It's not often that a draft prospect from North Dakota State moves the NFL needle all that much, but Kyle Emanuel, a college defensive end viewed as a versatile player with the potential to make the move to linebacker at the next level drew considerable interest from several teams during his Pro Day last week, with the Minnesota Vikings feeling enough intrigue to then plan a private workout for Monday continuing what has become a pre-draft trend for the franchise.
"This is the second linebacker we've reported the Vikings have worked out or met with one on one in the past 24 hours," writes Tony Pauline of Draft Insider. "Yesterday, I reported the team spent time with Nate Orchard of Utah. Several weeks ago on this page, I reported the franchise was in Michigan to see Jake Ryan. Bottom line? I fully expect the Vikings to grab a linebacker in Round 2, 3 or 4 during the 2015 NFL Draft."
The Vikings were also present at the TCU Pro Day to see Paul Dawson, an inside linebacker prospect who has faced issues of maturity and questions of practice effort in college, then failed to impress during the combine due to a slow 40, despite consistently high-level on-field production.
Pauline reports that Dawson improved in just about every area from the combine, looking "smooth, quick and explosive" during position drills.
The Vikings, despite taking Anthony Barr in the first-round of last year's draft, the unexpectedly strong sophomore effort from Gerald Hodges and recently asking long-time outside linebacker Chad Greenway to take a pay cut, could use an infusion of talent to the group this offseason. They added Casey Matthews and have big Audie Cole on the roster, but Matthews projects as a key back-up and special-teamer and Cole finished with just 26 tackles in 16 games last year.
As Pauline notes, it's unlikely the team will select a linebacker with the 11th-overall selection in the first-round, but the draft seems deep in the second and third-round with potential prospects.
Shaq Thompson, an undersized athletic marvel who played both linebacker and running back at Washington was consistently viewed as a first-round pick throughout the early portion of the draft process. Positional uncertainty and a slower-than-expected 40 at the combine may have dropped him down draft boards.
In their latest offering, Walter Football has Thompson falling to the Vikings at pick 45.
"Chad Greenway has regressed in the past couple of years, so it wouldn't hurt the Vikings if they found another linebacker to go along with Anthony Barr and Gerald Hodges. Shaq Thompson is overrated; the media has him in the first round, but teams rate him as a second-round prospect. However, he fits the range at this pick. "
Walter Football has Stephone Anthony, a fast-rising inside 'backer out of Clemson that could potentially interest Minnesota slotted to San Francisco with the 46th pick and Denzel Perryman, a thumper from Miami, projected one spot ahead of the Vikings in the second-round to the Saints.
