Best Players Available for Vikings in Day Three of the 2022 NFL Draft
Josh Frey
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Between a flurry of trades and the sheer lack of QBs being drafted in the first two rounds, the 2022 NFL Draft has been one of the wildest in recent memory. It’s far from over too as more than half of the draft will take place on Saturday. With four more rounds of drafting to go, here are some of the best players available for the Minnesota Vikings to consider.
IDL Perrion Winfrey (Oklahoma)
The Vikings have focused much of their attention in this draft on improving the depth of their defense. They snagged Lewis Cine and Andrew Booth with their first two selections, and it wouldn’t be surprising at all if they continued to do so in the fourth round. Perrion Winfrey is a terrific run-stopper and could certainly hold his own in a rotational role for Ed Donatell’s defense.
QB Sam Howell (North Carolina)
Look, the mantra all offseason has been to avoid taking QBs in this draft class. At least, that should have been the case in the first round. In the fourth round though, a QB flyer is nothing to be ashamed of. In 2020, Sam Howell had one of the better seasons in all of FBS, and his production only took a hit once all his playmakers were off UNC’s roster. If the Vikings have some concerns with Kellen Mond, they should certainly consider a QB.
WR Khalil Shakir (Boise State)
Khalil Shakir is a perfect fit in the Minnesota Vikings offense. He is a blazing fast player out of the slot and brings terrific explosivity with him. Shakir was known throughout his collegiate career as a constant threat for making a big play due to his speed and skills after the catch. This is something that could be unlocked at the NFL level with Kirk Cousins as his QB as well as both Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson on the field at receiver with him.
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CB Tariq Woolen (UTSA)
Tariq Woolen has some of the best ball skills in all of the 2022 CB class. Much of this has to do with the fact that he was a wide receiver prior to switching to the defensive side of the ball. The Vikings already addressed cornerback with the selection of Andrew Booth, but they could still use some depth. If any of their top three get injured, there is not a promising solution currently in place.
OT Daniel Faalele (Minnesota)
The behemoth of a man that is the Minnesota Gophers left tackle was getting some buzz early on in the draft process as a potential first or second round selection. His size will undoubtedly transfer over to the NFL level, but there have been some questions about his athleticism, especially playing on an island at offensive tackle. This is not a bad depth piece though, even if he only takes a few snaps here and there.
