With The 14th Pick, Your Minnesota Vikings Select...

Mock drafts are aplenty these days as the 2021 NFL Draft is less than four weeks away, with many pundits projecting the Vikings to take an offensive lineman with the 14th overall pick.

That includes ESPN draft expert Todd McShay, who recently projected Northwestern tackle Rashawn Slater to Minnesota in his most-recent mock draft.

McShay held an hour-long conference call Monday morning with reporters across the country and was asked by Vikings.com if he thought offensive line would be Minnesota's first choice in the first round.

The longtime draft guru said while he expects it, he also wouldn't be surprised by an edge rusher. But McShay then highlighted three options that could be available to the Vikings near the middle of the first round.

"I think it's likely," McShay said. "But I also think they could take an edge rusher, too. Kwity Paye would be an option there out of Michigan. Gregory Rousseau [and] Jaelan Phillips from Miami, as well. Those guys would be options where Minnesota is picking.

"But these offensive tackles are really good. I'm not saying they're going to be the best in the league, but I think with Penei Sewell of Oregon, and Rashawn Slater from Northwestern and Alijah Vera-Tucker from USC … I think they're all plug-and-play starters right away," McShay continued. "I think they're going to be really good pros and probably three of the safest picks in the first round, to be honest with you.

"We've talked so much about the quarterbacks and the receivers, but these guys are ready to play in the NFL, and I'm excited to see them at the next level," McShay added.

McShay also had some praise for Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman, and noted that the Vikings could be a candidate to trade back based on what happens. Minnesota currently has 10 draft picks, but does not have a second-round selection.

"Rick Spielman always does a really good job of drafting and moving around," McShay said. "I could see them moving around a little bit and taking advantage of a team trying to move up, especially if a team like New England wanted to move up for a quarterback, or a team like Chicago or something like that.

"But ultimately, I think offensive line is probably the safest spot for them there," McShay added. "And if it's not offensive line, I would go edge defender."

Here are three other topics McShay discussed Monday:

1. Edge rushers get pushed down the board
2. Looking at Day 3 tackles
3. Adapting on the fly