Will the Vikings pick any Golden Gophers in the 2022 NFL Draft?

When it comes time to make some of their selections in the upcoming 2022 NFL Draft, will the Minnesota Vikings use their picks on any former Minnesota Golden Gophers?

Despite the school being just down the road from U.S. Bank Stadium, the Minnesota Vikings have rarely drafted a player from the University of Minnesota during the last few decades. In fact, only three former Minnesota players (Nate Triplett, Tyrone Carter, and Chris Thome) have been drafted by the Vikings since 1991.

With the Vikings now led by new general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, will the franchise’s trend of not drafting former Minnesota players continue in a few weeks, or will they select their first former Golden Gopher since Triplett in 2010?

There are a number of talented former Minnesota players available in this year’s draft pool, and there’s even one or two that could end up coming off of the board in the first round. There haven’t been more than a total of four former Golden Gophers taken in a single draft since 1990. Will that number be eclipsed in a few weeks?

Will the Minnesota Vikings pick any former Minnesota Golden Gophers in the 2022 NFL Draft?

Of the former Minnesota players available in this year’s draft, pass rusher Boye Mafe and offensive lineman Daniel Faalele have been ranked the highest by draft analysts.

According to MockDraftDatabase.com, Mafe’s current consensus selection is at pick No. 28 to the Green Bay Packers. As for Faalele, he’s been predicted to come off the board during the final picks of the first round in multiple mock drafts.

A more in-depth look at some of the former Golden Gophers in this year’s draft pool recently took place on the latest episode of “The Viking Age Podcast” where Gopher Guru’s Daniel House joined the show.

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