Redrafting the Minnesota Vikings 2022 rookie class
By Adam Patrick
Fifth-Round Pick No. 1 (165th overall)
Original Selection: Esezi Otomewo – DL (Minnesota)
Redraft Selection: Kingsley Enagbare – OLB (South Carolina)
It’s a nice story that the Vikings drafted their first player from the University of Minnesota since 2010 in Esezi Otomewo, but they also passed on one of the top pass-rushing prospects in this year’s draft in former South Carolina linebacker Kingsley Enagbare.
Enagbare has some question marks when it comes to his consistency out on the field, but when he was at his best during his college career, he was incredibly hard for opposing offensive linemen to contain.
With Za’Darius Smith and Danielle Hunter having some durability concerns heading into the 2022 season, Enagbare would have been a great piece to add to help improve Minnesota’s pass-rushing depth.
Fifth-Round Pick No. 2 (169th overall)
Original Selection: Ty Chandler – RB (North Carolina)
Redraft Selection: Matt Araiza – P (San Diego State)
A punter? Yes, but not just any punter. A punter in Matt Araiza known during his college career at San Diego State as the “Punt God”.
Araiza punted 79 times in 14 games last season, averaging 51.2 yards per punt. With the Vikings playing indoors at least nine times per year (eight home games, one away matchup in Detroit), Araiza would’ve given them an elite weapon on special teams.