The 2022 NFL Draft is less than a week away. The Minnesota Vikings added enough in the right places this offseason so that they won’t be forced into drafting for need. That’s not to say that they don’t have immediate needs. They have significant draft needs. The work that they did in the offseason simply means that they can be a bit more flexible in how and when they address those needs.
1. Cornerback
This is pretty straightforward. The Vikings started the offseason with the following cornerback depth chart.
Cam Dantzler
Kris Boyd
Harrison Hand
Parry Nickerson
That’s pretty bleak. Cam Dantzler is the only corner among those four with more than token starting experience. And he’s still establishing his NFL footing. The Vikings did enough at the position this offseason so that they can field a passable trio of cornerbacks.
Re-signed:
Patrick Peterson
Tye Smith
Signed:
Chandon Sullivan
Nate Hairston
The Vikings can be by with Patrick Peterson, Cam Dantzler, and Chandon Sullivan on the field. There’s also passable depth. If there are no injuries at the position, the Vikings might be able to get through the season. After that? The Vikings need more at the position. Much more. They need more capable corners now. They need more capable corners for beyond 2022. The Vikings don’t have to draft a cornerback at #12. If Cincinnati’s Ahmad Gardner miraculously falls to 12, he’s the pick. If LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr.’s available at 12, he’s probably the pick. I like Washington’s Trent McDuffie if Gardner and Stingley are gone. He might not have the natural gifts of the first two but he might be a safer pick than either of them.
I wouldn’t be surprised if two of the Vikings first four picks are cornerbacks.
2. Defensive Line
The Vikings are transitioning from a base 4-3 to a 3-4. The most significant adjustment will be edge-rushing linebackers being mixed into defensive line concerns. The Vikings should have a dynamite pass rushing pair in Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith. They can’t take all of the snaps. Nor should they as both are coming off significant injuries. There’s intriguing depth from youngsters ranging from marginally proven to unproven. D.J. Wonnum, Patrick Jones II, Janarius Robinson, and Kenny Willekes might emerge. I like the potential of each but none of them have done much in the NFL. Through two years, Wonnum’s made a few splash plays. Willekes might’ve been the team’s best pass rusher at the end of last season. You can’t have enough pass rushers and the Vikings need some beyond their top two. I like the players that will be putting their hands on the turf. Harrison Phillips, Dalvin Tomlinson, Armon Watts, and James Lynch should form a nice rotation. I really like Lynch as a breakout candidate. Of the four, he’s probably the best at getting after the quarterback. As with the edge rushers, the Vikings need more defensive linemen.
3. Offensive Line
For the first time in nearly a decade, offensive line isn’t the Vikings top draft need. That doesn’t mean that the offensive line is fixed. It just means that they are finally on the right track, they are finally getting close to a fielding an ok offensive line. They might even have some cornerstone players. Right tackle Brian O’Neill is the best of the bunch. Left tackle Christian Darrisaw and left guard Ezra Cleveland look the part. Garrett Bradbury will get one more season to show that he can be a cornerstone center. Right guard is wide open. The need on the offensive line is adding to the right guard competition, adding insurance at center, and adding overall depth. After years of offensive line frustrations it feels like the Vikings are finally getting close to a decent, hopefully much better than decent, group.
4. Wide Receiver
The Minnesota Vikings have a great wide receiver tradition. That tradition is topped by Cris Carter and Randy Moss. Both are honored in Canton. It’s amazing that Justin Jefferson stands far above Carter, Moss, and the rest with just over 3,000 yards in only two seasons. No receiver in league history has ever started their career like this. Incredible. With Jefferson, Adam Thielen, K.J. Osborn, and Ihmir Smith-Marsette the Vikings have a good receiver group. Thielen is 31. Osborn had a nice 2021 season after a redshirt rookie season. Smith-Marsette has nice physical traits. If Thielen can successfully battle aging, Osborn continues to improve, and Smith-Marsette can effectively tap those physical traits, the Vikings should be fine at receiver. In reality, Jefferson is really the only sure thing with this group.
5. Safety
I actually have faith in the Vikings safety situation as I have a lot of faith in Camryn Bynum. I like him paired with Harrison Smith. Just because I really like Bynum doesn’t mean that he’s the long term answer at safety. And Smith is 33. Behind Smith and Bynum, Josh Metellus and Myles Dorn provide modest depth. If Notre Dame’s Kyle Hamilton is available at #12, his card is at the podium. If Baylor’s Jalen Pitre is available in the second, I’d love the pick. Safety is a Vikings need. Perhaps it’s even a greater need than #5. But I like Bynum.
6. Tight End
As with the edge rushers, the Vikings top two tight ends are coming off significant knee injuries. Irv Smith Jr. was supposed to be a breakout star last season. He lost the year to a preseason knee injury. Johnny Mundt was added in free agency. He was modestly used by the Los Angeles Rams over the last five seasons. New Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell thought enough of Mundt to bring him along to Minnesota. I love Smith’s potential stardom. I like Mundt’s potential. Both are coming off knee injuries. Behind them are Ben Ellefson and Zach Davidson. Ellefson is a terrific blocker. Davidson is freakishly athletic at 6’7”. After a redshirt rookie season, maybe that athleticism can translate into production on the field. If Smith and Mundt are fully recovered from their knee injuries, I like the Vikings tight ends.
7. Linebacker
In the Vikings new 3-4, the outside linebackers are more pass rushers than off the ball. This position seems to come down to the middle two players. If Eric Kendricks and Jordan Hicks continue their current playing pace and quality, they should be impact starters. Behind them are Chazz Surratt, Troy Dye, and Blake Lynch. I like the trio as depth players. Surratt was another 2021 rookie that managed a redshirt season. Despite having done nothing in the NFL I like him as an eventual starter. As with Bynum at safety, just because I like Surratt’s potential doesn’t mean that his future is assured. Dye and Lynch have had some opportunities with mixed results. They can play but they also may never progress from depth players and special teams contributors. With Kendricks and Hicks and decent depth, linebacker isn’t an immediate draft need. Life after Kendricks and Hicks is a concern.
8. Running Back
Dalvin Cook, Alexander Mattison, Kene Nwangwu. Running back is a team strength. If there’s a concern at the position, it’s that Mattison is a free agent after this season.
9. Quarterback
Kirk Cousins is the Vikings quarterback for the next two seasons. I don’t think that the Vikings draft a quarterback early unless one falls into the lap in the second or third round. With Kellen Mond, the Vikings have a developmental in quarterback in the building. Perhaps later in the draft, I could see the team’s decision-makers adding to the stable.
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