Redrafting the Minnesota Vikings 2022 rookie class
By Adam Patrick
![(Photo by Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports) Sam Howell (Photo by Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports) Sam Howell](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fthevikingage-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2022-2F05-2F16827263-850x560-6fa6763462d19e3fb79ccfcec2410be85b46cd617f44089b41c2092ee8a3f0b7.jpg)
Sixth-Round Pick No. 1 (184th overall)
Original Selection: Vederian Lowe – OT (Illinois)
Redraft Selection: Jamaree Salyer – G/T (Georgia)
Vederian Lowe could turn out to be a nice swing tackle for the Vikings one day, but when he was selected in this year’s NFL Draft, former Georgia offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer was still sitting on the board.
Salyer excelled at Georgia mostly as their left tackle during the last two seasons as he only gave up a grand total of one sack. Despite spending the majority of his time at left tackle during the last two years, he also lined up on the inside of the offensive line during his career at Georgia.
Salyer has the potential to be a starting guard or tackle in the NFL, and he would’ve been a much better selection for Minnesota than Lowe.
Sixth-Round Pick No. 2 (191st overall)
Original Selection: Jalen Nailor – WR (Michigan State)
Redraft Selection: Kevin Austin Jr. – WR (Notre Dame)
With this selection in the sixth round, the Vikings went with a potential deep threat in former Michigan State wide receiver Jalen Nailor.
Nailor has a chance to make some plays for Minnesota, but the team could have gone with an even bigger and faster deep threat in Kevin Austin Jr., who spent his college career at Notre Dame.
Last season, Austin averaged 18.5 yards per catch, and Nailor averaged 18.8 yards per reception. The difference is that Austin’s frame (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) allows him to also be a bigger threat in the red zone than Nailor (5-foot-11, 186 pounds).