4 top prospects who could fall to the Vikings in the 2022 NFL Draft

Kyle Hamilton – S (Notre Dame)

Kyle Hamilton has long been considered one of the top prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft. The guy has days’ worth of amazing game tape that shows the type of all-around defender he is. He’s got ball skills, the range to cover all over the field, and an eagerness to come up and attack the line of scrimmage.

His college stats speak for themselves. He’s racked up 138 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, 16 pass breakups, and eight interceptions in three seasons with the Fighting Irish. He’s got the size, instincts, and football IQ to be an elite safety in the NFL for a very long time.

The negativity surrounding Hamilton started at the Combine, where he didn’t run as fast as anticipated. In fact, his 4.59-second 40-yard dash time in Indy made some scouts scratch their heads, but then he followed it up with a 4.7-second time at his Pro Day, and that turned the concerns into worry. He did test near the top of every other category, but the 40-yard dash time has gotten all the attention.

There are also concerns as to where Hamilton will ultimately play in the NFL. Some teams aren’t sure if he’s a safety or a linebacker and that uncertainty apparently lowers his value.

If teams are going to lower him based on how he runs in gym shorts instead of on reels and reels of amazing tape, then the Vikings could be landing their next great Notre Dame safety at pick No. 12.