The Minnesota Vikings did not have much draft capital to work with in the 2023 NFL Draft. According to the Draft Power Rankings on Tankathon, only the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins had less overall capital going in.
It was always going to be difficult for Minnesota to sustain their performance from a season ago. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has done a nice job retooling the defense from the pieces they’ve lost, but Adam Thielen’s departure created a massive hole at receiver — one the Vikings set out to fill through the draft.
Want to see how the Vikings graded out during the 2023 NFL Draft? Check out our full Minnesota Vikings draft grades. You can also see the entire 2023 NFL Draft results.
Minnesota Vikings Draft Picks Tracker by Round in 2023
- Round 1, Pick 23
Jordan Addison, WR, USC - Round 3, Pick 102 (from SF)
Mekhi Blackmon, CB, USC
- Round 4, Pick 134 (from KC)
Jay Ward, DB, LSU - Round 5, Pick 141 (from IND)
Jaquelin Roy, DT, LSU - Round 5, Pick 164 (from SF)
Jaren Hall, QB, BYU - Round 7, Pick 222 (from SF via DEN)
DeWayne McBride, RB, UAB
*compensatory selection
How Many Draft Picks Did the Vikings Have in the 2023 NFL Draft?
Minnesota ended the draft with six picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, with only one (No. 23 overall) being their actual own.
MORE: FREE Mock Draft Simulator With Trades
With 2023 shaping up as Kirk Cousins’ last season in Minnesota, the Vikings are at a bit of a crossroads. The Vikings had been rumored to be interested in drafting Cousins’ replacement this year. Instead, they gave him an additional weapon by adding WR Jordan Addison from USC.
Addison should fit the Vikings’ offense very well, especially considering that he won’t be relied upon to be a No. 1 WR with Justin Jefferson present. As a complementary threat to Jefferson, Addison can take advantage of opportunities at all levels with his RAC ability, ease of separation, and instincts when attacking the ball vertically.
In Round 3, Minnesota added Addison’s collegiate teammate, Mekhi Blackmon, to help solidify their secondary, and they stacked that selection with LSU’s Jay Ward in Round 4. Ward is a long, explosive athlete with experience at cornerback, safety, and the nickel spot, and he could be valuable depth for Minnesota early on.
With their final three picks, the Vikings brought in defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy, quarterback Jaren Hall, and running back DeWayne McBride. Roy is a plus run stopper with some pass-rushing upside. Hall is a viable QB2 with good tools. And McBride is a tenacious runner with superb contact balance who could take on early-down volume if Dalvin Cook departs.
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