There may be a top player available for the Minnesota Vikings with the 12th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Going through our final mock draft as the GM of the Vikings led us to a ton of value all the way through the draft.
Minnesota Vikings 2022 7-Round Mock Draft
Here are projections of every pick the Minnesota Vikings could make within a 7-Round 2022 NFL Mock Draft with the Pro Football Network staff as the general manager. This is what we would do with the picks after the board shook out while doing a full 7-round, 32-team mock draft.
Round 1, Pick 12: Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
It took a while, but the first cornerback is off the board. Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner is a true lockdown cornerback with sticky coverage ability. He immediately transforms a Minnesota Vikings secondary devoid of talent on the outside and makes them a formidable coverage unit. In three years at Cincinnati, Gardner didn’t allow a touchdown and was dominant game in and game out.
Other players in consideration: Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU; Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
Round 2, Pick 46: Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State
Another potential first-round talent that slides through the cracks, the Vikings grab Jaquan Brisker to pair with Harrison Smith. Brisker can come downhill well — he’s a solid addition in the box or at free safety in coverage.
Other players in consideration: Jalen Pitre, S, Baylor; JT Woods, S, Baylor; Lewis Cine, S, Georgia
Round 3, Pick 77: Travis Jones, DT, UConn
Securing Travis Jones in Round 3 feels unfair for the Vikings. He’s a rare blend of size and speed in a massive frame. Somehow, Jones tipped the scales over 320 pounds, nearly 6’5″, and still came in under 5 seconds in the 40-yard dash. Jones also has great hand usage and a solid base that he uses to throw linemen to the side while dismantling the point of attack.
Other players in consideration: Phidarian Mathis, DT, Alabama; Chris Hinton, DT, Michigan
Round 5, Pick 156 (from BAL): Thayer Munford, G, Ohio State
With an attempt to increase their prowess on the inside of their offensive line, Thayer Munford is the selection. Munford, who looked more natural at guard during his time at Ohio State, has plenty of versatility to play nearly four spots on the Vikings’ offensive line. But, as mentioned, guard seems the more natural fit, and he can battle for snaps while adding depth to the unit.
Other players in consideration: Joshua Ezeudu, OT/G, North Carolina; Alec Lindstrom, G/C, Boston College
Round 6, Pick 184 (from NYJ): Trae Barry, TE, Boston College
Get to know the name Trae Barry, as the former Jacksonville State and Boston College tight end has flown under the radar this offseason. Though he attempted to return to school, Barry is still ready for the NFL. He was an FCS All-American and looked well on his way to repeating that level of success before BC quarterback Phil Jurkovec went down with an injury in 2021. Barry has great size and athleticism — all he needs is a chance.
Other players in consideration: Daniel Bellinger, TE, San Diego State; Charlie Kolar, TE, Iowa State
Round 6, Pick 191 (from BAL via KC): Tre Williams, EDGE, Arkansas
The Arkansas Razorbacks’ performances in the pre-draft process were simply not good. Yet, like some of his teammates, Tre Williams plays to a different speed on the field. He gets upfield quickly, and he has great footwork and solid balance through the trenches. Williams counteracts any pre-draft questions with his pass-rushing arsenal, which is vast.
Other players in consideration: DeAngelo Malone, EDGE, Western Kentucky; Josh Paschal, EDGE, Kentucky
Round 6, Pick 192: Josh Jobe, CB, Alabama
The second Alabama cornerback drafted, Josh Jobe had lofty expectations in 2021. Though he didn’t quite live up to them, he still adds value as a fourth cornerback who can cover tight ends or running backs from the slot.
Other players in consideration: Allie Green IV, CB, Missouri; Ja’Sir Taylor, CB, Wake Forest
Round 7, Pick 250 (from SF via DEN): Jalen Nailor, WR, Michigan State
The Vikings receiving corps gets a dose of speed and sound hands with Jalen Nailor. The speedy receiver from Michigan State put on a show at times with his routes and separation ability. If he can echo that same success and Kirk Cousins can find him, he could look more like a Day 2 pick than a seventh-round selection.
Other players in consideration: Carson Wells, LB, Colorado; Kyron Johnson, EDGE, Kansas; Brandon Sebastian, CB, Boston College
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