Minnesota Vikings Pre-Draft Visits

The 2023 NFL Draft is three weeks away. It’s the time for prospect visits. Teams can invite up to 30 prospects to their facility prior to the draft. Prospects who attend college or reside in a team’s “metropolitan area” can be given a physical examination without counting against the 30-prospect limit. A list of visits isn’t routinely released by the teams so it can be difficult to find a complete list of the events. Those curious as to which prospects are visiting with which teams are at the mercy of the Ian Rapoports of the football world and diligent beat-writers. The website Walter Football does a fine job of compiling prospect-team visits throughout the draft evaluation process. From college all-star games, through the scouting combine, and the private visits. Pulling from a few sources, I’ve managed to put together a meager list of prospects that have visited or will visit the Minnesota Vikings.

Jordan Addison, WR, USC

Anthony Bradford, OT, LSU

Brian Branch, S, Alabama

Karl Brooks, DT, Bowling Green

Mohamoud Diabate, LB, Utah

Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State

Jordan Howden, S, Minnesota 

Nash Jensen, OG, North Dakota State

Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU

Marte Mapu, S, Sacramento State

DeWayne McBride, RB, UAB

Trey Palmer, WR, Nebraska

John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota

Terell Smith, CB, Minnesota 

Starling Thomas V, CB. UAB

As Minnesota Golden Gophers, Jordan Howden, John Michael Schmitz, and Terrell Smith probably do not count against the 30-prospect limit. 

15 visits. Three of those are with locals. It should be noted that these are reported visits. The Vikings may have visited with other prospects or have scheduled visits with other prospects that haven’t been reported. There’s still nearly three weeks between now and the draft. 

The receivers are interesting. In this draft, there are four “certain” first round receivers.

Quentin Johnston

Jordan Addison

Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Zay Flowers

Of the four, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Zay Flowers are my favorites. The Vikings have brought in or will bring in the other two. All four would be terrific additions to the Vikings offense. The other receiver visitor, Trey Palmer would be a nice mid-round addition. 

The Vikings need defensive reinforcements. The 2022 defense was terrible. And slow. Cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. and edge Marcus Davenport were excellent free agent additions. The defense is a work in progress and there’s no way to know where they stand until the players are on the field working in Brian Flores’ defense. One thing that is currently missing on the roster is an impact pass rushing presence from the defensive interior. James Lynch has had some moments. Free agent addition Dean Lowry should be a solid rotational presence. I have high hopes for 2022 fifth-round pick Esezi Otomewo. Still, an impact pass rushing interior lineman might be the biggest defensive need. Karl Brooks is a draft sleeper that could be that sort of player. 

If a pass rushing interior lineman isn’t the Vikings biggest defensive need, adding another cornerback might be. If Emmanuel Forbes was a bit beefier, he’d probably be a top-15 pick. Despite his 166-lb frame, he’s one of the best corners in the draft. If he was the pick at #23, I wouldn’t be disappointed. I currently prefer Brian Branch at #23. Coming out of Alabama’s secondary, he could probably immediately step into any NFL secondary. He played safety and nickel in college. I like him a lot as the Vikings nickel for the next decade. Branch, Byron Murphy Jr., Lewis Cine, and Harrison Smith would form a versatile secondary. Of the 15 reported visitors, Brian Branch might be favorite football player. 

Marte Mapu is the most curious visitor. He’s curious as much for his Sacramento State roots as the safety-linebacker position that he played. 

Mohamoud Diabate is another visitor that intrigues me. 

The visiting continues…