Vikings Select Offensive Tackle Blake Brandel and Safety Josh Metellus in the Sixth Round

The Vikings have added two more developmental prospects in the sixth round of the 2020 draft.
Vikings Select Offensive Tackle Blake Brandel and Safety Josh Metellus in the Sixth Round
Vikings Select Offensive Tackle Blake Brandel and Safety Josh Metellus in the Sixth Round /

The Vikings have selected Oregon State offensive tackle Blake Brandel and Michigan safety Josh Metellus with their two picks in the sixth rounds of the 2020 draft. 

The Vikings were scheduled to have three picks in the sixth: Nos. 201, 203, and 205 overall. They traded 201 to the Ravens for a 2021 fifth-rounder while swapping places in this year's seventh round.

With the 203rd overall pick, they took Brandel, a 6'7" tackle who started 42 consecutive games to close out his career with the Beavers. He's not highly athletic, but is a smart, fundamentally sound player who could compete for a backup role.

Two picks later, Rick Spielman finally addressed the Vikings' need for safety depth by adding Metellus. He's a strong, fairly athletic player who stands 5'11" and weighs 209 pounds. He was a productive player for the Wolverines over the past two seasons, recording five interceptions, ten pass breakups, and 7.5 tackles for loss during that span. 

Metellus is a strong tackler with some coverage ability who could fill the role of Jayron Kearse, who left for the Lions in free agency. He'll start out by contributing on special teams but could see some defensive snaps quickly because of the team's lack of safeties. Metellus is currently the third safety behind Harrison Smith and Anthony Harris.

Here's the updated list of drafted players and remaining selections for the Vikings.

Thursday, April 23rd

  • Round 1, Pick 22 (via BUF): Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
  • Round 1, Pick 31 (via SF): Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU

Friday, April 24th

  • Round 2, Pick 58: Ezra Cleveland, OT, Boise State
  • Round 3, Pick 89: Cameron Dantzler, CB, Mississippi State

Saturday, April 25th

  • Round 4, Pick 117 (via SF): DJ Wonnum, EDGE, South Carolina
  • Round 4, Pick 130 (via NO): James Lynch, DT, Baylor
  • Round 4, Pick 132: Troy Dye, LB, Oregon
  • Round 5, Pick 169 (via NO): Harrison Hand, CB, Temple
  • Round 5, Pick 176 (via SF): KJ Osborn, WR, Miami
  • Round 6, Pick 203 (via NO): Blake Brandel, OT, Oregon State
  • Round 6, Pick 205: Josh Metellus, S, Michigan
  • Round 7, Pick 225 (via BAL)
  • Round 7, Pick 244 (via NO)
  • Round 7, Pick 249 (compensatory)
  • Round 7, Pick 253 (compensatory)

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.