Minnesota Vikings NFL Draft Grades 2022: Georgia safety Lewis Cine wraps up Round 1

The 2022 NFL Draft has officially kicked off, and the Minnesota Vikings have made their first selection. As the seven rounds progress and the team makes all of their picks, we will provide a live draft grade and analysis for each of the Vikings’ selections. How do these new prospects fit with the roster, what kind of impact will they have on the team, and what do the team’s needs look like now that the draft is complete?

Make sure to continue to check back as the 2022 NFL Draft continues for live Minnesota Vikings draft grades and analysis.

Minnesota Vikings grades for 2022 NFL Draft

What are the Vikings‘ grades for their selections in the 2022 NFL Draft as they look to address their main needs this offseason?

Round 1, Pick 32: Lewis Cine, S, Georgia

With an enforcing type of play, Lewis Cine brings a similar identity to the Minnesota Vikings defense. Cine hits hard but is a sure tackler. He comes downhill in the run game very well and can play either safety position. Yet, allowing him to play free safety next to Harrison Smith will only elevate his game.

Cine is athletically gifted and does everything at an elite level. He can high-point the ball in the air and play very well in coverage when tasked, but his best attribute is his ability to do everything and do everything well. A versatile playmaker opposite Smith improves the Vikings’ defense tenfold.

Grade: A

Round 2, Pick 42: Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson

The Vikings’ secondary is getting an overhaul in the 2022 NFL Draft. In Round 1, Minnesota traded back and still managed to add safety Lewis Cine. In Round 2, they traded down and then back up to acquire Clemson cornerback Andrew Booth Jr.

Booth was often viewed as a potential first-round prospect throughout the offseason. But injuries pushed him off the board through the top 40 picks. At this point, however, the talent is very much worth banking on. Purely based on talent, Booth is a CB1 contender in the 2022 class. He’s explosive, agile, fleet-footed, extremely twitchy and fluid, and he’s also very physical. He’s elite in run support, and when the ball is in the air, he can make plays like few others. Health is the only question. If he stays healthy, he’s one of the best values in the draft.

Grade: A+

Round 2, Pick 59: Ed Ingram, G, LSU

Interior offensive linemen are coming off the board, and the Vikings grabbed Ed Ingram at No. 59. Ingram is dependable on the field and was finally able to find consistency in his game during his final season at LSU. There is plenty to like about his game on the field – he has great pass-blocking skills and plenty of good reps in space on run plays.

Making his case, Ingram answers the questions around his athleticism during the pre-draft process. He tipped the scales at 312 pounds and 6’3 1/2” while producing average numbers in the athletic testing at the Combine. Those “average” numbers were actually better than what he put forth on tape at times and cemented his status as a top-100 player. Minnesota needs help on the offensive line and Ingram was certainly one of the top prospects available here.

Grade: B-

Round 3, Pick 66: Brian Asamoah, LB, Oklahoma

It’s a stacked linebacker corps for the Vikings that just got more stacked. Minnesota selected Brian Asamoah in the opening stages of the third round, joining him with Eric Kendricks, Jordan Hicks, and Za’Darius Smith. Showcasing linear growth over his career at Oklahoma, Asamoah capitalizes on his fabulous 2021 season with this selection here.

Asamoah can fly, running a 4.56 at the Combine. He’s never out of a play and can run the alley well, despite being relatively undersized at the position. Asamoah has an underrated blitzing ability that allows him the ability to move all around the Minnesota defense. It wasn’t quite a need, but it certainly goes a long way at improving their defense for the long haul.

Grade: B-

Round 4, Pick 118: Akayleb Evans, CB, Missouri

Cornerback was one of the biggest needs for the Minnesota Vikings coming into the 2022 NFL Draft, and they landed a stud with great value on Day 2 in Clemson’s Andrew Booth Jr. They’re at it again early on Day 3, taking former Tulsa-turned-Missouri cornerback Akayleb Evans, a tall, long, physical cornerback who has positional versatility with safety potential.

