Questions Answered: Early 2023 Draft Needs, Darrisaw as a Breakout, Mattison Trade Still Alive?
Dustin Baker
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The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by PurplePTSD. Today is the September 2nd edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
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Q: Name some early 2023 Vikings draft needs.
A: One kind of must see how the 2022 season plays out first — mainly players at certain positions — to formulate a sound opinion. Still, some positions jump off the page because of existing veterans’ ages.
- EDGE Rusher
- Wide Reciever
- Cornerback
- Quarterback
EDGE checks out if the Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith experiment sours. Adam Thielen is 32 and winding down a marvelous career. Patrick Peterson isn’t young, and this could be his final season with the Vikings. And if the Vikings don’t reach the postseason, they’ll be quarterback shopping in April’s draft.
Q: Does Christian Darrisaw have what it takes to become a household name-type left tackle? If so, how soon?
A: It can happen now.
Darrisaw drew comparisons to Trent Williams this summer, which should be music to Vikings fans’ ears. His performance as a rookie was a tremendous building block to his sophomore campaign. Between a commendable rookie season and momentum-building summer, Darrisaw is ready now to make the leap toward stardom.
He just needs to avoid Matt Kalilitis.
Q: Are the Alexander Mattison trade talks still alive?
A: For the right [expensive] price, yes, a team could likely steal Mattison from the Vikings.
However, Minnesota reportedly wants a 3rd- or 4th-Rounder for Mattison, trade capital that would match the compensatory-pick recompense received by the Vikings if Mattison leaves in 2023 free agency.
The 3rd- or 4th-Round asking price is too spendy for an RB2, so we believe Mattison will remain on the Vikings roster. Don’t be mistaken, though — this is his final season in purple clothing.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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