Third-Round Pick (66th overall)
Original Selection: Brian Asamoah – LB (Oklahoma)
Redraft Selection: Martin Emerson – CB (Mississippi State)
The Vikings used three picks on their secondary in the real 2022 NFL Draft, and they do it again in this redraft. Minnesota’s pass defense was dead last, and their performance in the Wild Card round against the New York Giants was one of the most pathetic performances by a defense that we’ve ever seen.
The question can be asked how much of that was because of the players and how much was because of the coordinator, but the end result was an embarrassment to anyone who donned that beautiful shade of purple.
The Vikings originally selected Oklahoma linebacker Brian Asamoah. He did have some flashes and is an exciting player with a very bright future, but for 2022’s sake, they would have been better off getting another quality cornerback, this time with Mississippi State’s Martin Emerson.
Emerson stepped in and played quite well for the Browns. He started six games and appeared in 17. He defended 15 passes, had one sack, and tallied 63 total tackles. He turned out to be a reliable, solid defensive back which is something Minnesota cannot confidently say they drafted at this point.
A secondary featuring Brisker, Woolen, and Emerson would’ve been much better than what the Vikings went with. Not only would it have vastly improved their pass defense rankings, but it also would have given them peace of mind that they have the right players in place, allowing them to address other needs early in 2023.