Vikings Draft 2022: 5 deepest position groups in the NFL Draft

Positional Group No. 5:

EDGE

The EDGE class in 2022 is headlined by arguably the top two players in the class in Kayvon Thibodeaux and Aidan Hutchinson. Senior Bowl riser Jermaine Johnson is climbing his way into the top half of the first round after being relatively hidden up through the college season.

Michigan’s David Ojabo and Purdue’s George Karlaftis are the other EDGE prospects that seem like sure-fire first-round selections in April. With upwards of eight pass rushers going in the first round, the EDGE class seems to be in line with the typical draft cycle.

There are also a number of Day 2 pass rushers that have the potential to start from Day 1 if they land in the right place. Minnesota, for instance, is a team that could use multiple starters in the front seven and a Day 2 EDGE would likely be a starter immediately.

Kingsley Enagbare, Josh Paschal, Myjai Sanders, and several more pass rushers headline the second day of the draft as potential starters and high-impact defenders. Enagbare has the size, speed, and bend to be an elite pass rusher in just a few years and he should be high on Minnesota’s list of targets.

Late risers such as Boye Mafe and Logan Hall could hear their names on the second day of the draft as well.

The Vikings have a major need at EDGE after losing Everson Griffen. The contract of Danielle Hunter alone is scary but when you factor in his inability to stay healthy over the past two seasons, the Vikings should look into replacing him up front.

Despite not having a top-10 draft pick, the Minnesota Vikings can walk out of this draft with an elite pass rusher if they invest in the right prospects. David Ojabo and Drake Jackson could be candidates in the first round but they could also gamble on traits in the second round to find the same result.