5 defensive prospects for Vikings to watch at the 2023 East-West Shrine Bowl

Keondre Coburn – DT (Texas)

There is nothing better than finding a big old horse to clog the middle of the line, and Keondre Coburn from Texas is exactly that.

The Vikings run defense was extremely porous at times last year, and they need to add some meat to clog lanes and push-back blockers. Coburn would be an ideal fit for that role. He is 6-foot-2 and 344 pounds. That is a man who is going to be extremely difficult to move off the line of scrimmage.

Coburn’s bread and butter is stuffing the run. In addition to his massive build, the guy gets off blocks very quickly, creating leverage with his strong and powerful upper body. He can also provide some interior pressure as he’s deceptively quick off the ball.

Coburn does have some flaws in his game. He is basically a one-trick pony when it comes to the pass rush, relying on his power to bull his way through blockers. He also doesn’t have ideal closing speed when honing on a ball carrier. That being said, he was very productive in his tenure at Texas, accumulating 95 total tackles, 15 tackles for a loss, and 6.5 sacks.

Minnesota needs to get more stout and physical in the trenches, and adding this big man in the middle rounds would help solve that problem.