The Minnesota Vikings have their work cut out for them this offseason when it comes to the defensive side of the ball. With many aging veterans and players likely to be cut due to cap constraints, the Vikings will be looking to add depth as well as youth. Cornerback is one position that many experts have speculated the Vikings could target.
On Tuesday, Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic released his three-round mock draft and had the Vikings selecting Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks in round one.
“Physical and not afraid to play in man, Banks finished 2022 with a forced incompletion rate of 22 percent, the eighth-best number in the FBS. He’s a solid, thorough athlete and tough to beat in the air.”
Banks has all the tools to step in and become a good cornerback in Brian Flores’ scheme. He’s known for his physicality, but there are also other traits such as his patience and fluidity that make him an appealing corner.
Later in this draft, Baumgardner had the Vikings selecting Bowling Green defensive lineman Karl Brooks.
“Brooks was one of the country’s most productive pass rushers over the last four years, as a defensive lineman/outside linebacker. He has a bit of an unusual build, but he’s a very gifted athlete who could wear a few hats in the NFL.”
It’s important for the Vikings to try and obtain a player with interior pass-rushing ability this offseason, and Brooks has that. While he is unlikely to start on day one, With the right coaching and time to develop, he could turn out to be a solid addition in the third round.
