Kneeland is an interesting Day 2 edge rusher who might fall to the bottom of the first round. He was rarely recruited and never had five sacks in a single season at WMU, but he possesses tremendous athletic abilities and numerous flashes on tape. Despite missing time due to injury, Kneeland has 10.5 sacks and 25.5 total tackles for loss for the Broncos over the last three seasons.

Dane Brugler of The Athletic placed Kneeland as the number 32 overall player. His scouting report:

“When looking for pass rushers, give me men who hate getting blocked. Kneeland certainly qualifies, as he utilizes his lengthy arms and bully hands to break free. Though he lacks the rush instincts that lead to high-end output, he is explosive in his movements, with the ability to push the pocket or plant ball carriers. Kneeland’s ability to surge into contact and demonstrate twitch throughout his frame allows him to defeat blockers in various ways, despite still learning the pass rush technique. He seems like a starting base end whose greatest football is yet to come.”

After signing Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel in free agency, the Vikings no longer have a massive need for edge rushers, but they might still benefit from a young building block at that position. Pat Jones II and Andre Carter II are now the only homegrown OLBs on the roster. Kneeland appears to be a nice match in Brian Flores’ defense, but it seems unlikely that he will finish up in Minnesota. The Vikings have picks 11 and 23 and then nothing until the fourth round, so in order to have the opportunity to draft Kneeland at value, they’d have to pull off a trade that ended up with them landing a second-round pick.

Given how Kwesi Adofo-Mensah loves to wheel and deal, anything is possible.