5 steals the Vikings could make in the 2023 NFL Draft

Sixth Round (Pick No. 211)

Brenton Cox Jr. - EDGE (Florida)

Grabbing an edge rusher is something the Vikings could do at any point in the 2023 NFL Draft. Teams that run the 3-4 can never have enough good edge rushers on the roster, and with Za'Darius Smith wanting out, it's a bigger need than one may initially think.

If the Vikings wait until their last pick to address the position, then taking Brenton Cox Jr. could turn out to be a major steal. Cox has an explosive first step, flies to the quarterback, and then lays bone-crunching hits.

He does this on a routine basis, using not just that quickness, but also pure brute strength to power through blockers. Cox had solid production in college, racking up 14.5 sacks, to go along with an impressive 34.5 tackles for a loss.

So the big question regarding Cox is, "Why is he still on the board in round six?" The answer to that is character issues. He was dismissed from both the Georgia and Florida programs for behavior detrimental to the team. On top of that, his Scouting Combine performance was underwhelming, as he ran a pedestrian 4.82 seconds in the 40-yard dash.

Cox has plenty to like. He's an explosive edge presence who has a knack for making plays in opponents' backfields. The character issues are a major red flag, but defensive coordinator Brian Flores is a hard-nosed coach, who isn't going to take any crap from him. At this point, it's worth the gamble, as it could pay dividends in the very near future.