Vikings Draft 2023: Five-round post-NFL Scouting Combine mock draft

How does the NFL Scouting Combine impact what selections the Minnesota Vikings will make in the 2023 NFL Draft?

For the Minnesota Vikings, the NFL Scouting Combine was the latest step in the pre-NFL Draft cycle as prospects began interviewing for their NFL futures. With so many holes to fill this offseason, the Vikings need to nail the upcoming draft, something that has hindered them the past few years.

There were some incredible standouts in athletic testing, while several other first-round hopefuls shined during the on-field drills throughout the week. The most important player was probably Anthony Richardson, an upside-reliant quarterback that most likely performed himself out of Minnesota’s range.

Richardson was an intriguing candidate for Minnesota as they search for the future at quarterback, but he likely locked himself into the top 10 and would require quite the trade package to come up and get him next month.

However, the Vikings should also be very excited about the defensive prospects that dominated the event. Stars were out in full force and opened even more doors for Minnesota when they eventually hit the clock.

Positions of need on the defensive side all proved to have depth, especially the cornerback group. Most mock drafts have the Vikings selecting a cornerback with one of their first picks, and that appears to be worth an investment right now.

To kick off this mock draft, the Vikings moved back to the second round and accumulated extra picks in a trade with the Carolina Panthers.