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USA Today Sports Media Group
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Tyler Forness

Vikings 2023 NFL draft primer: How to watch, draft order and analysis

The 2023 NFL draft is finally here!

General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah enters his second draft in charge of the Minnesota Vikings and there is still a lot of questions that need to be answered.

With the draft finally upon us, here is a primer with everything you need to know about the Vikings and what to expect during the three-day extravaganza.

The Basics

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
  • What: 2023 NFL draft
  • Where: Kansas City, MO
  • When: 
    • Thursday, April 27, 7 p.m. CT: Round 1
    • Friday, April 28, 6 p.m. CT: Rounds 2-3
    • Saturday, April 29, 11 a.m. CT: Rounds 4-7
  • TV: ABC, ESPN, NFL Network
  • Stream: fuboTV (try it for free)

Vikings' 2023 draft picks

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
  • Round 1, Pick 23
  • Round 3, Pick 87
  • Round 4, Pick 119
  • Round 5, Pick 158
  • Round 6, Pick 211

Vikings' biggest positional needs

Harrison Barden-USA TODAY Sports
  • Quarterback
  • Wide receiver
  • Cornerback
  • Defensive line
  • Edge rusher
  • Running back

Vikings Wire staff predicts Minnesota's first-round pick

Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports

Full analysis

What Vikings should and shouldn't do in NFL draft

Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

DO

  • Trade up for a falling quarterback
  • If a quarterback doesn’t fall, acquire two more day two picks with a trade down
  • Take talented players with value

DON’T

  • Select a cornerback just to take one. There are plenty of talented ones
  • Take zero wide receivers
  • Draft Hendon Hooker in round one

Projected starting offense

Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
  • QB Kirk Cousins
  • RB Alexander Mattison
  • FB C.J. Ham
  • WR Justin Jefferson
  • WR K.J. Osborn
  • TE T.J. Hockenson
  • LT Christian Darrisaw
  • LG Ezra Cleveland
  • C Garrett Bradbury
  • RG Ed Ingram
  • RT Brian O’Neill

Projected starting defense

Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
  • DE Khyiris Tonga
  • NT Harrison Phillips
  • DE Dean Lowry
  • EDGE Danielle Hunter
  • EDGE Marcus Davenport
  • ILB Brian Asamoah
  • ILB Jordan Hicks
  • CB Byron Murphy Jr.
  • CB Andrew Booth Jr.
  • CB Akayleb Evans
  • S Harrison Smith
  • S Lewis Cine

Projected starting special teams

Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
  • K Greg Joseph
  • P Ryan Wright
  • LS Andrew DePaola
  • KR Kene Nwangwu
  • PR Jalen Reagor

Best Vikings draft picks since 2000

Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
  1. WR Stefon Diggs (2015)
  2. EDGE Danielle Hunter (2015)
  3. EDGE Everson Griffen (2010)
  4. WR Justin Jefferson (2020)
  5. RT Brian O’Neill (2018)
  6. C John Sullivan (2008)
  7. EDGE Brian Robinson (2007)
  8. LT Christian Darrisaw (2021)
  9. EDGE Ifeadi Odenigbo (2017)
  10. ILB Eric Kendricks (2015)

Full analysis

Worst Vikings draft picks since 2000

Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
  1. QB Christian Ponder (2011)
  2. WR Laquon Treadwell (2016)
  3. EDGE Erasmus James (2005)
  4. EDGE Michael Boireau (2000)
  5. EDGE Scott Crichton (2014)
  6. CB Jeff Gladney (2020)
  7. WR Cordarrelle Patterson (2013)
  8. OG Wyatt Davis (2021)
  9. LB Chazz Surratt (2021)
  10. WR Troy Williamson (2006)

Full analysis

Tyler Forness' top players

The Real Forno Show

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