The Minnesota Vikings have quite a few needs heading into the 2023 season and the one that will draw the most attention is cornerback. The Vikings have selected nine different cornerbacks over the first three weeks of 2023 in mock drafts and ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has the Vikings selecting a 10th.
The Vikings selected Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes in Kiper Jr.’s mock draft. Here is what Kiper Jr. had to say about the Bulldog cornerback.
“Veteran Patrick Peterson was the Vikings’ top corner this season, but he’s a free agent, and even if the team brings him back, it should start thinking about the future in the secondary. Safety Lewis Cine, Minnesota’s first-rounder last April, played just two defensive snaps before breaking his leg and missing the rest of the season. He should make a full recovery, but can the Vikings improve on the outside too? Rookie second-round pick Andrew Booth Jr. played in just six games due to injury, and he’s not a lock to start. Whoever takes over for fired coordinator Ed Donatell needs options. Forbes was an interception magnet for the Bulldogs; he had 14 over three seasons, including six in 2022. He gave up a few big plays, but he has tremendous potential as a cover corner.”
The ball skills with six pick-sixes and physicality in the running are both very attractive traits for whatever scheme the Vikings choose to run in 2023.
