What direction will the Minnesota Vikings take with their first pick in the NFL draft? That is a question with a lot of possibilities.
They could go with any of five positions at 23. Quarterback, wide receiver, edge rusher, defensive line and cornerback are all on the table. The way the board falls will determine who they end up going with.
Here at Vikings Wire, we have looked at 339 industry mock drafts and took that information to identify trends and the most likely picks at 23rd overall.
1. Maryland CB Deonte Banks
Times selected: 42
The Vikings need a cornerback and Banks tested out as one of the most athletic cornerbacks ever. Banks thrives in press coverage and would be a tremendous add to the Vikings secondary.
2. TCU WR Quentin Johnston
Times selected: 8
Early on in the process, Johnston was consistently mocked in the top 10-15. With more information coming out and quarterbacks among the positions rising up the board, Johnston is more likely to be available at 23rd overall. My top receiver and number three-ranked overall player, Johnston would be a great complement to Justin Jefferson.
3. USC WR Jordan Addison
Times selected: 21
A few years prior, Addison likely wouldn’t be considered a first-round pick. With the success of DeVonta Smith, teams are much more likely to prioritize a player who is as crafty as Addison. He is a savvy route runner who understands how to manipulate space and leverage in both man and zone.
4. South Carolina CB Cam Smith
Times selected: 23
The Vikings are in need of a cornerback and getting one that both excels in man coverage and has excellent length would be an ideal situation. Smith is a little slender at 6010 and 187, but he makes up for it with that length and his strength.
5. Clemson DT Bryan Bresee
Times selected: 8
The Vikings have decent depth along the defensive line, but when your best player is Dean Lowry, things could be better. Bresee has all the talent you want from a 5T that can slide inside on passing downs. He’s had a rough couple of years with a torn ACL in 2021 and his sister passing away in 2022, but the talent is undeniable.
6. Alabama CB/S Brian Branch
Times selected: 13
The Vikings taking a safety in the first round two years in a row would be a surprise, Branch isn’t a normal safety. He has position versatility to play everywhere in the back seven and that is something that Brian Flores prioritizes.
7. Mississippi State CB Emmanuel Forbes
Times selected: 17
Would the Vikings take another cornerback that is slender after the failure of Cameron Dantzler Sr.? Forbes weighs even less than Dantzler did at only 166 lbs, but he’s got ball skills and ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash. Those traits give him a baseline for success.
8. Boston College WR Zay Flowers
Times selected: 13
The Vikings have a need at wide receiver and Flowers is an excellent player. He has the ability to play all over the field and can win from anywhere with his speed and quickness. The best aspect of Flowers’ game is how he can stretch the field vertically, something the Vikings desperately need across from Justin Jefferson.
9. Georgia EDGE Nolan Smith
Times selected: 8
Edge rusher isn’t high on a lot of priority lists for the Vikings, but there are major question marks on who is going to play the position in the future. Smith could come in and play early and often for the Vikings, but he wouldn’t have to with Danielle Hunter, Za’Darius Smith and Marcus Davenport on the roster.
10. Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker
Times selected: 9
If there is a quarterback available at 23rd overall, it’s likely going to be the Tennessee product. Hooker is coming off a torn ACL and will be 25 years old during the entirety of his rookie season. That raises major question marks and that’s before we get into the gimmicky offense he played in. Sitting behind Kirk Cousins for a season would be an ideal outcome for Hooker.
