What are three positions the Minnesota Vikings could double up on with their selections in the 2023 NFL Draft?
The Minnesota Vikings have had a busy offseason so far. They’ve brought in a few new players to fill some key holes, and they’ve also brought back a handful of players who were free agents.
The Vikings are now ready to fill out their roster through the NFL Draft, which is just a few weeks away. Minnesota only has five picks this year, assuming general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah doesn’t do some wheeling and dealing.
The Vikings could use some young talent at plenty of positions, but with just those five selections, not all can be addressed.
While Minnesota has plenty of spots on the roster that could use a talent boost, they also have some that need more than that. There are positions on this roster that are devoid of top-level talent and also need a fairly heavy dose of depth.
What are three positions that the Vikings could double-dip at during the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft?
Cornerback
The Vikings’ current cornerback depth chart is a bit worrisome. They have one high-level, experienced starter in Byron Murphy, but after him, it’s just loads and loads of inexperience.
After the Vikings cut Cam Dantzler and weren’t able to extend Patrick Peterson or resign Duke Shelley, it left Andrew Booth Jr. and Akayleb Evans as the next two up on the depth chart. One of those guys is currently projected to be a starter, and that is very concerning as neither has much experience.
Behind them are Tay Gowan and Kalon Barnes, who are both long shots to even make the final 53-man roster. The Vikings have to use at least one of their early picks on a cornerback and maybe use one of their later ones as well.
The Vikings could use pick No. 23 on a cornerback like Cam Smtih, Deonte Banks, or even Emmanuel Forbes. They could then address the position later in the draft with someone like Purdue’s Cory Trice, Kentucky’s Carrington Valentine, or Maryland’s Jakorian Bennett.
Double dipping at cornerback would actually be a wise move. It would create competition for the starting spot next to Byron Murphy, and it would also improve the overall depth. No matter what they do, the Vikings will go into the season with inexperience and youth at cornerback.
Wide Receiver
Wide receiver is another position that the Vikings could use more than one of their draft picks on. They have the best wide receiver in the league in Justin Jefferson but cut an aging Adam Thielen. This left K.J. Osborn as the number two option, with Jalen Reagor and Jalen Nailor fleshing out the top four.
The Vikings did sign Brandon Powell, but he’s basically a special teamer. They also have some younger guys on the roster, like Blake Proehl and Trishton Jackson, but both will be fighting to make the final roster and could again end up on the practice squad. After listing off those players, it’s clear upgrades are needed.
Giving the Vikings a wide receiver at pick No. 23 has become a popular option in recent mock drafts. It does make sense, as players like Quentin Johnston, Zay Flowers, and Jordan Addison could all be very good No. 2 options in the league. If the Vikings do pull the trigger early on a pass-catcher, it doesn’t mean they won’t do it again.
This is a pretty deep receiver class, and the Vikings could land a solid prospect on Day 3 who would immediately be higher on the depth chart than Proehl, Jackson, and maybe even Reagor. Some names to watch would be Andrei Iosivas, Trey Palmer, Jayden Reed, and Ronnie Bell.
Defense is likely to be the theme of the Vikings’ draft, but allocating two of their five choices to upgrade the wide receiver position does make a ton of sense.
Defensive Line
This is arguably the weakest position on the Vikings roster, so seeing the team upgrade it twice in this draft shouldn’t come as a shock.
The Vikings only have one real horse on the line as it stands now, and that is Harrison Phillips, who is likely to be the nose tackle again in 2023.
Dean Lowry mans one of the end spots, and he was a nice addition, but he’s more of a spot starter or rotational guy. The other side of the line is pretty rough, with Jonathan Bullard and James Lynch battling it out for a starting position
The depth behind them isn’t great, either. Esezi Otomewo isn’t a lock to make the team, Kenny Willekes is a great story but can’t stay healthy, and Ross Blacklock, Sheldon Day, and T.J. Smith don’t exactly strike fear into offensive linemen’s hearts.
While it isn’t a popular mock draft selection, taking a defensive tackle like Calijah Kancey or Bryan Bresee at pick 23 fills a huge need for the team. Both of those guys have the potential to be game wreckers which is something the Vikings haven’t had in the middle of their defensive line for quite a while.
They could then go back and address the defensive line again with a mid-round prospect like Alabama’s Byron Young, Wake Forest’s Kobie Turner, or Bowling Green’s Karl Brooks. If they wait until late, then players like Texas’ Keondre Coburn, Penn State’s PJ Mustipher, or West Virginia’s Dante Stills could be options.
An influx of talent is needed on the Vikings’ defensive line. They will be rolling with a young secondary, so any pressure they can muster up front will help out the back end tremendously.