6 biggest disappointments of the Vikings 2023 season

Disappointment No. 2

Lack of production from the top of 2022 draft class

It's said time and time again that a rookie class needs three years to fully grade and judge.

While that is true, there are steps an evaluator and even a fan hopes to see happen from year one to year two, and there were none of those from some of the Vikings' top draft picks from 2022.

The only bright spot amongst the first four Minnesota players drafted in 2022 was right guard Ed Ingram.

While he still isn't a great player, he's approaching a satisfactory level and had more good games than bad this season.

That's where the praise stops.

Lewis Cine was the fifth safety on the Vikings' depth chart behind even a street free-agent from a year ago, Theo Jackson.

Minnesota head coach Kevin O'Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah tried to poo-poo Cine's lack of playing time away, saying 2023 was essentially his rookie season and that he was learning a new defense.

Well, so was everyone else, and Cine not stepping up to be even the fourth safety on Minnesota's depth chart is a huge concern and doesn't bode well for his future on this team.

Cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. failed to move up the Vikings' depth chart in year two. He did see a few more snaps on defense but still only managed eight tackles and one pass breakup.

That puts him at 20 total tackles through two years, and that isn't what you want from a very high second-round choice.

Linebacker Brian Asamoah was a popular breakout candidate in the preseason but became an afterthought who never saw the field for Minnesota during the regular season.

Vikings second-year cornerback Akayleb Evans also regressed horribly, and by the end of the season, he was getting benched in favor of undrafted rookie Jaylin Williams.

Hope is fading fast for Adofo-Mensah's first-ever draft class. Many were hoping for some sign of life in 2023 from this group instead, it began to flatline.