Former Vikings GM Would ‘Pound the Table’ for 6 Draft Prospects
Josh Frey
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Following being let go by the Vikings after the 2021 season, former Vikings GM Rick Spielman has landed on his feet well with a media company called The 33rd Team. This week, with the 2023 NFL Draft fast approaching, Spielman gave six draft prospects that he would ‘pound the table’ for in next week’s draft.
A couple of these prospects may be on the Vikings radar as well, depending on how the draft actually plays out. Here’s the full list of Spielman’s ‘pound the table’ prospects:
- QB Bryce Young, Alabama
- RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
- TE Sam LaPorta, Iowa
- RB Tank Bigsby, Auburn
- DB Jartavius Martin, Illinois
- OLB/DE D.J. Johnson, Oregon
Minnesota almost certainly won’t be getting Young as he’s a massive favorite to be selected by the Carolina Panthers with the first overall pick. However, there is a potential path for Bijan Robinson potentially falling in the draft depending on how teams view him compared to the typical value of a running back in the draft.
LaPorta probably wouldn’t be on the Vikings radar either simply because they have so much depth at tight end with T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver, Johnny Mundt, and Ben Ellefson on the roster.
That being said, the final three prospects are all possible for the Vikings. Depending on what happens with Dalvin Cook (a trade is still a possibility), the Vikings may look to add more RB depth, and again, it would depend on how the league as a whole values the backs in this class, but there’s a chance Minnesota could snag Bigsby either late in Day 2 or early on in Day 3.
Additionally, either Martin or Johnson would be intriguing depth options on the defense. Minnesota is in desperate need of a slot corner, and they could use some more depth at safety moving forward as well. In 2022, out of his 854 snaps, he appeared at slot corner in 493 of them and at free safety for an additional 177, easily his top two positions.
For Johnson, he offers prototypical NFL size at EDGE, standing 6’4 and 260 pounds, and his RAS of 8.39 showcases some terrific athletic ability, particularly his 1.51 10-yard split in his 4.49 40-yard dash. This explosiveness for a prospect of his size offers some intriguing upside that the Vikings could look to take advantage of.
Overall, Spielman received many critiques for his drafting while in Minnesota, particularly for his selections in early rounds. However, it is undeniable that he had a positive track record when it came to finding production in the later rounds of the draft. If Spielman is in on prospects such as Martin and Johnson, it’s something to keep an eye on ahead of the draft.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.