Vikings 7-round 2023 NFL Mock Draft: Dalvin Cook traded and replaced
By Adam Patrick
Fourth Round (Pick No. 107)
Isaiah McGuire – EDGE (Missouri)
There’s a good chance that Za’Darius Smith won’t be with the Vikings by the time the 2023 regular season begins, so adding another pass-rusher in this year’s NFL Draft is definitely something Minnesota should be thinking about.
Isaiah McGuire is certainly someone that could come in and make an impact as a rookie under new Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
The 6-foot-4, 268-pound defender had a pass rush win rate of 17.6 percent in 2022 which led to him generating seven sacks and over 30 pressures last season at Missouri.
Fourth Round (Pick No. 119)
Ivan Pace Jr. – LB (Cincinnati)
Speaking of prospects that could excel in Minnesota’s new defensive scheme, Ivan Pace Jr. is one of the best.
In 2022, Pace finished with the top defensive grade from PFF out of 789 qualifying linebackers, which came after a 2021 season in which he finished with the 38th-best grade out of 814 linebackers.
Pace was a very good run defender for Cincinnati in 2022, and he excelled as a pass rusher when needed as well. Both elements of a player that should fit in well in a defense controlled by Flores.