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With the No. 114 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings have selected former Oklahoma Sooners guard Dru Samia.
Added another offensive lineman!
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 27, 2019
Welcome to the #Vikings, @DruSamia! https://t.co/Ka6Kr8H5Cj pic.twitter.com/zDgmXsoC8V
The Minnesota Vikings are looking to get back to their ways of run-first, maybe pass later, under experienced coach Mike Zimmer. As Todd McShay said during the live draft, Minnesota is incredibly deficient at offensive guard and Samia is more than capable of filling that role for them. Samia is the third Oklahoma Offensive Lineman taken in the draft, fifth Sooner overall, and we are expected to see Ben Powers, the last piece of the eligible OL draftees, get a contract later on today.
Dru Samia’s story at Oklahoma is completely underrated. The young man commits to the Sooners from Sacramento, expecting to redshirt and playing second fiddle to Josiah St. John at Right Tackle, a position not natural to Dru. Oklahoma’s offensive line was not completely gelled until after Texas game at the Cotton Bowl when Samia finally took over for the Canadian. After 2015, Dru went to right guard, developing into a massive strength during his senior season — a second-team All-American and first-team All-Big 12 honoree as well as a Don Key Award winner.
According to NFL Scout Lance Zierlein and other talent evaluators, they likened Samia to Wes Schweitzer, a current Atlanta Falcon. The report on Samia is that he is an incredible vocal leader with nearly four years of starting experience, unlike many draft-eligible linemen. Scouts liked that he was very athletic and that he possesses great foot quickness to stay at guard — especially on counter plays. The only downside that was referenced was Samia’s strength and control regarding the point of attack that he would need in order to make an NFL impact. Evaluators love his zone blocking and his fluid hips, mentioning his athleticism frequently, but want him to be consistent on his show of strength and power. NFL teams that love the zone blocking will be enthralled by any of the Oklahoma Sooners’ offensive linemen.
.@OU_Football RG #75 Dru Samia making it happen on that second level block.#EyesOnOLine pic.twitter.com/mBy5ULCZ4T
— Duke Manyweather (@BigDuke50) November 24, 2018
Can’t imagine every OL coach in the nation wouldn’t approve of this reaction by @OU_Football RG Dru Samia (@DruSamia). Nothing excessive. Just protecting his guy. pic.twitter.com/G9OYYdnt9l
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) December 30, 2018
Dru Samia Highlights