7 edge rushers the Vikings could select in the 2023 NFL Draft

Brenton Cox Jr. (Florida)

Measurements:

• Height: 6-foot-4   | Weight: 250 pounds

2022 Stats:

• 35 tackles
• 8 tackles for a loss
• 2 sacks

Brenton Cox Jr. is one of the most explosive edge rushers in the class of 2023. He’s got a quick first move and attacks with aggression and violence not often seen. He can bend and get around defenders, and once he gets to the quarterback or ball carrier, he usually lays a devastating hit.

Cox Jr. was a former five-star recruit who has the ideal NFL frame. He isn’t very technically sound but is violent with his hands, and has a strong lower body that he uses to even bullrush some much larger blockers.

Cox Jr.’s red flag, and it is a big one, is that he was kicked off of two programs. He was ousted from Georgia as a freshman and then was kicked off of Florida last year. He was involved in a skirmish on the field that ended up with him throwing a punch at another player, and that was the last straw.

The character concern is a major issue, but hard-nosed Brian Flores may be the perfect coach for him. He won’t take any crap from Cox and can whip him into shape and make him quick to mature.

Cox has a lot of raw tools that need harnessing. That, combined with his character flags will make him a Day 3 pick. It’ll be curious to see which team rolls the dice on him and if that team happens to wear purple and have a horn on their helmets.