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.
Second Round (Pick No. 39)
Daiyan Henley – LB (Washington State)
Trade Details:
- Vikings receive picks No. 39, 61, and 119
- Panthers receive picks No. 23 and 160
The abundance of talent on the defensive side of the ball made a trade down much easier to stomach after doing the same last year. In this scenario, the cornerbacks went flying off the board, leaving the Vikings with a tough decision between Emmanuel Forbes, Kelee Ringo, and Daiyan Henley.
Given the lack of depth amongst the linebackers in this class, the safe play was to take the best player at the position and fill the other need with one of the picks that were added in the trade.
Henley is a late riser that made a name for himself during the All-Star circuit at the end of the season. His athleticism is something that will translate to the next level and give an NFL defense a game-changer in the middle of the defense.
Brian Flores loves to utilize athletic linebackers, which makes Henley an even better fit at this spot in the draft. He is very new to the position after starting his college career as a wide receiver and trying his luck at defensive back before switching to linebacker for his final three seasons.
Over his last two seasons at linebacker, Henly recorded 200 tackles, 14.0 tackles for loss, five interceptions, five fumble recoveries, and three forced fumbles.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has hinted at the possibility that the Vikings do not bring back Jordan Hicks or Eric Kendricks next season. At the time of writing this, Eric Kendricks has already been released by Minnesota.
Daiyan Henley is as athletic as they come and would make for a fun pairing with Brian Asamoah for the next 5-8 years.
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.
Third Round (Pick No. 87)
Moro Ojomo – IDL (Texas)
The Vikings need to continue beefing up the front of the defense. Harrison Phillips and Dalvin Tomlinson are both massive defenders up the gut, but they account for a large chunk of the cap as well. Getting younger in the draft would benefit the future of the defense and allow ample spending at more important spots.
Moro Ojomo measured in at 6-foot-3 and 292 pounds in Indianapolis. He was never an uber-productive player at Texas, but he has the size and frame to be a force in the middle of the defense. He can be a fresh pair of legs to supplement the veterans on the roster for a year or two before settling in.
The back end of the top 100 is where value begins to fade, and the goal is to find contributors but not necessarily starters. Ojomo can be a very good depth piece up front, but his tape shows a ton of B-gap alignment which will make for an interesting adjustment in a 3-4 front.
Games are won in the trenches, and that has been a major concern for the Vikings. Taking another talented player to throw into the mix would benefit all parties at this stage of the draft.
Fourth Round (Pick No. 114)
Michael Wilson – WR (Stanford)
This wide receiver class is nowhere near as talented as the past few years, but there is some value to be had. Stanford’s Michael Wilson is one of the biggest question marks in this class due to injury concerns, but when he is healthy, he is incredible.
Wilson has played in just 14 games over the past three seasons and did not reach 1,000 yards over that time. For a player with such little production, the value seems scary, and I can certainly understand the hesitations with his NFL projections.
However, Wilson absolutely dominated the Senior Bowl practices despite poor QB play throughout the week. He consistently shredded opposing defenders and flashed an excellent release at the snap. In a smaller role in the NFL, Wilson can be a wonderful weapon in the passing game.
The Vikings already have their superstar wide receiver. They need someone else that can take the pressure off and test defenses down the field. While a 4.58-second 40-yard dash is not a blazing time, Wilson plays much faster than that and has the size to complement that speed well.
If the Vikings are going to wait on a wide receiver in this draft, Michael Wilson is an intriguing option to consider on Day 3.
Fourth Round (Pick No. 119)
Ricky Stromberg – IOL (Arkansas)
The interior of the offensive line continues to be a problem for the Vikings. Garrett Bradbury made some strides last season in his first year with Kevin O’Connell, but he is still far from a reliable piece for the offense. Ezra Cleveland has also had his struggles as a guard after three seasons in the NFL.
Ricky Stromberg played center for Arkansas which gives some competition to Bradbury if he returns next season. If not, then the Vikings really need to address the position and find someone capable of anchoring the offensive line.
Stromberg did not allow a sack or QB hit across 416 pass-blocking snaps last season and allowed just four sacks in three seasons in the SEC. The Vikings desperately need to clean up the pocket, especially if Kirk Cousins is going to be the quarterback for a few more years.
The only hesitation with Stromberg is the lack of experience at other interior spots, so he may not be as valuable to a team with multiple holes to fill, but Stromberg in the fourth round is enough to challenge the other guys and give the Vikings someone else if all else fails.
Fifth Round (Pick No. 177)
Keaton Mitchell – RB (East Carolina)
With roster cuts coming throughout the next few weeks, Dalvin Cook could be the next to go. If he does indeed hit the open market – or a new team via trade – then the Vikings will want to add at least one more running back to the roster.
Ty Chandler and Kene Nwangwu are both under contract for multiple years, while Alexander Mattison is set to be a free agent once the new league year begins. Minnesota has to find a replacement if they lost both Cook and Mattison.
Keaton Mitchell is a phenomenal athlete with incredible production at the college level, which seems to be the kind of player the new regime values in running backs. He ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash with a 38-inch vertical at the Combine.
Last season, Mitchell carried the ball 201 times for 1,452 yards and 14 touchdowns while also catching 27 passes for 250 yards. He progressed each year at ECU and has climbed into that early Day 3 tier of a crowded running back group.
While it may not be Mitchell in the end, the Vikings are probably going to add another young running back at some point in the draft or in free agency.