Mar 4, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Southern California wide receiver Jordan Addison (WO01) participates in the broad jump at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.
Everything is on the table for the Minnesota Vikings and the team’s No. 23 overall pick except for a new offensive tackle, tight end, kicker, or punter. Those ain’t happenin’.
Aside from those four positions, some scenario could land the Vikings with a player from each position, even University of Texas running back Bijan Robinson, if general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah felt funky enough.
Yet, beyond the “who will they take” speculation among Vikings fans and pundits, Vegas sportsbooks have real odds for Minnesota’s choice. The frontrunner seems to be a wide receiver to replace Adam Thielen, a cornerback to take over for Patrick Peterson + Duke Shelley, or a splashy quarterback selection.
Via a mixture of sportsbooks odds, with the NFL draft about three weeks away, these are favorites to end up with the Vikings at the end of the month (from Round 1).
Addison (USC), Flowers (Boston College), Johnson (TCU), and Smith-Njigba (Ohio State) would fill the Thielen void and keep incumbent WR3 K.J. Osborn in his WR3 spot. Minnesota curiously didn’t sign a WR2 from free agency when it could’ve landed D.J. Chark (Panthers) or JuJu Smith-Schuster (Patriots) on somewhat affordable deals. The Vikings will either fulfill the draft odds above with a WR pick at No. 23, sign Odell Beckham from the free-agent wire, trade for a Courtland Sutton type, or tab Osborn for the WR2 job.
Cornerback feels like the safest prediction for the Vikings first pick of the event. Banks (Maryland), Smith (South Carolina), and Porter Jr. (Penn State) may or may not be available by the time Minnesota strolls to the podium, but all three likely won’t be gone. Brian Flores’ new defense employs Byron Murphy, Andrew Booth, and Akayleb Evans as startable corners in early April, and the group needs more firepower and depth.
Drafting Texas’ Bijan Robinson is a longshot, simply because the Vikings have Dalvin Cook, Alexander Mattison, Ty Chandler, and Kene Nwangwu on the roster at RB, but stranger things have happened. In drafts of yesteryear, Robinson could’ve been a Top 3 pick — and not very long ago.
Finally, Hooker (Tennessee), Levis (Kentucky), and Richardson (Florida) are all the buzz lately, as QB1 Kirk Cousins isn’t under contract after 2023. If nothing happens between Cousins and the Vikings front office between now and next March, he’ll hit free agency for a world tour like Derek Carr one month ago. Accordingly, Adofo-Mensah could plan for the Cousins afterlife now rather than waiting until absolutely necessary. And that’s where the Hooker-Levis-Richardson odds slide in.
The last time Minnesota picked at No. 23, it found left tackle Christian Darrisaw from Virginia Tech.
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.