Vikings get defensive in fourth round, draft end D.J. Wonnum from South Carolina

over 5 years in Star Tribune

The Vikings drafted South Carolina defensive end D.J. Wonnum with the first of three picks during Saturday's fourth round.
Two more defenders joined Wonnum in the fourth round when the Vikings drafted defensive end James Lynch (Baylor) and linebacker Troy Dye (Oregon) at picks No. 130 and 132.
Wonnum (6-5, 258 pounds) was taken 117th overall after ranking second on the Gamecocks defense last fall with 9.5 tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks as a senior. He'sthe first addition to the defensive line since Everson Griffen announced his departure this month.
Wonnum has the prototypical build (think Danielle Hunter) the Vikings have long sought in defensive ends. He's got experience as a stand-up edge rusher like a 3-4 system, which head coach Mike Zimmer started incorporating in packages last season. Here's Wonnum's NFL.com draft profile. But the Vikings could envision him as a full-time end. General manager Rick Spielman said he was looking forward to finding longtime defensive line coach Andre Patterson's "pet cats," or coveted D-line projects, during the draft's final day.

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