Evans told me that he aims to play the game with the physicality of a safety and speed of a cornerback – that certainly shows in his game. For an organization that has been burned by off-field issues with recent selections, Evans is equally as impressive as a person as he is a player.

Grade: A

Round 5, Pick 165: Esezi Otomewo, EDGE, Minnesota

The Vikings go local with this latest fifth-round pick, taking Minnesota defensive lineman Esezi Otomewo. In Ed Donatell’s scheme, which figures to use hybrid fronts and versatile alignments, Otomewo is an incredibly intriguing prospect fit. He’s athletic enough to take reps on the edge, and he did so often with the Golden Gophers. But at his size – 6’5”, 280 pounds, with 35” arms – he can line up inside and use his athletic gifts to create a mismatch. Otomewo can struggle with pad level at times, but there’s a great deal of upside with his selection.

Grade: B+

Round 5, Pick 169: Ty Chandler, RB, North Carolina

Day 3 is a great place to take a swing at a rotational running back. We’ve seen teams come away with steals this way in the past. There’s a chance the Vikings have done that here. Minnesota selected North Carolina RB Ty Chandler to fill out their RB room. Chandler doesn’t have elite size, standing at 5’11”, 204 pounds. Nonetheless, he can levy quick cuts when approaching holes, and he’s able to lean and pinch tight angles in congested areas. Add in his ability to churn through arm tackles and catch the ball out of the backfield, and he’s a solid rotational addition.

Grade: B+

Round 6, Pick 184: Vederian Lowe, OT, Illinois

Standing 6’5” and boasting over 35” arms, Vederian Lowe has size, length, and extensive experience at the left tackle position (over 50 starts). He owns great off-field character and on-field leadership. The arm length is weaponized by a violent punch.

Lowe has the grip strength and power to be a people-mover in the ground game. However, he lacks the athletic ability to play the position at a high level at the NFL, has some issues with timing and placement of his hands, and can be shocked on contact. He may transition inside for the Vikings, where they have added depth both in the draft and free agency.

Grade: C+

Round 6, Pick 191: Jalen Nailor, WR, Michigan State

Until this point, the Vikings had only thrown a perfunctory glance in the direction of the wide receiver class – and for good reason. K.J. Osborn shows promise, and Justin Jefferson is one of the league’s young stars. The Vikings also have decent depth behind their top wideouts. However, Adam Thielen is getting older, and Minnesota could use a spark plug in their rotation.

Jalen Nailor fulfills that role. Aptly nicknamed “Speedy,” Nailor has superb explosiveness in open space, and he can stretch the field with his speed. He’s also flashed throttle control on his routes and can get run-after-catch yards with his sudden athleticism. Nailor needs to refine his route running and improve his hand technique, but he has tools to develop for Minnesota.

Grade: B+

Round 7, Pick 227: Nick Muse, TE, South Carolina

One could argue the Vikings could have addressed tight end earlier in this draft. Yet, it’s hard to find a pick to sub out because the Vikings nailed the early portion. Still, there are drawbacks to waiting this late. Nick Muse has some intriguing physical tools. At 6’4 ½” and 258 pounds, he brings good size along with 4.71 speed, which he can use up the seam. However, his arms are shorter than average. And in three years at South Carolina, he only logged 67 catches, 805 yards, and 3 scores. Muse is an interesting developmental tight end, but proven production remains elusive here.

Grade: C+

What were the Vikings’ biggest needs entering the draft?

• CB, G, S, TE, WR

The Vikings made sure they had coverage at cornerback for the 2022 season, but the future of the position is far from certain. At safety, there is also uncertainty over the long-term future of the Harrison Smith and Camryn Bynum pairing. There is a desperate need to add depth to the position heading into 2022.

On offense, the starting right guard is certainly not confirmed and the future of the position beyond 2022 is a concern. Minnesota also needs to add more depth and someone to compete for a starting role at tight end. At wide receiver, the need is more about depth and a succession plan for Adam Thielen.