Redrafting the Vikings 2022 rookie class following the Andrew Booth injury
By Luke Parrish
Second-Round Pick No. 1 (42nd overall)
Original Selection: Andrew Booth Jr. – CB (Clemson)
Redraft Selection: George Pickens – WR (Georgia)
Despite the need for a cornerback, Andrew Booth was always a risky selection. Injuries were prevalent throughout his college career, and they kept him out of a lot of the summer workouts. They surfaced again throughout the season and how he is shut down for at least the end of the campaign.
As a fan of Andrew Booth, this has been such a disaster of a season. Cornerbacks have a tough transition already, and now he is dealing with yet another injury and slowing his development.
In this scenario, George Pickens did not fall nearly as far as he did originally and arguably should have gone even higher than 42nd. Adding his ball skills on the perimeter to help ease the pressure on Justin Jefferson would make the Vikings a truly unstoppable offensive threat.
Second-Round Pick No. 2 (59th overall)
Original Selection: Ed Ingram – G (LSU)
Redraft Selection: Abraham Lucas – OT (Washington State)
Ed Ingram was good in camp, promising in the preseason, and has been a complete nightmare in the regular season. While it is always good to develop your young linemen by letting them play and get the reps they need, Ingram has been the clear weak link for the Vikings’ front line so far this season.
Seattle had an excellent draft and found a cornerstone in Abraham Lucas in the third round. If the Vikings would have gone with Lucas over Ingram and given him a look at right guard, much like Ezra Cleveland experienced as a rookie, this team could look completely different.
Third-Round Pick (66th overall)
Original Selection: Brian Asamoah – LB (Oklahoma)
Redraft Selection: Asamoah
The Brian Asamoah selection was more of a glimpse into the future, which is totally understandable at that stage of the draft. Eric Kendricks started to show signs of regression last season and has really taken a step back in 2022. Asamoah gives them a plan for the future without forcing him into much action quite yet.
There were some other candidates for this spot, but Asamoah was not a terrible selection at the time, and I believe there is a plan in place for his future. For now, he gets to stay.