1 Thing to Keep in Mind for the Vikings as the NFL Draft Approaches
Josh Frey
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We have officially entered the month of April, which means that the 2023 NFL Draft is officially just a few weeks away. As it gets closer, many speculations continue to emerge as to which positions the Vikings should and will prioritize in this year’s draft.
However, there is one vital thing to keep in mind for the Vikings as the draft gets closer: it is extremely unlikely that Minnesota will fill all, or even most, of their needs in the draft with immediate impact players this spring.
Currently, the Vikings hold a grand total of five draft selections in the 2023 Draft, with only two of them appearing in the top 100:
- First round (No. 23)
- Third round (No. 87)
- Fourth round (No. 119, via DET)
- Fifth round (No. 158)
- Sixth round (No. 211)
Meanwhile, arguments can be made that the Vikings need to make selections at the following positions this spring:
- Cornerback
- Defensive line
- Linebacker
- Quarterback
- Safety
- Wide receiver
I’m no math wiz, but as you can see, that is five draft picks for six needs. Granted, the list of needs may be a biased list from your humble author, and positions like, say, quarterback probably aren’t as pressing specifically for 2023.
It also isn’t out of the realm of possibility for Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to make a trade and acquire more picks. We saw him swing multiple trades to acquire extra picks last spring. That being said, it will be much more difficult to swing said trades with a limited amount of draft capital without dipping into future years.
But, again, the main point here is that even if Minnesota drafts prospects at these positions, there is a high likelihood that they won’t immediately step in and impact outcomes on the field. The 2022 class was filled with projects such as Lewis Cine, Andrew Booth, and Ty Chandler, and we should expect to see those players step onto the field in 2022 to take on larger roles rather than the prospects drafted this year.
Overall, Minnesota does have a number of needs in this class. However, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is going to need to prioritize which needs are most necessary along with evaluating the best players available at the time the Vikings are on the clock.
The main point, folks, is that we shouldn’t overreact if the draft doesn’t go exactly as we think it should. The second-year GM has proven he has a plan in mind, and we should trust that plan.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. 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.