4 draft prospects Brian Flores might want for the Vikings defense in 2023

Brian Branch – DB (Alabama)

Brian Branch is a swiss army knife of a player. He can play nickel corner or both safety spots, as he is a sure tackler and great in coverage.

Even though the Vikings just drafted a safety in the first round in last year’s draft, Harrison Smith may be a cap casualty and Cam Bynum was incredibly underwhelming as a full-time starter in 2022. Even if Smith stays around, he is getting older, and Minnesota will need to look for another safety to pair with Lewis Cine when he returns.

Branch could be exactly what the Vikings are searching for, as he not only brings secondary help, but he gives the team a successor to Smith, or just a very clear upgrade over Bynum.

Having a player as versatile as Branch would give Minnesota a lot of peace of mind, as he is a plug-and-play type of a player who can help the glaring needs that the Vikings have.

With Smith’s time in Minnesota looking foggy, the Vikings would be smart to find another “Hitman” for their defense.