2019 NFL mock-up project: Cody Ford can address Vikings' identity crisis

A year after registering a 13-3 record in 2017, the Vikings have spent a great deal on quarterback Kirk Cousins. Things did not go as planned.

Minnesota dropped to 8-7-1 last season because of an incoherent defense and a foul that could not determine his identity. Although the Cousins ​​donated $ 84 million, Viking head coach Mike Zimmer wanted a race-based offensive. The canned team, John DeFilippo, offensive coordinator, towards the end of the season, under the responsibility of Kevin Stefanski.

The Vikings have won two of their last three games, but it was already too late. With little cap, they did little out of season to improve. The team will turn to the draft for this and, in the hope of establishing a clearer identity in offense. Christopher Gates, of the Daily Norseman, is part of the fake NFL writers' writers project.

18. Minnesota Vikings: Cody Ford, OT, Oklahoma

Doors: Although we took into account players such as Noah Fant and Christian Wilkins for this choice, we finally decided to avoid the errors of the previous versions and to use this selection to answer the greatest need of the alignment of the Vikings. This is of course the offensive line.

We considered some offensive linemen with this selection. In the end, we decided that Ford would be the best solution for the Vikings with the way their line is built. Although he played the tackle at the university, Ford would probably play the role of left guard departure for the Vikings and allow them to have some continuity on the offensive line. Many other offensive line choices that the Vikings could make would probably require mixing somebody like Riley Reiff or Pat Elflein in a different position. Having seen the team play musical chairs with the offensive line in recent seasons, it would be nice to see them at least try to keep some kind of continuity.

For a larger player, Ford is surprisingly agile, and this should help it to fit into the blocking zone scheme as the new offensive line coach, Rick Dennison, will attempt to install this season. With this selection, we respond to the greatest need of the Vikings and give them a person they could rely on in the long run.

Analysis: The best thing that can happen to the Vikings in this draft is that there is a real guard of high caliber. There is certainly no Quenton Nelson in this project. Instead, the Vikings will have to be creative if they want to hook a guard in the first round. Garrett Bradbury, from the state of North Carolina, is close to value, but not suited to the Minnesota system. Because of this, it is difficult to take Ford for fault. Even though Minnesota decides to stay in the attack, it's probably an upgrade.

Five remaining players:

• 8. Jeffery Simmons, DT, State of Mississippi
• 10. Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson
• 13. Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama
• 16. Noah Fant, TE, Iowa
• 17. Byron Murphy, BC, Washington

This closes us for the week in the rough draft of the NFL's authors of the SB nation. We'll be back on Monday with Music City Miracles making the choice of the Tennessee Titans at # 19.