Vikings’ 2023 Draft Decision Totally Vindicated
The Minnesota Vikings own an 11-2 record after 14 weeks, needing just one more win or Los Angeles Rams loss to clinch a trip to the postseason.
Vikings’ 2023 Draft Decision Totally Vindicated
Operations are humming in Minnesota rather unexpectedly.
And after wide receiver Jordan Addison, a product of the 2023 NFL Draft, popped off last weekend against the Atlanta Falcons, the decision to select him over the other would-be nominees is all the more vindicated.
The Vikings owned the 22nd pick in that draft, and these three men were the other reasonable Addison alternatives at the time. Have a look at their performances to date.
1. Deonte Banks (CB)
2024 Pro Football Focus Grade: 51.3
The New York Giants are in shambles, and quite frankly, Banks stinks. During the 2023 draft, Minnesota arguably needed a cornerback, but when it stepped up to the podium, Roger Goodell called Jordan Addison’s name.
Banks still has time to figure it out as a pro. For now, however, he features a 137.3 passer-rating-against this season. And the guy is a full-time starter.
New York may continue to give Banks time to develop, but his second campaign is undebatably awful.
2. Bryan Breese (DT)
2024 Pro Football Focus Grade: 38.0
The Vikings haven’t featured an impact pass-rushing defensive tackle since Kevin Williams left — over a decade ago. So, websites like this one and others often call for the purple team to invest at DT.
They have not obliged.
When the 2023 draft was heating up, Bresee was the type of defender available to Minnesota, and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could’ve traded down and still landed Bresee.
Like Banks above, Bresee is experiencing a suspect sophomore season, and a 38.0 PFF grade is just downright bad. His sack numbers are there — 8 through 14 weeks — but his run defense is not yet to a starting caliber DT. In fact, his PFF run grade is 28.3. That’s second to last in the business among 212 interior defensive linemen.
3. Mazi Smith (CB)
2024 Pro Football Focus Grade: 36.8
Smith is one of the NFL’s worst interior defensive linemen in 2024, emulating Bresee with poor rush defense. And unfortunately for his sake, he has just one sack, whereas Bresee has 8.
Smith ranks 110th in quarterback pressures and 113th in quarterback hurries.
The guy cannot stop the run, either.
Addison, conversely, is on pace for 926 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns while missing two games due to injury back in September.
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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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