Questions Answered: A Bradbury Replacement in 2023, Trade Back or WR, Rookie QB
Dustin Baker
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The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by PurplePTSD. Today is the February 21st edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
Questions Answered: A Bradbury Replacement in 2023, Trade Back or WR, Rookie QB
Q: Who could replace Garrett Bradbury if he walks in free agency?
A: Someone internal, a free agent, or a rookie from the 2023 NFL Draft.
More specifically, the Vikings could roll the dice with Chris Reed at center. He performed well for a single game at center in 2022 and is under contract through the end of next year. But that would be a gamble, merely assuming a lifelong guard could handle the center job.
If Bradbury doesn’t return because of money or otherwise, free-agent centers like Bradley Boseman, Austin Blythe, or Jon Feliciano will be available. None of those are slam dunks, however.
And then in the draft, assuming the Vikings don’t use more 1st-Round draft capital on centers, Steve Avila (TCU), Olusegun Oluwatimi (Michigan), Joe Tippmann (Wisconsin) and Luke Wypler (Ohio State) should be available after Round 1.
There are options galore.
Q: What is more likely for the Vikings in the draft? A trade back from No. 23 or the selection of the best wide receiver available at 23?
A: A trade back.
We believe that the moment general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah traded for T.J. Hockenson from the Detroit Lions in November, he knew he could clawback a 2nd-Rounder with his affinity for draft-night trades.
He and Kevin O’Connell affirmed the 2nd and 3rd Rounds were “sweet spots” for talent in the draft last year, and we’ll surmise that was a draft thing and just a 2022 draft thing.
We fully expect Adofo-Mensah to trade back on April 27th. Drafting a WR2 of the future is exciting, too. A win-win.
Q: The 23rd overall pick doesn’t seem like a great spot to draft a quarterback. What’s stopping the Vikings from drafting a player in Round 3 or lower?
A: Absolutely nothing is stopping them.
Clayton Tune intrigues some draft scouts, and if Adofo-Mensah begins his trade bonanza like he did last year, the Vikings will stockpile picks on draft night. Then, Minnesota could take a flyer on a passer from Rounds 3-7 and hope that man is better than Kellen Mond.
But, on the whole, you are correct that the 23rd hole is undesirable in this draft for quarterbacks unless someone like Anthony Richardson tumbles.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.