EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) – The Minnesota Vikings will take two picks into the second day of the NFL draft, with needs at wide receiver, the offensive line and perhaps defensive end.
The Vikings have one selection each in the second and third rounds, the 45th and 76th overall picks on Friday night.
General manager Rick Spielman listened to offers to move down in the first round on Thursday night. His goal of accumulating an extra selection or two for the second or third day, but the Vikings were excited enough about Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes to stay put and take him with the 11th pick.
There wasn’t a trade for Adrian Peterson, either. The disgruntled star running back remained on the roster, increasing the likelihood he’ll return to the Vikings.
The last two Heisman Trophy winners were the first two players taken in Thursday’s NFL draft at Chicago.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have used the first pick in the NFL draft to select Jameis (JAY’-mihs) Winston, the Florida State quarterback and 2013 Heisman winner. Winston played 27 games in his two seasons with the Seminoles, completing 66 percent of his passes for 7,964 yards, 65 touchdowns and 28 interceptions.
He passed for 40 touchdowns and 10 picks while leading the Seminoles to the BCS championship as a freshman before compiling 25 TDs and 18 interceptions last season. Winston was 26-1 in college but was dogged by off-field controversy in his two seasons at FSU.
Tennessee selected quarterback Marcus Mariota (mar-ee-OH’-tah) of Oregon with the second selection. Mariota was last year’s Heisman winner and completed 68.3 percent of his passes for 4,454 yards, 42 touchdowns and just four interceptions for the Ducks. Mariota also ran for over 700 yards in each of his three seasons in college, including 770 yards and 15 touchdowns last season.
Mariota could start the season opener Sept. 13 against Winston and the Buccaneers. Mariota led Oregon to a 59-20 rout of Winston’s Seminoles in the national semifinals.
Jacksonville selected Florida defensive lineman and linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. with the third choice. Fowler had 60 total tackles, 15 for loss and 8 1/2 sacks for the Gators as a junior last season.
Alabama receiver Amari Cooper was taken fourth by the Oakland Raiders. Cooper won the Fred Biletnikoff Award last year and led the nation with 124 receptions and 16 touchdown grabs.
Washington used the fifth selection to fill a need on the offensive line, taking Outland Trophy Winner Brandon Scherff of Iowa.
Rounding out the top-10 picks:
– The New York Jets grabbed Southern California defensive end Leonard Williams with the sixth selection.
– West Virginia wideout Kevin White went to the Chicago Bears with the seventh choice.
– The Atlanta Falcons selected Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley with the No. 8 pick.
– The New York Giants chose offensive lineman Ereck Flowers of Miami with the ninth choice.
– And the St. Louis Rams used the 10th selection to land Georgia running back Todd Gurley.
