Latest NFL.com Mock Draft Says EDGE for Vikings. A Greek Man.
Dustin Baker
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The Minnesota Vikings are going Greek, if NFL.com’s prediction via mock draft is correct.
The franchise owns the 12th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, needing help at positions like cornerback, linebacker, and quarterback (if current passer Kirk Cousins is traded).
But the number-one-with-a-bullet need is arguably EDGE rusher. It is unclear if Minnesota will re-up with Danielle Hunter after the ferocious pass rusher missed 79% of all games since the start of 2020. Hunter is a magnificent football player, but new general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will have to decide if it’s wise to pay an oft-injured defender north of $25 million per season. And even if the Vikings do keep Hunter, the only startable EDGE rusher on the roster is D.J. Wonnum, who was decent-not-great during his 2021 sophomore campaign.
That’s where the Greek part arrives. Bucky Brooks from NFL.com believes Minnesota will take George Karlaftis from Purdue with the 12th pick. Karlaftis was born in Greece, emigrating to the United States in 2014 after his father passed away. Brooks notes Karlaftis as the fourth EDGE rusher off the board, proceeding Aidan Hutchinson (Lions, #2), Kayvon Thibodeaux (Texans, #3), and David Ojabo (Giants #7).
If the Vikings spring for a defensive end in Round 1, it would be the first time the team has done so since 2005 when the Vikings selected Erasmus James. It’s been 17 years since Minnesota prioritized EDGE defenders in the 1st Round. Perhaps Adofo-Mensah will change the tendency.
Here’s some of Karlaftis’ scouting report from ProFootballNetwork.com, detailed by Oliver Hodgkinson:
“The most impressive aspect of Karlaftis’ scouting report is his overall athleticism. For his size, he moves incredibly well, surprisingly so. He displays excellent burst, can change direction smoothly, and can often be found chasing down the opposition. His combination of size and speed is the stuff of nightmares for opposing quarterbacks. From a technical perspective, Karlaftis has the tools to be an impactful pass rusher at the next level. His hand usage allows him to overcome offensive tackles around the edge. Moreover, the Greece product has demonstrated several pass-rush moves in his arsenal. Furthermore, he can read what the offensive lineman offers him and win accordingly.”
Before Karlaftis, at the #11 spot, the Washington Football Team scooped Matt Corral from Ole Miss. This is noteworthy because the Vikings might need a QB1 for 2022, too.
The Vikings 1st-Round pick possesses so much excitement this time around as it will be Adofo-Mensah’s first time choosing a draft pick on his own accord. Does he play it safe, choosing the consensus best pick on the board at the time? Or does he get funky? With Rick Spielman, there was predictably derived from history. It’s a brand new ballgame for the 40-year-old new Vikings boss.
And according to NFL.com, the choice might just be a Big Ten pass rusher. A mini Greek Freek.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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