8 Players the Vikings Could Draft Friday Night
Dustin Baker
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The Minnesota Vikings kicked off the 2023 NFL Draft with a bang Mike Breen would be proud of.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah selected wide receiver Jordan Addison from USC, and now Minnesota will pair the Trojan with a best-in-the-league WR counterpart Justin Jefferson.
8 Players the Vikings Could Draft Friday Night
What a world.
Now, however, the Vikings must target defensive help. The team doesn’t have a 2nd-Round pick Friday evening, spending the selection on a trade that landed tight end T.J. Hockenson last November.
Minnesota is on tap to pick in Round 3 at the 87th pick, and these are eight players it could target (in alphabetical order).
**Note: This assumes the team doesn’t trade up higher on the board with future draft capital or current player assets.
1. Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson (CB)
TCU
The Why: Five cornerbacks left the Vikings this offseason — Patrick Peterson (Steelers), Duke Shelley (Raiders), Cameron Dantzler (Commanders), Kris Boyd (Cardinals), and Chandon Sullivan (free agent). Unless Minnesota has grand plans to add a free agent like Shaquil Griffin, Marcus Peters, or Rock Ya-Sin, more CB depth is necessary, especially if Andrew Booth and Akayleb Evans are beset by injuries again.
The Good: Hodges-Tomlinson is athletic as hell and a sound technician.
The Bad: He’s 5’9.”
2. Moro Ojomo (DT)
Texas
The Why: Dalvin Tomlinson departed to the Cleveland Browns, and the non-Harrison-Phillips DT options are Khyiris Tonga, Dean Lowry, and Jonathan Bullard.
The Good: Ojomo is smart, lengthy, and versatile as a defensive lineman.
The Bad: He may not be a homerun fit in a 3-4 defense.
3. Clark Phillips III (CB)
Utah
The Why: Five cornerbacks left the Vikings this offseason — Patrick Peterson (Steelers), Duke Shelley (Raiders), Cameron Dantzler (Commanders), Kris Boyd (Cardinals), and Chandon Sullivan (free agent). Unless Minnesota has grand plans to add a free agent like Shaquil Griffin, Marcus Peters, or Rock Ya-Sin, more CB depth is necessary, especially if Andrew Booth and Akayleb Evans are beset by injuries again.
The Good: Phillips is scrappy, quick, and wonderful in coverage.
The Bad: He’s 5’10” and not the greatest tackler in this draft class.
4. Eli Ricks (CB)
Alabama
The Why: Five cornerbacks left the Vikings this offseason — Patrick Peterson (Steelers), Duke Shelley (Raiders), Cameron Dantzler (Commanders), Kris Boyd (Cardinals), and Chandon Sullivan (free agent). Unless Minnesota has grand plans to add a free agent like Shaquil Griffin, Marcus Peters, or Rock Ya-Sin, more CB depth is necessary, especially if Andrew Booth and Akayleb Evans are beset by injuries again.
The Good: Ricks is an “IQ guy” and can play press + zone coverage with the best of them.
The Bad: Only played 28 games in his college career.
5. Darius Rush (CB)
South Carolina
The Why: Five cornerbacks left the Vikings this offseason — Patrick Peterson (Steelers), Duke Shelley (Raiders), Cameron Dantzler (Commanders), Kris Boyd (Cardinals), and Chandon Sullivan (free agent). Unless Minnesota has grand plans to add a free agent like Shaquil Griffin, Marcus Peters, or Rock Ya-Sin, more CB depth is necessary, especially if Andrew Booth and Akayleb Evans are beset by injuries again.
The Good: Rush is 6’2″ and long.
The Bad: Not known as a press-coverage savant.
6. Henry To’oto’o (LB)
Alabama
The Why: Eric Kendricks chose the Los Angeles Chargers as his next NFL home, leaving Brian Asamoah and Jordan Hicks in line for starting linebacker duty. More long-term oomph is needed.
The Good: To’oto’o is another IQ guy and an adept tackler in the middle of the field.
The Bad: Run support is suspect.
7. Cory Trice (CB)
Purdue
The Why: Five cornerbacks left the Vikings this offseason — Patrick Peterson (Steelers), Duke Shelley (Raiders), Cameron Dantzler (Commanders), Kris Boyd (Cardinals), and Chandon Sullivan (free agent). Unless Minnesota has grand plans to add a free agent like Shaquil Griffin, Marcus Peters, or Rock Ya-Sin, more CB depth is necessary, especially if Andrew Booth and Akayleb Evans are beset by injuries again.
The Good: Trice is 6’3″ and as tough as nails; a true press-coverage CB.
The Bad: Not incredibly quick; might look like a safety.
8. Kobie Turner (DT)
The Why: Dalvin Tomlinson departed to the Cleveland Browns, and the non-Harrison-Phillips DT options are Khyiris Tonga, Dean Lowry, and Jonathan Bullard.
The Good: Turner is explosive and marvelous with his hands.
The Bad: Small and not a great pass rusher.
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 Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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