First Round Favorites For The Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings have the 12th pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Over the course of their college playing careers and a few months of pre-draft speculation, I’ve developed a fondness for some players that could be available to the Vikings in the first round. Here are a few of my first round favorites. 

In my opinion, the Vikings greatest positional need entering the 2022 NFL Draft is cornerback. My favorites start there. 

Dreamy favorites:

Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati

Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU

There once was a time when it was thought that both might be available at #12. That was short-lived. Ahmad Gardner shot up the draft board. Derek Stingley Jr. hovered at about #12 until his Pro Day. Now, he’s being thought of as a potential Top-5 pick. Certainly a Top-10 pick. Who knows? If some quarterbacks get snagged before the Vikings pick, some players that shouldn’t be available will be available. Strange things routinely happen in the NFL Draft. 

Another Dreamy favorite:

Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame

At worst, Kyle Hamilton is one of the three best players in this draft. Some in the business and many that watch the business consider safety a throw-away position. A position better addressed much later in the draft. That and a modest 40-yard time has Hamilton possibly dropping. A player that should be gone by the third pick could be available at the 12th pick. Championships are won by great players. Kyle Hamilton is a great football player. Safeties can and do impact football games. Ronnie Lott? Ed Reed? Troy Polamalu? Safeties can and have played significant roles in helping their teams win championships. They have often even been the heartbeat of great defenses. If Hamilton is available at #12, run, don’t walk, to the podium. I would love it if he’s the Vikings pick.

More Realistic First Round Favorites:

Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington

Jermaine Johnson II, Edge, Florida State

Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia

Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia

Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah

Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama

Andrew Booth, CB, Clemson

Drake London, WR, USC

The Vikings might be able to draft some of the above with a slight trade down. My preference is that defense is the first round pick. Despite that leaning, I wouldn’t shed a tear if a receiver like Garrett Wilson, Jameson Williams, or Drake London is the Vikings first pick. 

Of the above, Devin Lloyd feels like something of an outlier. Linebacker isn’t an immediate team need. I feel real good about Eric Kendricks and Jordan Hicks as the starters. There would probably only be situational opportunities for a rookie linebacker. That wouldn’t be a lot of impact out of a first round pick. There’s just something about Lloyd. I think that he’s going to an outstanding player in the league. Maybe so good immediately that he’d play his way past Hicks and onto the field. Anyway, I like Lloyd a lot. 

I’ll support and cheer for any player that the Vikings pick in the draft. Heading into the 2022 NFL Draft, I know that I’ll be most thrilled if the pick is one of my favorites. Favorites ranging from dreamy to a bit more realistic.