GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah had a curious first draft on the job that included a major move down in Round 1 a year ago, when he swapped picks with the division-rival Lions. It’s not Adofo-Mensah’s fault that his eventual first- and second-round picks, safety Lewis Cine (No. 32 overall) and corner Andrew Booth (No. 42), both had their rookie seasons interrupted by injury. Each player could help strengthen a major trouble area in 2023.
The bottom line is, among their 10 picks last year, the Vikings found one immediate starter — OG Ed Ingram — with the rest combining to contribute three total starts. Draft classes aren’t judged based on what happened in one season, of course, but that’s a little concerning, even with a veteran-led group that won 13 games and the NFC North title in 2022.
Things are likely to look a lot different this season. The depth across the board is worrisome. There’s the life-after-Kirk Cousins question that keeps lingering, with the QB, who turns 35 in August, heading into the final year of his contract. And just how much better is this defense, which finished 31st last season, after free agency additions such as Marcus Davenport, Dean Lowry and Byron Murphy?
The Vikings have only five selections (and no second-rounder) currently on hand in the 2023 NFL Draft. They could look to trade down in Round 1 to acquire more capital. Minnesota might take that kind of approach more than once. Will the analytics-minded front office net more talent and immediate help this time around?