The Vikings Draft Outcome You Should Start to Prepare For
Dustin Baker
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The Minnesota Vikings hold the 23rd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, an event that will be the second for general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah as top boss. Adofo-Mensah should have the 24th pick, but the Miami Dolphins cheated and forfeited their 1st-Round pick, so the Vikings climbed one spot.
Interestingly, the 23rd pick was the spot used to draft Christian Darrisaw in 2021. The 23-hole might be good luck for the Vikings. We shall see.
The Vikings Draft Outcome You Should Start to Prepare For
But no matter what happens in the lead-up to the draft, you, the Vikings fan, should start to prepare for these two inevitable outcomes.
1. The 23rd Pick Will Probably Be Traded
Adofo-Mensah fired up the most trades of any general manager during the 2022 NFL Draft, and there’s no reason he won’t do it again. He adored trading — often with NFC North foes — during the draft and continued trading all the way through the 2022 deadline when he landed T.J. Hockenson from the Detroit Lions.
Well, speaking of Hockenson, Adofo-Mensah donated a 2nd-Rounder [as part of the deal] from April’s draft for the tight end’s services, and you better believe he’ll attempt to get the 2nd-Round pick back during the draft.
In fact, when he pulled the trigger on the Hockenson trade, Adofo-Mensah probably believed, “Oh, I can get my pick back in April,” and a way to do that is trading the 23rd pick with a team holding the 24th-32nd choice.
Expect Adofo-Mensah to trade the 23rd pick for two 2nd-Rounders or a low-1st and mid-to-low-round 2nd-Rounders.
It’s comin’.
2. An Impact Defender in First 2 Picks
Listen, the Vikings defense was utterly exposed against the New York Giants. It was terrible at the time and remains a sour note in Vikings history. However, the defensive malpractice also created a situation where Kevin O’Connell and Adofo-Mensah cannot ignore the defense this offseason. That’s why Ed Donatell was terminated two weeks ago.
While it’s possible for the Vikings to use their first pick on a dynamite WR2, the second pick — at least — will be spent on an impact defender. Aside from the WR2 piece of the puzzle, Minnseota’s offense is in good shape, especially as O’Connell grows in his second year as a playcaller.
The defense, though, needs revamped personnel — probably faster, younger, and less expensive dudes. The best way to find such players is in the NFL draft.
You should fully anticipate the Vikings trading out of the 23rd pick, stockpiling an extra pick, and drafting a Week-1-ready defender with one of the first two picks.
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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