And just like that, the 2023 NFL Draft is in the books. Per usual, it was a wild and unexpected ride, starting with all the Round 1 action. Day 2 and Day 3 delivered surprises of their own. Some teams capitalized on the opportunity, while others came up short. Let’s take a look at the 2023 NFL Draft recap, analysis, and grades for the Minnesota Vikings. NFL Draft analysts Andrew Erickson and Thor Nystrom combine to provide their thoughts below.

• NFL Draft Grades for Every Team
• Thor’s Draft Grades (AFC | NFC)
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• Fitz’s Round 1 NFL Draft Picks: Dynasty Rookie Draft Outlook (Day 2 | Day 3)
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2023 NFL Draft Recap, Analysis & Grades: Minnesota Vikings

NFL Draft analysts Andrew Erickson and Thor Nystrom combine to provide their thoughts below.

Thor Nystrom’s Overview & Grades

Minnesota Vikings | Draft Grade: D+

Considering Minnesota’s poor cornerback room, it couldn’t have been easy to pass on CB Joey Porter Jr. at 1.23. But ultimately, the Vikings made the correct three-dimensional-chess call, calculating that the depth of the CB class and weakness of the WR class would present a superior prospect at the former when the team came back on the clock in Round 3.

The Vikings ended up trading down off that pick – swapping No. 87 to San Francisco for No. 102, No. 164 and No. 222 – to up its pick allotment from five to seven. In lieu of the team’s cap issues, that was sage. At No. 102, the Vikings took Mekhi Blackmon.

I believe the Vikings when they say they were going to take Blackmon at No. 87 – he’s a perfect fit for new DC Brian Flores’ uber-aggressive scheme. Blackmon fist-fights you off line, is sticky in man, and is an enthusiastic run defender who rarely misses tackles.

The Addison and Blackmon “USC special” couplet was qualitatively superior to, for instance, the alternate reality of CB Joey Porter Jr. and WR Charlie Jones had Minnesota chosen to walk that path.

Minnesota’s lack of equity and cap problems boxed them into a corner that they needed to continue to punch out of on Saturday. With one exception, I just didn’t see that.

I’m not a fan of either of the LSU defenders that the Vikings took. And there’s a 98% chance that the Vikings lit the No. 164 pick on fire when they took the wildly inconsistent QB Jaren Hall.

The one Day 3 pick I liked was RB DeWayne McBride. RB Dalvin Cook will almost assuredly not be on the 2023 roster. In a post-Dalvin world, McBride could surprise immediately. You don’t want McBride on the field on passing downs, but he’s a natural runner who is extremely difficult to get on the ground. McBride’s 36% career forced-missed-tackle rate trails only Bijan Robinson and Javonte Williams in PFF’s nine-year history.

Andrew Erickson’s Overview & Grades

The Vikings needed a WR3, and Jordan Addison fits the bill as a perfect compliment to Justin Jefferson. He can win downfield and offers the ability to play inside/out. Considering the Vikings have been trotting out a declining Adam Thielen for the past few years, Addison as the No. 2 will provide an immediate spark to an offense looking for more playmakers outside of Jefferson. Could easily see the Jefferson-Addison combination mimicking other top WR duos like DK Metcalf–Tyler Lockett and A.J. Brown–DeVonta Smith.

With the last pick in the third round, Minnesota addressed its secondary with Mekhi Blackmon. The USC cornerback can get his hands on the ball and is a sure-tackler – lowest missed tackle rate per Sports Info Solutions – but lacks top-end physical traits. Fifth-round pick Jaquelin Roy helps plug the defensive interior as a nose tackle, while Jay Ward provides more depth in the secondary.

The Vikings ended the draft with one of my favorite sleeper running backs, DeWayne McBride. He ranks first in the class in career yards per play (4.18) for being so efficient anytime he is on the field. His production is captured in his PFF grades, with him finishing second, eighth, and third, in PFF grading the last three seasons, respectively. Aside from being a complete afterthought in the passing game, McBride checks off a lot of boxes you want to see from a smaller school prospect, and he easily saved his best for last as a junior, finishing second in the FBS in rushing yards (1702, 155 yards per game), second in yards after contact per attempt (4.6) and fifth in dominator rating (35 percent) among the 2023 draft class. Per PFF, his 36 percent missed tackle rate ranks third all-time since the data started being tracked.

FINAL DRAFT GRADE: B-

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