns
- Games watched: South Carolina 2024, Texas A&M 2024, Boston College 2024
Strengths
- Awareness In Space: We know that Burden is great at YAC and a twitchy athlete, but it's the nuances to his game that stand out. Burden understands how to manipulate zone defenders with tempo, lulling them into a false sense of security to get behind them and exploit space for more YAC.
- YAC Ability: Burden is arguably the most impactful prospect in the NFL Draft this year when it comes to yards after the catch. He can score a touchdown from anywhere on the field.
- Athleticism: When it comes to athleticism, Burden is one of the best athletes in the class. He ran a 4.42 40-yard dash at 6', 206 lbs and can maneuver around anyone in space.
- Route Running: Burden has a lot of intrigue as a route runner. His twitchy movements allow him to create space with ease, as well as his release package. Burden also displays some of that next-level understanding of using body position and angles to create a little extra space.
Weaknesses
- Passive Blocking: Burden isn't the biggest guy, but he is over 200 lbs and has a decent amount of strength. The issue with Burden is how he uses it. When blocking, he is way too passive, choosing to just stand there instead of working to try and push the defender.
- Drops: Burden can struggle at times with drops, especially when pressed by a defender. Over 276 targets, Burden has 14 drops, with 75% of his targets coming within 10 yards. Not necessarily a great thing.
Overview
Burden is an excellent weapon on the outside. Don't let others fool you. He's not a slot-only receiver. Burden was more than capable playing on the outside as a Z. Whatever you asked Burden to do, he can do it and then some, especially once he gets the ball in his hands.
The Vikings have two great receivers in Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson, but neither is a really strong YAC threat. It's not that they aren't capable, but more that it's not their forte. Burden would give the Vikings what they don't currently have, and it would be a nice easy button for first-time starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy, as they try to make things as easy as possible as he grows as the Vikings' franchise quarterback.
With how the Vikings' needs currently sit, taking a wide receiver isn't a farfetched idea anymore.
