5 Takeaways Following the Vikings Draft
Josh Frey
|
Now that the 2023 NFL Draft has finished, it’s time to unpack everything that happened and what it all means for the Vikings as eyes now turn towards training camp and the start of the season later this summer. Here are 5 takeaways from this Vikings draft as we head into the summer.
No Za’Darius Smith/Dalvin Cook Trades
Heading into the draft, it seemed almost inevitable that some sort of deal would get done, particularly for Dalvin Cook. He and the Vikings seem to have been at a cross-roads all offseason, and then, Minnesota drafted another running back by grabbing DeWayne McBride in the seventh round.
Za’Darius Smith still being on the roster is a bit of a surprise, but less of one. Considering he is a 30-year-old pass rusher who has wanted out of Minnesota, the return packages were probably always going to be worth less to the Vikings than freeing up cap space. At this point, both players may end up being post-June 1st cuts.
The Vikings Trust in the 2022 Draft Class
Heading into this year’s draft, three of the top defensive backs on Minnesota’s depth chart were 2022 Draft picks that had started a combined three games last season. Brian Asamoah is also on track to be a starter at the linebacker position after playing fewer than 10 defensive snaps in 11 of 16 games played last year. And finally, despite starting every game, Ed Ingram certainly had his struggles at right guard.
Despite all that, after the dust settled from this weekend, very little of this reality has changed. Mekhi Blackmon might mix things up at the cornerback spot, but the Vikings didn’t draft any safeties (Jay Ward could fall into this designation, but in reality, he played just 104 of his 633 snaps at free safety last year), nor did they take any off-ball linebackers or offensive linemen.
There was certainly opportunity to take players at any of these positions, but the Vikings clearly trust the guys that they have.
Jaren Hall: Quality Backup or Future Starter?
Any time a franchise selects a quarterback in the NFL Draft, there is going to be a little extra buzz around the fanbase. This was certainly the case on Saturday afternoon when Minnesota took Jaren Hall in the fifth round of this year’s draft. But what exactly should we be expecting out of Hall, particularly in Year One?
Well, the good news for the Vikings is that they have at least one year to develop Hall before potentially throwing him into the fire. He also showcases many of the traits necessary for success at the NFL level. The BYU product knows how to read through his progressions, he stays under control, and it’s very rare that he makes the incorrect decision with the football.
These traits as a passer along with some underrated mobility could help overcome his shortcomings in size and arm strength. For this year, don’t expect him to jump into the starting role, even if something were to happen with Kirk Cousins. However, if we can at least see him make Nick Mullens sweat for that backup role and string together a few good throws in preseason, that should be considered a great sign for Hall’s future.
Still No Help for the Offensive Line
As aforementioned, the Vikings didn’t add a single interior offensive lineman in the NFL Draft. Considering the Vikings were scraping the bottom of the barrel for offensive line help last season, it would have made sense to see another depth piece added over the weekend.
Instead, the Vikings seem content to roll into the year with the same crew as 2022. Perhaps they will be blessed with better health luck this year, but this still has me nervous, especially considering Ezra Cleveland will hit free agency next offseason if he doesn’t get a new contract extension.
Versatility Remains King
If there has been one common theme throughout Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s tenure as the Vikings general manager, it is that he loves having players that can fill many different roles. This continued in the 2023 NFL Draft from their very first pick in WR Jordan Addison.
Addison thrived in the slot during two seasons at Pittsburgh, and while he didn’t have quite as productive a year as a boundary guy at USC, he still approached 1000 yards receiving despite drawing the opponent’s best cornerback on a weekly basis. This is something he won’t have to worry about with Justin Jefferson on his team, so expect him to feast against depth corners.
Additionally, Mekhi Blackmon can play either on the boundary or in the slot as a cornerback, and Jay Ward can line up virtually anywhere on the defense. It will be very interesting to see how the Vikings use their new weapons in 2023.
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.