1. Cornerback
2. Cornerback
3. Linebacker
4. Edge
5. Interior Offensive Line
Cornerback
Cornerback doesn’t need to be listed twice. In thinking through some mock drafts, I’ve often been tempted to pick cornerbacks in the first and second rounds. That’s as much due to the players that might be available at those picks as it is a need at the position. Looking at the players under contract for 2022, the top of the Vikings cornerback depth chart looks like this:
Cameron Dantzler
Kris Boyd
Harrison Hand
That’s a little bleak. Maybe some of the practice squad/reservists emerge. That’s a little hopeful. Cameron Dantzler has the skills to be a terrific corner. He’s flashed those skills at times. He’s also struggled at times. Kris Boyd is a nice depth corner and very good on special teams. Harrison Hand might develop. The Vikings need corners. Free agency should lessen that need. They probably won’t have the cap space for a player like J.C. Jackson or even Carlton Davis. Maybe they can make room for Charvarius Ward or Donte Jackson. It’s probably more likely that they bring back Patrick Peterson and look to the draft. Who knows? I just know that the Vikings need corners.
Corner at 12?
Ahmad Gardner, Cincinnati
Derek Stingley Jr., LSU
Andrew Booth, Clemson
Trent McDuffie, Washington
If the draft were now, I believe that the Vikings first pick would be one of the above. I believe that for a couple reasons. 1) The Vikings need corners. 2) 12 looks to be the “sweet spot” for those corners.
Linebacker
In terms of Vikings needs, I believe that linebacker is right behind cornerback. Eric Kendricks is the only established linebacker on the roster that’s under contract for 2022. Hopefully, Anthony Barr returns for another season. The Vikings need linebackers. They’re also transitioning to a 3-4 defense. If Barr’s back, I can see him paired with Kendricks on the inside. I can see him on the edge. The latter is the position that most probably see him playing. A 3-4 edge was thought to be his ideal position when he entered the league in 2015. He has the versatility to play both. I hope that he’s back. If not, Chazz Surratt and Blake Lynch are the leading contenders on the roster to join Kendricks in the middle of the defense. I really believe that Surratt has the talent to emerge as an impact player. After starting his college career as a quarterback, he’s only been playing linebacker for a couple seasons. His rookie season with the Vikings was essentially a redshirt year. Right now, he’s a complete unknown. He could be a surprise player on the defense this year.
Linebacker at 12?
Devin Loyd, Utah
Nakobe Dean, Georgia
Come draft time, Devin Loyd and Nakobe Dean could be intriguing options at 12. Perhaps one could still be had with a slight trade-back. If the Vikings select a linebacker early, I think that it’s more likely to happen in the second or third rounds. Alabama’s Christian Harris and Wyoming’s Chad Muma are linebackers that I currently like with those picks.
Edge
I’m really not sure what to think about the Vikings edge needs. Danielle Hunter is a beast but he has to stay on the field. Seeing him sidelined for the bulk of the past two seasons has been so damn disappointing. When healthy, he’s one of the league’s elite pass rushers. Right now, the Vikings edge presence is Hunter and a bunch of guys. The switch to a 3-4 will be interesting for those guys. D.J. Wonnum has spent his two seasons with the Vikings making some splash plays. More often, he’s been just a guy. If those splash plays can become his norm, he’ll pair nicely with Hunter. As a rookie, Patrick Jones showed potential. Perhaps what impressed me most about him were quick transitions from pass rush to run defense. His opportunities were few but I liked what I saw. Physically, Janarius Robinson looks the part. Unfortunately, he didn’t get the opportunity to play the part as he missed his rookie season to injury. At the end of last season, Kenny Willekes may have been the Vikings best edge rusher. He might also be the player most hurt by the switch to a 3-4. His strongest trait is unrelenting effort. He doesn’t have the quick-twitch athleticism expected of 3-4 outside linebackers. He doesn’t really have the size to play 3-4 defensive end. Still, there’s a place for players that finds a way to get to the quarterback. In a fairly small sample size, Willekes has shown that he can get to the quarterback. All of the Vikings edge players were drafted as 4-3 defensive ends. I know that Hunter can make the transition to 3-4 outside linebacker. He can do anything on the edge. I believe that Wonnum, Jones, and Robinson have the physical ability to join Hunter in a nice rotation of edge rushers. I really like Willekes as a football player. Outside of Hunter, none of those guys are proven NFL players. Neither is any rookie that’s drafted in April.
Despite this switch to a 3-4, the Vikings will still throw some even fronts at offenses. There should still be room on the roster for players with 4-3 traits.
Edge at 12?
Unless Aidan Hutchinson or Kayvon Thibodeaux somehow drop, I don’t see it. In the second or third round, I wouldn’t be disappointed if the Vikings selected Minnesota’s Boye Mafe. There are a few others I like on Day 2 but I keep looking at Mafe.
Interior Offensive Line
It feels a little strange to not have offensive line at the top of the Vikings draft needs. I’m finally feeling pretty good about the Vikings offensive line. The tackle positions appear set for a long time with Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill. There are still questions with the interior. Ezra Cleveland looks like a keeper at left guard. Nearly all fans have given up on Garrett Bradbury at center. He can do things on the move that few, if any, centers can do. His lack of size and/or anchor has allowed some interior defenders to take advantage of him. Perhaps because of the things that he does really well or perhaps because he was a first round pick, I haven’t given up on Bradbury. Maybe new coaches can bring out what’s been missing in his game. For at least another season, I still believe that the Vikings have their center. That leaves right guard. Oli Udoh filled the role last season. He has unique size and athleticism. From penalties to mistakes, much of the team’s interior line problems revolved around his play. He was playing guard for the first time. Maybe that was the reason for the issues but game after game he never seemed to get better. Some might say that he played worse as the season progressed. Maybe Udoh’s better in his second year at the position. I’d rather not find out in games that count. Personally, I’d rather see him as a swing-tackle. I believe that the answer at right guard is Wyatt Davis. Several of the Vikings 2020 draft picks had redshirt rookie seasons. Davis was one of those players. No one knows what he can do in the NFL. No one knows what he can’t do. Here’s hoping that he gets an opportunity to show what he can do as soon as offseason workouts kick off. Perhaps better play from the guards, right guard in particular, will help Bradbury become the player that he has the talent to be.
Interior offensive line at 12?
The Vikings have too many defensive needs to address right guard at 12. I might be alone on this but I see the Vikings offensive line needs as more depth needs.
Other needs:
1. Defensive tackle.
A lot needs to be sorted out in the transition to a 3-4. Michael Pierce is the only true nose tackle on the roster. In his two years with the Vikings, availability has been a serious issue. Some sort of rotation of Pierce, Dalvin Tomlinson and Armon Watts will be in the middle of the Vikings new defensive line. At 325 lbs, Tomlinson carries the bulk to play on the nose. I actually like him best as a 3-4 end. At a listed 307 lbs, Watts doesn’t have the traditional anchoring size of a 3-4 nose but I like him there. If Pierce can play the entire season, the Vikings should be ok at defensive tackle. If the decision-makers aren’t comfortable with relying on Pierce being available, defensive tackle moves up the need list.
2. Tight end.
This would be a need if Tyler Conklin isn’t re-signed.
3. Safety.
I like Harrison Smith and Camryn Bynum as the starting safeties. Some might not have the faith in Bynum that I have. They probably didn’t watch him play four years at Cal. Depth at safety and perhaps an eventual replacement for Smith are the safety needs that I see.
4. Overall depth.
5. More cornerbacks.
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