A Trio of Possible Vikings Picks Who Would Do Splendidly in Purple and Gold
Truth be told, I’m far from a draft expert. That simple reality doesn’t deter me from developing an affinity for certain players, at least in terms of their fit for the Vikings.
As of right now, the potential Vikings pick in the opening round is a mystery. Very safely, there is the assumption that a quarterback will not be chosen. Otherwise, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is staring at a blank canvas, meaning the GM can paint basically any picture he wants. Consider a trio of options for who could get scooped up at No. 24 and go on to have a wonderful career for the Vikings.
Potential Vikings Picks:
A Trio of Options for the 1st Round
Possible Pick #1 — Jihaad Campbell, Linebacker
PFF Commentary: “Campbell has the ideal build and athletic ability to play any linebacker spot, but he projects best to a Mike or Sam LB in 4-3 schemes or a Mike/EDGE in a 3-4. He must continue to develop anticipation and strength, but he has the mold of an All-Pro player.”
Vikings Fit: Almost quietly, the linebacker position needs some help. Next offseason, Eric Wilson and Brian Asamoah will be free agents. Ivan Pace Jr. will be an RFA and Blake Cashman will be in the final year of his contract. Does getting ahead of the sticks make sense? Campbell could be a nice add as someone who could have a career that finds itself somewhere in the middle of Anthony Barr and Micah Parsons as off-ball linebackers who are built like edge rushers.
Possible Pick #2 — Grey Zabel, Guard
PFF Commentary: “Zabel is a five-position lineman who brings everything but elite arm length to the position. He is an easy projected starter at center or guard for primarily a zone blocking scheme, but he is well-rounded enough to be run-game versatile.”
Vikings Fit: Being able to fully overhaul the interior of the offensive line does have its appeal. A ton of money is being invested in Christian Darrisaw, Will Fries, and Brian O’Neill. Meanwhile, Ryan Kelly joined the team on a middle-class deal (at least in the world of NFL finances). Snagging a young, cost-controlled guard with the potential to put forth excellent play at LG1 has supporters.
Possible Pick #3 — Jahdae Barron, Corner
PFF Commentary: “The word ‘versatile’ gets thrown around too much with defensive back prospects, but Barron is exactly that. As a natural zone defender with excellent instincts and anticipation, he is a starting-caliber pro at safety, wide cornerback or nickel defender — sometimes as all three in the same game — for Cover 3- or quarters-heavy schemes.”
Vikings Fit: Ideally, the corner add will have some size. An outside corner who is built like Xavier Rhodes — 6’1″ and 218 pounds — is what most defensive coordinators desire, but remember an important truth: size is simply a means to an end. A cluster of corners who are a bit smaller but who nevertheless get the job done with sticky, competitive coverage is just fine. Barron is pretty sturdy at 5’11” and 200 pounds. Partner that build with the versatility that PFF mentions and the fit makes a ton of sense.
Editor’s Note: Shout out to PFF for the commentary and background info on draft prospects.
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K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on social media (@VikingsGazette). If you feel so inclined, subscribe to his Substack, The Vikings Gazette, for more great Vikings content.