4 common draft tendencies the Vikings should avoid in 2022

Forcing a need

Forcing a need is usually never a good idea on draft day. The goal of the draft is to find players to fill holes on your team. In the Vikings’ case, in this draft, their biggest hole is at cornerback. While prospects like Sauce Gardner or Derek Stingley Jr. would be great choices at pick No. 12, the team shouldn’t force the issue if they are off the board.

Forcing a need isn’t as prevalent these days as it used to be a decade ago. It seems many teams have learned from past mistakes and have truly adapted to the best player available philosophy.

The Vikings are a great example of both forcing a need and taking the best player available. Back in 2012, the Vikings desperately needed a quarterback. Instead of staying true to their board which would’ve netted them an elite pass rusher like Robert Quinn, they reached for Christian Ponder, and we all remember how that turned out.

The Vikings have had success going with the best player available. In 1998, they entered the draft with two great receivers on their roster in Jake Reed and Cris Carter. Despite having those two, they still took Randy Moss, who went on to have a Hall of Fame career.

In 2007, they also ignored their needs and took Adrian Peterson despite having a very capable running back on the roster in Chester Taylor. Peterson, while having some off-the-field issues later in his career, was one of the best backs in Vikings’ history.

Adofo-Mensah should remember this history as he heads into his first draft. Yes, the team needs a cornerback, but maybe going with the top DT or best WR in the class over the third-ranked cornerback is the way to go, even if your biggest hole on the roster isn’t immediately filled.