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Minnesota Vikings, NFL Mock Draft 2017: Predicting picks in rounds 1-7

By Howard Balzer, NFLDraftScout.com
Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon (25) blocks Clemson line backer Ben Boulware (10) in the first quarter of the College Semifinal Championship Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on December 31, 2015 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Mixon could be the first player taken by the Vikings in the 2017 NFL Draft after the departure of Adrian Peterson. File photo by Gary I Rothstein/UPI
Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon (25) blocks Clemson line backer Ben Boulware (10) in the first quarter of the College Semifinal Championship Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on December 31, 2015 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Mixon could be the first player taken by the Vikings in the 2017 NFL Draft after the departure of Adrian Peterson. File photo by Gary I Rothstein/UPI | License Photo

The Minnesota Vikings have eight picks in the NFL Draft with their first pick at No. 48 overall, in the second round.

Things will be strange in the Twin Cities this year with running back Adrian Peterson not with the Vikings anymore. An injury-filled 2016 season led the organization to part ways with Peterson, and with two weeks until the draft, he was still looking for a new address.

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The Vikings added Latavius Murray as his replacement, but a young runner could also be added to help quarterback Sam Bradford in his second season in Minnesota.

The Vikings believe Bradford will be comfortable with a full offseason working with offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, who took over the job when Norv Turner mysteriously departed during the 2016 season.

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Here is a look at the Vikings' five-year draft record with roster tallies reflecting totals as of the end of the 2016 season. Below that are key personnel moves made this year and the team's current needs heading into this draft and our projection for all their 2017 picks.

FIVE-YEAR DRAFT BREAKDOWN

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .2012 . .2013 . .2014 . .2015 . .2016

TOTAL PICKS . . . . .10 . . . . . .9 . . . .10 . . . .10 . . . .8

STARTERS . . . . . .2 . . . . . .3 . . . . .3 . . . . .2 . . . .0

BACKUPS . . . . .3 . . . . . .1 . . . . .4 . . . . .5 . . . .7

OTHER TEAMS . . .2 . . . . .2 . . . . .1 . . . . .0 . . . . .0

OUT OF LEAGUE . .3 . . . . .3 . . . . .2 . . . . .3 . . .1

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Top three draft needs

1. Right guard: Head coach Mike Zimmer said at the league meetings that he has four starters he's comfortable with on the offensive line before adding, "We got to figure out the right guard position." The Vikings released Brandon Fusco and Mike Harris, the starters at the position in recent years. Fusco, who rose from late-round pick to earn a lucrative long-term deal a couple years ago, became a major disappointment because of injuries and ineffective play.

2. Running back: Even after signing Latavius Murray to help fill the hole left by Adrian Peterson's departure, the Vikings are eager to tap into the deep pool of talented, versatile runners available in this year's draft. The Vikings have only shifty, third-down back Jerick McKinnon as a reliable backup at this point. The other running backs on the roster are C.J. Ham, who didn't play as a rookie free agent a year ago, and Bishop Sankey, a third-year pro who played in 29 games for the Titans from 2014-15, but didn't play a game while with the Chiefs a year ago.

3. Punter: Taylor Symmank or Ryan Quigley will be the team's punter at this point after Jeff Locke signed with the Colts. Locke, who also was the holder on place-kicks, was inconsistent, but Symmank, an undrafted rookie a year ago, has yet to punt in a NFL game. The Vikings will be looking to add some competition at the position.

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MOCK DRAFT

Below is a list of every pick for the Vikings in the 2017 NFL Draft, with players suggested by NFLDraftScout.com Sr. Analyst Dane Brugler. Who would you take? Let us know in comments.

2/48: Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma (6-1, 228, 4.45)

3/79: Nico Siragusa, G, San Diego State (6-4, 319, 5.28)

3/86: Blair Brown, LB, Ohio (5-11, 238, 4.65)

4/121: Dawuane Smoot, DE, Illinois (6-3, 264, 4.77)

4/129: Jalen Myrick, CB, Minnesota (5-10, 200, 4.28)

5/160: Jeremiah Ledbetter, DL, Arkansas (6-3, 280, 4.78)

6/199: Aviante Collins, T/G, TCU (6-4, 295, 4.77)

7/232: Austin Rehkow, kicker/punter, Idaho (6-3, 214, 4.84)

Now it's your turn. NFLDraftScout.com is ready to help with its list of the top 1,000 prospects in this draft.

--Frank Cooney and TSX NFL team insiders contributed to this analysis.

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