5 cornerbacks the Vikings should keep tabs on in the 2023 NFL Draft

Kyu Blu Kelly (Stanford)

Kyu Blu Kelly is a fascinating prospect in this draft. He plays with an intensity that is unmatched and his confidence grows as the game goes on. Kelly has started for the better part of four seasons and has been one of the best coverage guys in the nation during that span.

With a track and field background, Kelly has proven that he has the raw tools to be a star. He tends to carry his routes vertically and leverage the inside because his sprinter mentality allows him to recover whatever is lost up the field.

Kelly is competitive at the catch point and does a good job of reading route concepts to set up his alignment and make the receiver play into his strengths. He thrives in man coverage while struggling to find comfort in zone or off the ball, which makes him a worthy candidate to play for Brian Flores.

I would also be interested to see Kelly serve as the slot defender while using his size and speed to mirror receivers over the middle of the field. It may take some time to develop as more of a shadowing defender or even into a comfortable nickel coverage player but Kyu Blu Kelly has the makings of a starting cornerback very early in his career.

Minnesota could find him on Day 2 – or even Day 3 if they get lucky – and it would be a wonderful situation to find themselves in.