The Minnesota Vikings welcomed 10 players to the franchise this week via the 2022 NFL Draft after a topsy-turvy event stuffed to the gills with trades.
These are the newcomers:
R1: Lewis Cine, S (Georgia)
R2: Andrew Booth Jr., CB (Clemson)
R2: Ed Ingram, G (LSU)
R3: Brian Asamoah, LB (Oklahoma)
R4: Akayleb Evans, CB (Missouri)
R5: Esezi Otomewo, DE (Minnesota)
R5: Ty Chandler, RB (North Carolina)
R6: Vederian Lowe, OT (Illinois)
R6: Jalen Nailor, WR (Michigan State)
R7: Nick Muse, TE (South Carolina)
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”1003241″ player=”26279″ title=”WATCH%20Aaron%20Rodgers%20did%20not%20expect%20Packers%20surprising%20Davante%20Adams%20trade” duration=”85″ description=”It seems that Green Bay Packers franchise quarterback Aaron Rodgers was not in the know about the team’s failed contract negotiations and eventual Davante Adams trade.The NFL world was shaken up in March when the Packers surprised many and traded five-time Pro Bowler Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders for draft picks — including the 22nd pick in this year’s NFL Draft. The deal was precipitated by a breakdown in contract extension negotiations after the team slapped a franchise tag on Adams a week before.” uploaddate=”2022-04-29″ thumbnailurl=”undefined” contentUrl=”https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/streaming/1003193/1003193.m3u8″ width=”16″ height=”9″]
The most surprising aspect of the Vikings draft is new head coach Kevin O’Connell — who has an offense background as OC with the Los Angeles Rams — will receive no offensive playmakers considered “game ready.“
This is not an indictment of the draft class. Instead, it’s just a little confounding that the new offense-first coach would onboard no sure-fire offensive weapons during his maiden voyage.
Of course, a handful of late-round mini-weapons was added in Ty Chandler, Jalen Nailor, and Nick Muse. Yet, men drafted “that late” in a draft are lottery tickets, holding only raw developmental promise. Chandler, Nailor, and Muse will not start for the Vikings in September.
The defense indeed needed refurbishment, so the draft’s early rounds weren’t stunning. In the last two seasons — classified by most as the downfall of former head coach Mike Zimmer — Minnesota allowed 388.3 yards per game, the fourth-most (worst) in the NFL. During those cumulative campaigns, the Vikings were defensively aligned per the numbers with bad teams like the Jets, Texans, and Lions. That company is terrible.
Ergo, Minnesota fortifying the defensive depth chart is a wise strategy. As Adam Thielen turns 32, Irv Smith Jr. recovers from season-long injury, and Dalvin Cook enters the back half of his physical prime, Adofo-Mensah could’ve reasonably drafted a player like George Pickens from Georgia or Trey McBride of Colorado State. At least then, O’Connell, an “offense guy,” would’ve had something to play with from the draft class.
This can also be interpreted as rubberstamp of the Vikings existing offensive roster personnel. When Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell got down to brass tacks evaluating the roster in February, perhaps they just really liked the status quo. In that regard, Kirk Cousins and friends will be in good hands if so.
Make no mistake — this was a defensive draft for the 2022 Vikings, supplying the franchise with defenders for the future.
It’s just a wee bit eyebrow-raising that not one “big name” offensive playmaker was drafted.
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 Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
