Vikings Draft 2023: Five-round post-NFL Scouting Combine mock draft
By Luke Parrish
Second Round (Pick No. 61)
Darius Rush – CB (South Carolina)
The rise of Tariq Woolen last season and his immediate impact in Seattle is going to pave a way for Darius Rush to fly up the board this time around. Rush has the size to be a shutdown corner on the perimeter, and he paired it with incredible athletic testing.
Heading into the Combine, Rush was looking at the third round for his range but is probably going to hear his name a little earlier than expected. At 6-foot-2, Rush recorded a 4.36-second 40-yard dash and finished with a top-10 athleticism score among all cornerbacks.
Rather than taking a chance on a guy like Emmanuel Forbes earlier in the draft, the Vikings can sit back and take a corner that has a stronger frame while also being a stellar athlete. There is also significantly less pressure for Rush to start and dominate right away as opposed to a cornerback taken in the first round.
Adding Rush to a group of Andrew Booth, Duke Shelley, and Akayleb Evans gives the Vikings a little bit of everything and also buys Rush a bit of time. For the value in this spot, Rush is a fine selection that has some upside by Year 2.