2013 NFL Mock Draft 2.0: Predicting Picks 22-32

25. Minnesota Vikings-DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson

Dec 31, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; Clemson Tigers wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (6) catches a touchdown pass over LSU Tigers safety Eric Reid (1) in the second half in the 2012 Chick-fil-A Bowl at the Georgia Dome. Clemson won 25-24. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

After trading Percy Harvin to the Seahawks, the Vikings are in dire need of a playmaker.

Even though Minnesota signed Greg Jennings, they would still benefit from adding Clemson’s DeAndre Hopkins. Jennings is aging and missed 11 of Green Bay’s last 19 regular season games, and Hopkins, on the other hand, ran a 4.41 40-yard dash. Christian Ponder can’t succeed without playmakers and while he has Adrian Peterson, adding Hopkins would make the entire offense formidable.

Remarkably, Hopkins caught 18 touchdown passes and racked up 1,402 receiving yards, averaging 17.1 yards per catch along the way. Hopkins is a great wide receiver who can change a game with one play, and because of him, Minnesota can wait to upgrade the secondary. The Vikings pick 52nd in the second round, and it’s likely that a safety will be there. Minnesota doesn’t have tons of other needs, as they had a solid run defense and pass rush. With two first round picks, the Vikings will be free to fill a hole and go for it all, and here, they can go for it all with Hopkins.

Why? Because if Hopkins can help Ponder and continue to produce as well as he did with Clemson, he can be an absolute steal.