ESPN Mock Draft Sends Vikings a CB
Josh Frey
|
Among the Minnesota Vikings and NFL Draft communities, ESPN analyst Jordan Reid is considered one of the best minds in the field. In his first ESPN mock draft for the 2023 NFL Draft, Reid sends the Vikings a CB in the first round in the form of South Carolina CB Cam Smith.
The Vikings certainly have need for additional cornerback depth on their roster, especially seeing as we have very little idea as to what type of role 2022 draft picks S Lewis Cine and CB Andrew Booth Jr will have moving forward after suffering season-ending injuries. Additionally, players like Patrick Peterson and Harrison Smith likely won’t be able to be focal points of the secondary much longer.
Here is what Reid had to say of the talented Gamecock CB:
“General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah showed in his first draft in Minnesota that he values initial quickness, and after the Vikings struggled mightily in pass defense this season (7.8 yards allowed per attempt, 31st in the NFL), they will be seeking defensive backs who show good burst and can make plays on the ball. Smith checks those boxes and has experience in the slot and on the outside. He has four picks and 17 pass breakups over the past two seasons, too. Patrick Peterson and Chandon Sullivan are on expiring deals, and Cameron Dantzler Sr. will be entering the final year of his contract in 2023, so cornerback depth will be a spot to watch.”
Jordan Reid on NFL Draft prospect Cam Smith
Smith has been a bigtime playmaker for South Carolina throughout his career, and has Reid states, he’s intercepted four passes over the past two seasons for the Gamecocks. Reid also makes an interesting point regarding Cameron Dantzler, who indeed is entering the final year of his contract in 2023. With a Justin Jefferson extension looming this offseason, and a Christian Darrisaw extension the following year, the Vikings may have too much money tied up elsewhere to retain the cornerback.
In all, the Vikings have a number of directions they can go in for this 2023 NFL Draft. The cornerback position remains one of the deepest in this class, and Smith would certainly bring a fierceness and versatility to Minnesota’s secondary. He is not quite as long as some of the top players in this class (Smith was ranked No. 4 in my CB position rankings), but he remains an elite athlete and brings terrific physicality to the secondary.
The only question here would be whether or not Smith stays on the board long enough for the Vikings to select him. A number of teams will likely be looking to fill the CB position, including the Vikings division rival Green Bay Packers. It will be interesting to see how the draft plays out when the time arrives.
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.