STEELE SPORTS
The NFL Draft took place in Kansas City last weekend, giving Minnesota Vikings fans a glimpse into the future after bringing aboard a host of talented new players.
The first big name headed to the Twin Cities was Jordan Addison, a wide receiver from the University of Southern California (USC), whom the Vikings selected with the 23rd overall pick.
Right off the bat, I love this pick by Minnesota.
After releasing longtime fan-favorite Adam Thielen, the Vikings had a hole at the receiver position that needed to be addressed.
Addison figures to fit right into the same slot that Thielen called home for nearly a decade.
While Addison will have a lot to prove this fall as a rookie, he should complement weapons such as Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson, and K.J. Osborn nicely.
A recurring trend for the Vikings in this draft class was taking multiple players who were college teammates.
The Vikings started this trend by drafting USC’s Mekhi Blackmon in the third round with the 102nd pick.
Blackmon played defensive back at USC and brings to the team youthful talent that new defensive coordinator Brian Flores will need to rebuild and improve the Vikings defense in 2023.
Also finding their way onto the squad were Louisiana State University (LSU) teammates Jay Ward and Jaquelin Roy.
Ward will work alongside Blackmon in the Vikings’ secondary, while Roy will find himself in the trenches of the defensive line.
Both athletes will address immediate needs in the defense as the team has long tried to fill holes at the cornerback and defensive tackle positions.
LSU has a rich history of producing hard-nosed defensive players, and I think Ward and Roy will be no exception when it comes time to watch the team take the field for the pre-season.
Rounding out the team’s last two picks were some offensive weapons in quarterback Jaren Hall and running back DeWayne McBride.
Hall is a bit of an undersized quarterback at just six feet, but the dual-threat playmaker has more than enough talent to potentially blossom into a contributor, should he prove himself with a strong camp and preseason.
With Kirk Cousins in a contract year, I enjoy seeing the Vikings pick up another quarterback to explore potential new options while also adding more depth.
As for McBride, the Vikings practically stole him in the seventh round.
According to ESPN, McBride was viewed as a potential fourth-round pick, and the fact that the Vikings were able to find him three rounds later speaks volumes to the team’s ability to find value late in the draft.
Looking back at this draft class, I think this bunch of athletes will surprise fans with how many find the field early on in their careers.
Addison and Blackmon should have the potential to start from day one, with Ward, Roy, and McBride all being solid depth options who could find their way onto the field in certain personnel packages.