The Vikings Can Take 3 Paths in the First Round of the Draft

Josh Frey |

Mar 28, 2023

Jul 28, 2022; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.

The 2023 NFL Draft is officially less than one month away, and there are multiple theories as to what the Vikings should do with their five selections, particularly their 23rd overall pick in the first round. Right now, it appears that the Vikings can take 3 paths with that first-round pick. Here’s a breakdown of this three-forked road.

“Stick and Pick”

Oct 1, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) runs away from Arizona State Sun Devils defensive back D.J. Taylor (3) for a first down in the first half at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

As of March 28th, this still feels like the least-likely scenario for the Vikings in the first round. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has garnered a reputation for wheeling and dealing in the draft, and it would be very surprising for him not to make some sort of move this April.

That being said, it all depends on how the board falls. The Vikings are very likely to be in the market for one of three positions: cornerback, quarterback, and wide receiver. If a player like a Joey Porter Jr., Anthony Richardson, or Jordan Addison fell in the draft for whatever reason, it would make sense to just stay at 23 and pick that prospect.

Trade Up for a QB

Nov 19, 2022; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Will Levis (7) waits for a snap during the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

If the Vikings want to get into the mix for a QB this April, they likely will need to trade up in the first round in order to do so. With the way the draft order has fallen, it seems like the top four QBs will all be off the board within the first 11 picks, depending on how confident the Tennessee Titans are in Malik Willis.

In order to grab one of these players, the Vikings will at the very least need to jump past Tennessee, especially considering Tampa Bay could also move up to take a QB of their own.

Trade Down for More Capital

Vikings Draft Thermometer: CB Clark Phillips III — Nov 12, 2022; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Utes cornerback Clark Phillips III (1) warms up prior to a game against the Stanford Cardinal at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

This is probably the option I would pick, and it follows suit with how Adofo-Mensah approached the 2022 Draft. The Vikings could move down and snag all three of CB, QB, and WR in the top 100 picks if they play their cards correctly. A team to keep an eye on here would be the Houston Texans, who hold the 33rd and 65th picks in the draft. If they have an eye on one of the first-round cornerbacks, it would make sense for them to swing a deal to move up.

If the Vikings move down, that means the selection of QB Hendon Hooker with that second-round pick could be the direction for Minnesota to go in.

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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.