The 3 Deepest Positions in the 2023 NFL Draft
Josh Frey
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The NFL offseason is underway, and while we still have to get through NFL free agency, much of the attention is now placed on the 2023 NFL Draft. The Minnesota Vikings don’t have as many picks as they’ve had in recent years, but they still have needs that must be filled on the roster. Here are the 3 deepest positions in this spring’s draft that could draw attention from the Vikings in April.
Cornerback
The Minnesota Vikings likely will be looking to improve their cornerback room this offseason, especially if they opt not to bring back free agents Patrick Peterson and Duke Shelley. Even if they do re-sign these players, though, there is certainly reason to believe that 1) a 33-year-old Peterson could take a step back in 2023, and 2) Duke Shelley’s success in 2022 may be a “flash in the pan.”
Because of that, Minnesota could opt to get younger at the position and take a cornerback in the draft. The hire of Brian Flores makes a lockdown cornerback one of the top needs this offseason, so don’t be surprised if that is the direction that the Vikings go in the first round. Here are a few names I have my eye on in the first round:
- Devon Witherspoon (Illinois)
- Christian Gonzalez (Oregon)
- Kelee Ringo (Georgia)
- Clark Phillips III (Utah)
- Deonte Banks (Maryland)
- Joey Porter Jr. (Penn State)
- Cam Smith (South Carolina)
Running Back
You’ve probably heard of Bijan Robinson by now, and he is certainly the headliner of the 2023 NFL Draft at the running back position. However, he’s far from the only player that could jump into an NFL offense and contribute.
But why would the Vikings take a running back for the third straight year? Well, Dalvin Cook’s status with the Vikings may be up in the air considering he is owed $14.1 million next season, just had shoulder surgery, and appears unwilling to take a pay cut despite having his least efficient season of his career in 2022.
Additionally, Alexander Mattison is set to hit free agency, and we haven’t seen much of either Kene Nwangwu or Ty Chandler in an offensive role. Perhaps the Vikings have faith in Chandler to be an RB2 if Cook sticks around or even an RB1, but we have very little evidence that would suggest that as the case. Any side of the coin is largely speculation at this point, but here are a few RBs that Minnesota could go after in the middle rounds of the draft:
- Tyjae Spears (Tulane)
- Eric Gray (Oklahoma)
- Sean Tucker (Syracuse)
- Tank Bigsby (Auburn)
- Kenny McIntosh (Georgia)
- Deuce Vaughn (Kansas State)
- Chase Brown (Illinois)
Wide Receiver
There’s an argument to be made that the Vikings first-round pick could be a wide receiver as well. Adam Thielen is getting older and may be on his way out, and K.J. Osborn hasn’t exactly been the model of consistency at the position, either.
If the Vikings do opt to go wide receiver in the draft, they could go in a few different directions. Firstly, they could try to get a true WR2 to play opposite of Justin Jefferson, essentially replacing Adam Thielen. Otherwise, they could also try to get a speedy slot receiver that can burn defenses deep.
Either way, I’d be shocked if the Vikings don’t take a wide receiver at some point. Here are a few options for the first round:
- Jordan Addison (USC)
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Ohio State)
- Jalin Hyatt (Tennessee)
- Zay Flowers (Boston College)
- Josh Downs (North Carolina)
- Rashee Rice (SMU)
- Quentin Johnston (TCU)
And a few for later on in Day Two or perhaps early Day Three:
- Kayshon Boutte (LSU)
- Marvin Mims (Oklahoma)
- Tank Dell (Houston)
- Xavier Hutchinson (Iowa State)
- Trey Palmer (Nebraska)
- Andre Iosivas (Princeton)
- Justin Shorter (Florida)
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. He also earned minors in History, Human Biology, and Journalism. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys marathon training, playing video games, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. For more of his opinions, check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.