Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

Vikings schedule top 30 visit with an NFL Draft prospect more people should be talking about

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Evan Winter | Last updated 3/29/24

The 2024 NFL Draft is going to be a crucial one for the Minnesota Vikings, especially now that they have two picks in the first round.

There's obviously a lot they can do with those picks and it's imperative they hit on both -or one if they trade up- because, unless said trade involves a second- or third-round pick in return, the Vikings won't pick again until No. 129, or, late in the fourth round.

The Vikings currently have seven Day 3 picks, including two fourth-rounders, so they could easily package some selections and move into the third round. But if they don't they'll have plenty of opportunities to find some hidden gems in Rounds 4-7.

One of those gems is former Tennessee Volunteers tight end, McCallan Castles. He didn't receive an invite to the NFL Combine and you can't even find a scouting report for the 24-year-old on NFL.com and other outlets are missing his draft profile, as well. The Vikings have done their homework, however, and they like what they see to the point where they've scheduled a top-30 visit with Castles, according to The Draft Network's Ryan Fowler.

Excellent pro day for Tennessee TE McCallan Castles, who has a Top 30 visit scheduled with the Minnesota Vikings, source said.

Broad: 10’6 - would have T-1st at the combine

Vert: 37.5” — 3rd among TEs

(via @Vol_Football) pic.twitter.com/moQFa32K7D
— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) March 27, 2024

It's pretty surprising, considering Castles is coming off a season in which he caught 22 passes for 283-yards and five touchdowns for the Vols. The latter number is the most receiving touchdowns caught by a Volunteer tight end in over a decade and they tied for the 13th-most among tight ends with at least 31 targets in 2023, per Pro Football Focus.

Castles is also a very good blocker in both the run and pass game, so it's easy to see why the Vikings are interested and his killer Pro Day, as noted above, will only drive more intrigue his way - as it certainly should.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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