2018 NFL Mock Draft: Complete first round after pro days, trades
Texas El Paso. player. Pick Analysis. Guard. Will Hernandez. 30. 60. Scouting Report
Needs: OL, DT, CB
The Minnesota Vikings missed the Super Bowl by one tackle and decided that Teddy Bridgewater and Case Keenum, their starting quarterbacks, could leave town. Bridgewater is in New York while Keenum is in Denver.
The Vikings signed Kirk Cousins away from Washington to have a more veteran quarterback presence in the twin cities. The less mobile Cousins will need protection to stay upright and healthy and that’s exactly where the Minnesota front office will draft in the first round.
The Vikings will draft Will Hernandez out of UTEP with the 30th overall selection. Hernandez is a stout lineman at 6-foot-2 and 327 pounds who dominates at the point of attack. He has experience starting 37 game over his college career all at left guard. That will be pivotal for the Vikings in getting him on the field day one which is the expectation.
Hernandez repped 225 pounds 37 times at the combine but isn’t only a strong body. He also ran a 4.7 in the 20 shuttle and broad jumped 109 inches. NFL.com grades him out as an instant starter and that fits perfectly into the Vikings plans.