Vikings Draft 2022: Prospects impacted the most by the NFL Combine

Did any draft prospects enter the conversation for the 12th overall pick?

The Vikings still have plenty of work to do before they make their selection with the 12th overall pick but a couple of names have entered the mix lately. They will need to do some extra homework on these next two players before making any final decision.

Travon Walker – EDGE (Georgia)

Are you starting to sense a bit of a theme? Edge rushers are moving all over the place throughout the past few months but Travon Walker is a guy that has done a ton for his draft stock. His Georgia teammates have been the stars of the pre-draft cycle but Walker is stealing some of the shine lately.

Walker dominated in Indianapolis and cemented himself into the top half of the first round. When Draft Day comes, Walker is going to be an interesting player to watch as he could go anywhere between picks No. 5 and 14. As the Vikings try to find help on the edge, Walker is going to be a player to keep an eye on.

Even if the Vikings make the switch to more of a 3-4 defense, they need bodies that can line up on the line or off the ball. Danielle Hunter should be healthy and ready to go but the Vikings need someone to take the eyes off of Hunter. Travon Walker is worth the consideration.

Chris Olave – WR (Ohio State)

If the Vikings want to go all out and be a high-flying offense, Chris Olave is their guy. After unmerited questions regarding his straight-line speed heading into the draft, Olave silenced a lot of critics with a 4.38-second 40-yard dash and put all of those concerns to rest.

Olave will go down as one of the most storied wide receivers in the history of Ohio State football, a program that touts some of the biggest names in the NFL. He moved into the conversation as the first wide receiver off the board and well into the first round after previously being rumored to go between the end of the first and top of the second round.

Adam Thielen does not have much of a future left in Minnesota. Replacing him with Chris Olave would be a dream scenario if the Vikings want to have one of the league’s top passing attacks regardless of the quarterback of the future.

This would still be a bit of a stretch at 12th overall with other needs on the roster but Chris Olave has officially entered the conversation at the very least.