Vikings Mock Draft: Predicting What the Vikings Will Do in the 2023 NFL Draft
Yesterday, we went over what would be my ideal Vikings mock draft if I ran the Minnesota Vikings. Today, we are laying it all on the table and predicting what actually will happen this weekend when the Vikings go on the clock. Here is a full prediction for every Vikings pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Day 1
Round 1, Pick 23: CB Deonte Banks, Maryland
It would be great if the Vikings can find a way to trade down from the 23rd overall pick, but I’m simply not convinced that they’ll be able to pull such a move off considering the prospects from around 15-60 are at a very similar level right now.
Hopefully they can prove me wrong, but this has been my prediction for awhile now. Deonte Banks to the Vikings just makes sense at this spot. In a Brian Flores defense, Minnesota needs corners that can play press coverage and win one-on-one battles in man.
Banks has done exactly that throughout his career at Maryland. On 60 targets in 2022 (per Pro Football Focus), he allowed 26 receptions for 258 yards and 4 TDs alongside a passer rating of 71.4. With recent injury history for all of Andrew Booth, Akayleb Evans, and Byron Murphy, the Vikings need to add more depth, and starting quality depth, at the CB spot.
Day 2
Round 3, Pick 87: WR A.T. Perry, Wake Forest
Unlike many of the receivers in this draft class, especially this area of the draft, A.T. Perry is a big-bodied prospect with 33″ arms that can win on the boundary. He is a crisp route-runner, and his 4.47 speed can help him burn past slower defenders.
While K.J. Osborn can potentially be a WR2 this season, his status in 2024 and beyond is uncertain, and he may be the odd man out in a group of young producers looking to get extensions in the coming years. Minnesota prepares for that reality by taking Perry here.
Day 3
Round 4, Pick 119: S Jartavius Martin, Illinois
There was a period of time where I thought Brian Branch made a ton of sense for the Vikings due to his ability to play in the slot corner role. However, with Byron Murphy on the squad, maybe that is less of a priority than it otherwise would be, especially with how many great corners there are in this draft.
That being said, the Vikings grab a diet version of Branch in the fourth round by selecting Jartavius Martin out of Illinois. He played nearly 500 snaps out of the slot in 2022, and his 10 pass breakups and 3 interceptions showcased some great playmaking ability.
Round 5, Pick 158: DL Jaquelin Roy, LSU
Minnesota finally addresses their need on the interior defensive line. After losing Dalvin Tomlinson in free agency, they don’t have a great run-stopping presence in the middle anymore, but Jaquelin Roy can be the wrecking ball that fills that need, at least in a rotational role.
Round 6, Pick 197: LB Ventrell Miller, Florida
The Dalvin Cook trade goes down here, but while a sixth-round pick may seem underwhelming, here’s the thing: the most likely trade candidate is the Miami Dolphins, and they simply don’t have much draft capital this year.
Instead, the Vikings snag a sixth-round pick this year, and a fifth in 2024 in exchange for Cook, and with the 197th pick, they grab linebacker Ventrell Miller out of Florida. Minnesota needs more depth at the linebacker spot behind Brian Asamoah and Jordan Hicks, so Miller’s prowess as a run-stopper makes sense here.
Round 6, Pick 211: IOL Juice Scruggs, Penn State
At this point, we’re really just taking shots in the dark, and the Vikings could use some extra depth on the interior of their offensive line, so they land Juice Scruggs out of Penn State to add a developmental center and grab one of the cooler names in this class.
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.