Vikings Get a Physical CB in Todd McShay’s Latest 2023 Mock Draft
Josh Frey
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The NFL scouting combine took place last week, and in the aftermath, a number of major NFL media folks have been updating their big boards and mock drafts. One such analyst is Todd McShay of ESPN, who posted a brand-new mock draft on Tuesday morning. In this latest mock draft, the Vikings get a physical CB in Maryland’s Deonte Banks.
Here is what McShay had to say about the Vikings selection:
Banks was really impressive in Indianapolis and is getting a lot of buzz after running 4.35 in the 40, leaping 42 inches in the vert and flying 11-foot-4 in the broad jump. Those are all top-three numbers among corners. And while he had just one pick last season, he did break up 10 passes and limit opponents to 4.6 yards per attempt. Banks is an explosive player.
Cornerback Patrick Peterson is now a 32-year-old free agent, and the Vikings allowed a 66.7% completion percentage (ninth-highest) and 5.9 yards per play (third-highest) last season. Banks could help.
Todd McShay on CB prospect Deonte Banks
Banks showcased some ridiculous athleticism last week in Indianapolis at the combine, and his physical press coverage could absolutely thrive in the Minnesota Vikings new defensive scheme under Brian Flores.
As McShay suggests too, the Vikings certainly need to address their cornerback situation at some point in the offseason. The draft is chock-full of starting caliber players, but there is a chance that many of them fly off the board early on.
In this particular mock, five CBs were taken in the first round, with Banks being the final one at No. 23. Interestingly, Kelee Ringo and Cam Smith were not among those players selected in this mock. Instead, Christian Gonzalez (No. 6, Detroit Lions), Devon Witherspoon (No. 16, Washington Commanders), Emmanuel Forbes (No. 17, Pittsburgh Steelers), and Joey Porter Jr. (No. 19, Tampa Bay Buccaneers) went before Banks.
If the Vikings were to select a cornerback in the first round, or even trade down into the early second round, Banks would be the player to keep an eye on, in my opinion. Here are some of my thoughts on the Maryland CB from my own scouting report:
Deonte Banks brings ideal size as a boundary cornerback, and he utilizes it superbly in press man coverage. He’s very physical off the snap and has the top-speed capability to keep up with opposing receivers.
Seeing as the Vikings have a need for a true lockdown cornerback in Brian Flores’ defense, this strength makes him a very intriguing option. Banks could be a great fit to take over the reins in the secondary.
As a result of his potential fit in the Vikings defense, Banks has been a very popular prospect for Minnesota in recent mock drafts. If his name sounds familiar, it might be because Daniel Jeremiah also had the Vikings drafting him in a mock draft a few weeks ago.
This could be a very interesting draft for the Vikings considering their multiple needs on the defensive side as well as a potential need at wide receiver. The draft officially kicks off on the evening of April 27th.
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