The Minnesota Vikings took a wide receiver in round one of the 2023 NFL Draft. Who are the best prospects left on the board for them in rounds two and three?
The first round of the 2023 NFL Draft is in the books. The Minnesota Vikings took wide receiver Jordan Addison out of USC to fill their need for a new No. 2 target next to Justin Jefferson. Addison will be ready to contribute immediately and will be a nice addition to an already potent offense.
While Addison was a nice addition, the Vikings' defense still needs a lot of help. They really need a playmaker on the defensive line, and could also use help in the secondary, primarily at cornerback.
Minnesota could also use a studly young linebacker to take over from Jordan Hicks and could look for help on the interior of their offensive line. They also passed on a quarterback and still need to find the heir apparent for Kirk Cousins.
Luckily for the Vikings, there are plenty of options still available that can fill these needs. Some of these players are a shock to see still on the board, and others are a little more expected.
Minnesota doesn't have a second-round choice due to the T.J. Hockenson trade last year, but they will still hope to find a nice prospect falls into their laps at pick No. 87.
Here are the five best options available after the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Prospect No. 1
Will Levis - QB (Kentucky)
Will Levis was a prospect who many figured would go in the top ten, if not in the top five. There were some rumblings about him rubbing teams the wrong way in interviews. The concern was that he came off as arrogant and entitled, and that smoke looks to be true as he fell out of the first round completely.
Perhaps it wasn't just the interviews that turned teams off. Levis had a poor 2022 season, showing concerning decision-making, and seemed to falter against top competition. He also had a 2:1 touchdown to interception ratio, and there's a lengthy history of players not panning out in the pros who shared the same statistic.
That being said, there is still plenty to like about Levis. He's got a rocket arm and isn't afraid to use his big frame to take off and pick up yards on the ground. He also had an extremely impressive 2021 campaign, where he threw for 2,826 yards and 24 touchdowns. He has been described as a poor man's Josh Allen, and that is actually a nice compliment.
The Vikings don't pick again until 87th overall, and it seems unlikely that Levis will still be on the board. While that is the case, it wasn't expected he'd make it to the second round, so anything is possible.
Prospect No. 2
Joey Porter Jr. - CB (Penn State)
Joey Porter Jr. was a prospect who many pegged as a sure-fire first-round pick. He had the size, bloodline, and length to be a shut-down corner at the next level. He was invited to the green room
but didn't hear his name called as teams preferred Devon Witherspoon, Christian Gonzalez, Emmanuel Forbes, and Deonte Banks instead.
The lack of production in college was one reason given by the analysts, but he also fell victim to other teams just choosing to address different needs. Porter still remains as a top corner in this class, and he should be one of the names coveted and targeted early on day two of the draft.
The numbers may not be there, but he's got the smarts, and those long arms to be able to go up and knock down any ball that is thrown his way.
He's also a willing and able tackler, and for a second-round pick, he's about as safe an option as there could ever be. He won't last long, and the Vikings will have to move up if they want to land him.
Prospect No. 3
Keeanu Benton - DT (Wisconsin)
Of the prospects listed so far, Keeanu Benton has the best chance to actually fall to the Vikings at pick 87. He's a big dude standing 6-foot-4 and tipping the scales at 309 pounds. Benton was primarily a run stuffer in his days as a Badger, using that big frame to eat up blocks and clog running lanes.
He did begin to develop a pass-rushing element to his game as he racked up seven sacks and 15 tackles for a loss in his final two seasons at Wisconsin.
Benton comes off the ball quickly and immediately uses his immense power to overcome would-be blockers. He does need to develop some more pass-rushing moves in his arsenal, but he's a player who can get on the field early as a rookie.
The Vikings need to add talent to their defensive line. They passed on both Mazi Smith and Bryan Bresee in the first round, but they need to pull the trigger if this big man falls into their laps on Friday night. He would immediately improve the run defenses and can provide that interior pressure that the team has been lacking from their defensive front.
Prospect No. 4
O'Cyrus Torrence - OG (Florida)
The Vikings could look to bolster the interior of their offensive line in this draft. Ed Ingram is still a question mark at right guard, and it's unclear if the Vikings are willing or want to commit to Ezra Cleveland long-term.
If they do decide to upgrade the guard position, a guy who slipped out of round one, and could continue to fall is Florida's O'Cyrus Torrence. Torrence is a big-bodied, barrel-chested brute whose size makes it extremely difficult for pass rushers to get around.
He is technically sound and didn't draw a single flag in 2022. He also was able to stand his ground against Jalen Carter, and that is pretty dang impressive.
There are some concerns about his overall athletic ability and if he'll be able to mirror quicker and more athletic defensive linemen.
That being said, Torrence is a very solid and clean prospect. He likely won't make it to the Vikings' pick at 87, but if he does, they'll have to think long and hard about pulling the trigger because he could end up being a major upgrade over Ingram.
Prospect No. 5
Adetomiwa Adebawore - EDGE (Northwestern)
The Vikings opted to upgrade their offense in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, so it's a pretty safe assumption that the focus moving forward will be to upgrade the defense.
One thing that new defensive coordinator Brian Flores said he wanted in his players was versatility, and one guy who brings that in spades is Adetwomiwa Adebawore from Northwestern.
Adebawore likely fell into the draft's second round because teams just don't know what to do with him. At 6-foot-2 and 282 pounds, he is the definition of a tweener.
He isn't big enough to play the five-technique in a 3-4 front and is undersized to play nose. He could play inside in a 4-3, but also is so athletic that many project him to become an edge rusher in the pros.
The dude lit up the Combine and was extremely impressive in all the drills and workouts. He's got a great blend of speed and power and was very productive in college with 12.5 sacks and an impressive 24.5 tackles for a loss.
While he isn't a traditional fit for any defense, Adebawore could have one of the biggest impacts for a defensive rookie in 2023, and if he falls to the Vikings in round three, they need to be all over him.