Mel Kiper's Latest Mock Draft Pins Mississippi State CB Emmanuel Forbes to NFC Team

Kiper's wide receiver and cornerback draft predictions have remained consistent.

Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes was who NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. sent to the Minnesota Vikings in his first mock draft back in January and he is now also Kiper's pick for the Vikings in the fourth mock draft.

Kiper points out that a cornerback is a "clear need area for Minnesota"  and has said Forbes "needs to grow into his 6-foot-1 frame." Kiper also says he believes the Vikings could be looking for a wide receiver in addition to a player like Forbes.

It's easy to see how this could be a good fit both from a scheme perspective and looking at just how gifted the prospect out of Grenada, Mississippi is as a ballhawk. 

Forbes had 14 interceptions and returned six for touchdowns over his three seasons at State which is an FBS record. In his freshman year alone he had five interceptions, three turned into touchdowns. In his sophomore year, he had three interceptions with six interceptions and three picks returned for a touchdown in his junior year as well. 

Pro Football Focus has pointed out that all six interceptions Forbes got last season were all-man coverage and other corners in college have had more than three. 

Minnesota is also set to feature Bryon Murphy and Andrew Booth Jr. or Akayleb Evans as the starting cornerbacks, with Harrison Smith and Cam Bynum or Lewis Cline at safety.

Kiper's mock draft also notes Hendon Hooker will go late first round to the Seahawks. The only wide receivers he has going in the first round are Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Zay Flowers, and Jordan Addison. Quentin Johnston, Jalin Hyatt, Josh Downs, Johnathan Mingo, and Marvin Mims are the receivers going in the second round according to Kiper's mock draft. 

For Kiper's second mock draft, he had the Vikings taking Deonte Banks from Maryland and tied TCU wide receiver, Quentin Johnston to Minnesota in his third mock. 

It will, be interesting to see how things play out with the draft just weeks away.