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Even with the addition of Sharrif Floyd in the first round, the Minnesota Vikings decided to go to the defensive tackle well again with their final pick of the weekend.
With the No. 229 pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Vikings selected Florida State defensive tackle Everett Dawkins, a raw-yet-intriguing talent.
What Dawkins lack in size, he makes up for with explosiveness and athleticism. The former Seminole has a terrific get off and does a great job of getting inside of blockers pads. While his repertoire of moves isn’t vast, he has consistently developed more moves throughout his college career. He does a great job of using leverage to win in the trenches and stays low, especially against bigger, stronger offensive linemen.
Despite his obvious talent, Dawkins is undersized for the position at 6’2’’, 288 pounds. Because of his lack of size, Dawkins often struggles to disengage from blocks and doesn’t have the wide array of moves necessary to make up for his lack of bulk.
At this point, Dawkins is a project for the Vikings, who need some help at the defensive tackle spot moving forward. They already added Floyd, who should take over as a starter from Day 1. Dawkins, however, will have the opportunity to earn a spot as a rotational tackle along the Minnesota front four.
The Vikings did a great job of drafting upside and intrigue this weekend. Dawkins fits the bill, and should have several opportunities to prove his worth this upcoming fall.
Gil Alcaraz IV is a Content Planner/NFL Featured Columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @GilAlcarazIV, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
