The 2022 NFL Draft is in the books. Every year, the pre-draft process feels like an eternity. Then the draft is over in a blink. Between Georgia’s Travon Walker being the first pick and Iowa State’s Brock Purdy being the last pick, the Minnesota Vikings selected ten players. After the draft, eight players that went undrafted were signed. All 18 rookies have their NFL shot.
2022 Minnesota Vikings Draft Class
1(32). Lewis Cine, S, Georgia
2(42). Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson
2(59). Ed Ingram, OG, LSU
3(66). Brian Asamoah, LB, Oklahoma
4(118). Akayleb Evans, CB, Missouri
5(165). Esezi Otomewo, DL, Minnesota
5(169). Ty Chandler, RB, North Carolina
6(184). Vederian Lowe, OT, Illinois
6(191). Jalen Nailor, WR, Michigan State
7(227). Nick Muse, TE, South Carolina
2022 Minnesota Vikings Undrafted Free Agents
Luiji Vilain, Edge, Wake Forest
Mike Brown, S, Miami (OH)
Thomas Hennigan, WR, Appalachian State
Bryant Koback, RB, Toledo
Zach McCloud, LB, Miami
Josh Sokol, C, Sacred Heart
Tyarise Stevenson, DT, Tulsa
Ryan Wright, P, Tulane
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The draft picks:
One draft is a tiny sample size but it sure look like the Vikings new decision-makers favor players from big schools. Their first four picks come from annual title contenders. All 10 picks come from big schools from big conferences.
None of the ten have had a chance to do a thing in the NFL. They haven’t even taken part in their first professional practice. It’s way too early and not really fair to make career projections for any of these players. I can’t help myself from doing just that.
I like Lewis Cine and Andrew Booth Jr. as immediate starters. Camryn Bynum has spent the offseason as the penciled-in starter at safety next to Harrison Smith. I’ve liked that potential pairing since Bynum was selected in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Cine is simply too talented. He and Smith will be an outstanding safety duo. Bynum will still see the field. This new Vikings defense will be versatile. The corners in base should come down to Patrick Peterson, Andrew Booth Jr., and Cameron Dantzler. Free agent addition Chandon Sullivan will see the field as well. I wouldn’t be surprised if fourth-round pick Akayleb Evans gets some playing time on defense as well. The competition for right guard will be wide open. Second-year Wyatt Davis, free agent additions Jesse Davis, Chris Reed, and Austin Schlottman will be part of that competition. Second-round pick Ed Ingram will be part of it as well. He might even be the favorite for the job.
I really like Brian Asamoah. With Eric Kendricks and Jordan Hicks, the Vikings linebacker starters are set and very good. Asamoah and/or 2021 third-round pick Chazz Suratt should have a shot to start next to Kendricks in a year or two. Until then, Asamoah should make an immediate impact on special teams. I also believe that he’ll play his way into some situational roles on defense.
Esezi Otomewo sure looks the part. While he might be considered a developmental player he has some tools that could earn early playing time in a rotational role.
Ty Chandler has unique speed. If he’s on the 53-man roster in September, the Vikings will probably have four running backs, plus C.J. Ham, on the roster. That’s a lot of backs. Chandler has unique speed. His selection might’ve been made with 2023 in mind. Alexander Mattison is on the final year of his rookie contract. A potential starting job with another team will probably be his preference. Special teams is probably Chandler’s route to the roster. The same goes for Jalen Nailor. I like him as the punt returner.
Like Otomewo, Vederian Lowe sure looks the ideal of the position that he plays. 6’6” and 320 lbs. And he looks the right kind of 6’6” 320 lbs. With Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill firmly in place as the starting tackles, Lowe could push Oli Udoh for the swing-tackle role.
Of all the later round picks, Nick Muse might be the player that intrigues me the most. He’s an intriguing football player. And apparently quite the personality. Irv Smith Jr. and Johnny Mundt top the tight end depth chart. Smith has the talent to be a superstar. Head coach Kevin O’Connell and offensive coordinator Wes Phillips know Mundt’s potential better than anyone. They thought enough of him to bring him over from the Los Angeles Rams. While I like the potential of Smith and Mundt, both are coming off of injuries that wiped out their 2021 seasons. Muse has an opportunity and I like his chances.
One of the more annoying story lines with many of the Vikings beat writers was the trades with division foes. The first round trade with the Detroit Lions and the second round trade with Green Bay Packers. Writers were honking about the trades as soon as they were made. That was on Thursday and Friday. Some are still honking about it. I’m sure that they’ll honk about it every time the Vikings play the Lions and Packers. Those teams were going to find a way to get their players. The Vikings weren’t taking them. Those trades enabled the Vikings to get the players. It’s probably just me. I don’t care who other teams draft. I only care about the players that the Vikings draft. In this draft, the Lions and Packers helped the Vikings get those players.
The undrafted free agents:
I really hope that Luiji Vilain makes the 53-man roster. Great name. I hope that Josh Sokol makes the 53-man roster. Great name. Tulane punter Ryan Wright probably has the best roster shot. If Jordan Berry had the punting job locked down, Wright probably wouldn’t have been signed. At 6’3” and 365 lbs, defensive tackle Tyarise Stevenson has unique size. The Vikings don’t have a player like that to put over the center. If he can do NFL things at that size, he might have a shot at the roster.
18 rookies have their NFL shot with the Minnesota Vikings. I can’t wait to see what they do with it.
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