Redrafting the Vikings rookie class after the 2022 season
By Nik Edlund
If the Minnesota Vikings knew then what they know now after the season, how might their selections in the 2022 NFL Draft be different?
The 2022 NFL season is just about over. All that remains are the two championship games and, of course, the Super Bowl. As per usual, the Minnesota Vikings are no longer in the running. While that is sad, the end of one season always brings hope and excitement for the next.
The end of the regular season is a time of reflection, a time to figure out what went right, what went wrong, and what could’ve been done differently to maybe advance a little further in the playoffs. While the Vikings coaching staff and general manager figure that out, one exercise that is fun for a casual observer to do is a redraft.
Going back and seeing who Minnesota could’ve taken when they were on the clock is a fascinating and maddening thing to do. This doesn’t mean we are giving up on the players they did select, but it’s interesting to see how many instant-impact rookies from the 2022 season could’ve been Vikings. If they had landed these players, it could’ve had a huge impact on the team, and maybe they’d still be playing right now.
Before we get to the redraft, there’s one rule that we follow. Every player chosen must have been available when Minnesota made their original choice. That being said, here is a redraft of the Vikings’ 2022 rookie class.