A Final Look At The Minnesota Vikings Visits

The 2023 NFL Draft is just over a week away. Today is the last day for prospect visits. Here’s the list of prospects that have reportedly visited the Minnesota Vikings. 

Minnesota Vikings Visits

Jordan Addison, WR, USC

Calvin Avery, DT, Illinois

Jarrick Bernard-Converse, CB, LSU

Mekhi Blackmon, CB, USC

Isaiah Bolden, CB, Jackson State

Nico Bolden, S, Kent State

Anthony Bradford, OT, LSU

Brian Branch, DB, Alabama

Karl Brooks, DT, Bowling Green

Mohamoud Diabate, LB, Utah

Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State

Xavier Gipson, WR, Stephen F. Austin

Jordan Howden, S, Minnesota 

Evan Hull, RB, Northwestern

D.J. Ivey, CB, Miami

Nash Jensen, OG, North Dakota State

Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU

Isaiah Land, Edge/OLB, Florida A&M

Marte Mapu, S, Sacramento State

DeWayne McBride, RB, UAB

Tanner McKee, QB, Stanford

Trey Palmer, WR, Nebraska

John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota

Terell Smith, CB, Minnesota 

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

Colby Sorsdal. OL, William & Mary

Starling Thomas V, CB. UAB

Keion White, Edge, Georgia Tech

As Minnesota Golden Gophers, Jordan Howden, John Michael Schmitz, and Terrell Smith probably do not count against the 30-prospect limit. As residents within the Vikings “metropolitan area,” Evan Hull and Nash Jensen also probably do not count against the 30-prospect limit. 

As far as I’ve seen, there have been 28 reported visits. At minimum, 23 of those count against the 30 visit limit. 

Cornerback is one of the Vikings biggest needs in the 2023 NFL Draft. It’s no surprise that several populate the visit list. 

Jarrick Bernard-Converse, CB, LSU

Mekhi Blackmon, CB, USC

Isaiah Bolden, CB, Jackson State

Brian Branch, DB, Alabama

Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State

D.J. Ivey, CB, Miami

Terrell Smith, CB, Minnesota

Starling Thomas V, CB, UAB

About a third of the Vikings visits are cornerbacks. Branch played mostly safety at Alabama. He’d be an ideal nickel corner in the Vikings defense.

Receiver is also a significant need. Five are visiting with the Vikings.

Jordan Addison, WR, USC

Xavier Gipson, WR, Stephen F. Austin

Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU

Trey Palmer, WR, Nebraska

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

Three of the five, Jordan Addison, Quentin Johnston, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are expected to be selected in the first round and the 23rd pick is widely considered to be the “hot spot” for them. 

The Vikings are visiting with a quarterback! Despite being much bigger, at 6’6” and 231lbs, Tanner McKee is the quarterback in this draft that might draw comparisons to Kirk Cousins. That might mean something. Or nothing.