5 prospects the Vikings could regret passing on in the 2023 NFL Draft
By Adam Carlson
Joey Porter Jr., CB - Penn State
The Vikings let Patrick Peterson and Chandon Sullivan sign with other teams in free agency and released Cameron Dantzler, making cornerback a position of need for Minnesota during the 2023 NFL Draft.
Minnesota did pick two defensive backs in Mekhi Blackmon and Jay Ward, but had the opportunit to pick highly-regarded cornerback Joey Porter Jr. during the first round and decided to draft an offensive weapon instead.
Porter has the potential to be a multi-year starter in the NFL, which would have been a nice boost to a Vikings defense that ranked 31 overall as a unit in 2022 and needed more talent and depth in the secondary.
If Joey Porter Jr. ends up meeting or exceeding his expectations, there could be some remorse by the Minnesota Vikings for not making him their first round selection. Instead, he went to the Steelers with the first pick in Round 2, joining both Peterson and Sullivan.