Perfect Picks 2023: Minnesota Vikings
With the NFL Draft approaching we will be looking at each team and evaluating where they need to improve. In this particular series we will run a seven round mock using the Pro Football Network Mock Draft Simulator and find the ‘Perfect Picks’ for each franchise.
We will highlight four players that could help each team. This will feature picks 1 and 2, a mid round gem and a late round sleeper.
Round 1 - Deonte Banks (Cornerback, Maryland)
Patrick Peterson took over 1000 snaps for the Vikings in 2023. That’s a lot for a 32-year-old cornerback who will leave during free agency. The Vikings did take steps to address the position by selecting Andrew Booth and Cam Dantzler but it shouldn’t preclude them from adding another elite secondary piece.
Banks posted an impressive 4.35 40-yard dash at the scouting combine and that could be enough to propel him into the first round. His combination of size and speed is exactly what the NFL looks for in cornerbacks. He had a breakout senior year with 8 pass breakups and an interception. Plug Banks in on one side and let Booth and Dantzler battle it out for the other.
Round 3 - Joe Tippman (Center, Wisconsin)
The Vikings appear to have gone some way to building a solid offensive line for Kirk Cousins. Even what appeared to be the weak link, Garrett Bradbury, showed signs of promise in 2022. It was a contract year for the former first-rounder, and his uptick in performance gives the Vikings a dilemma. It will also give Bradbury the chance to make good money on the free market. If he walks the Vikings will need a ready-made replacement.
Wisconsin center Joe Tippmann could be that guy. He couldn’t be more different than Bradbury. At 6’6 he would be one of the biggest centers in the game. He has been slept on to a degree due to others at the position getting exposure at the Senior Bowl. Now people are back digging in the tape, Tippman’s exemplary college career is coming into focus. Allowing only 9 pressures on nearly 1500 snaps, shows exactly what he is capable of.
Mid Round Gem - Colby Wooden (Defensive Line, Auburn)
Every time I went to watch a defensive prospect from Auburn, it was Colby Wooden who I came away impressed by. At 6’4, 275 lbs, he has a tweener body. That inside/outside versatility was utilised by the Tigers, with Wooden splitting his snaps almost evenly between defensive end and tackle. In terms of production, he contributed 35 pressures, including six sacks in 2022.
Wooden would fit nicely on the Vikings, being able to play multiple roles. On base downs he could go play as a defensive tackle, while on passing downs you could allow him to pin his ears back from a wider alignment. If Za’Darius Smith or Danielle Hunter leave the Vikings this offseason, a player like Wooden would be a valuable asset.
Late Round Sleeper - Ronnie Bell (Wide Receiver, Michigan)
As this is the last pick the Vikings have in this draft it will have to count as our sleeper pick. Wide receiver will be a difficult position in this draft. While it is deep, the Vikings first pick could be a little rich for a wideout, while the picks in between that and their third-rounder will see the bulk of top talent wiped out.
Even if Adam Thielen is released, the Vikings would be best advised to address the WR2 spot in free agency. If that’s the case, or even if Thielen remains, a player like Ronnie Bell would be welcome depth. Although a slightly older prospect, having played five years for the Wolverines, Bell was a major weapon in this year’s run to the College Football Playoffs. He hauled in 4 TDs and 892 receiving yards. Lining up both on the outside and in the slot, he is a solid, do-it-all mid-round selection.
Draft In Full:
Round 1 – Deonte Banks (Cornerback, Maryland)
Round 3 – Joe Tippmann (Center, Wisconsin)
Round 4 – DJ Johnson (Defensive End, Oregon)
Round 5 – Colby Wooden (Defensive Line, Auburn)
Round 5 – Ronnie Bell (Wide Receiver, Michigan)
