The Minnesota Vikings have made some great moves in the early stages of the offseason by filling some key needs. They were quick to sign several quality players in free agency, including pass rusher Marcus Davenport and cornerback Byron Murphy.
While these signings have undoubtedly strengthened the team, there are still some holes that need to be filled. The upcoming NFL Draft presents the Vikings with an opportunity to address those needs and add some promising young talent to their roster.
23. Boston College WR Zay Flowers
Flowers possesses impressive speed, agility, and quickness that makes him a dangerous deep threat and a reliable target in the short and intermediate passing game. His ability to make defenders miss in space and his willingness to fight for extra yards after the catch make him an exciting prospect with a lot of potential at the next level. His skillset would complement Jefferson’s, and his speed would add another dimension to the Vikings’ offense.
87. Syracuse CB Garrett Williams
Garrett Williams is a talented cornerback with a lot of potential as a prospect and is known for his speed and athleticism. Williams has good instincts and is able to read the quarterback’s eyes well, which helps him make plays on the ball.
Williams tore his ACL last season, which has hindered his draft stock, but prior to the injury he was an ascending player. He has good size and speed, which allows him to match up well against bigger receivers.
The Vikings could allow Williams to take his time developing and hope he turns into a solid player for them.
119. Tulane LB Dorian Williams
159. Wake Forest DL Kobie Turner
The Vikings have yet to address the interior defensive line in free agency and have a void there with the departure of Dalvin Tomlinson.
Turner is an interesting prospect who has great effort and moves quickly, causing trouble for the opposing teams. He is good at getting under opponents to push them back. He also has the ability to stay on his feet even when hit by bigger players and uses his long arms to keep blockers away.
In the later rounds, this is the type of prospect you want to target.
176. North Carolina State G Chandler Zavala
The Vikings are thinking ahead in case Ezra Cleveland decides to leave in 2024. With this pick, they find a promising prospect in Zavala, who has impressive size and strength.
Although he may not make an immediate impact on the team this season, Zavala has a lot of potential and could be called upon to help in the future. He’s got excellent speed and agility, along with surprisingly good footwork. Although he’ll need time to develop, this pick could be very beneficial for the Vikings in the long run.
