2023 Minnesota Vikings Draft Class Review

The draft has long concluded but I finally have time to write this review!

I will go pick by pick and give my review of them.

2023 NFL Draft
Round 1 Pick 24 Jordan Addison, WR USC
The Vikings stayed put at their original first round pick and took Adam Thielen's replacement and Justin Jefferson's new right hand man! Addison projects as a strong route runner both in the slot and on the outside. Many analysts and writers predict the Vikings will have one of the best offenses in the NFL this coming season!
Grade: A-

Round 3 Pick 39 Mekhi Blackmon, CB USC
Minnesota traded back in the 3rd round to pick last in the round. They did not have a 2nd round pick this year. The Vikings got a good corner with this pick, not a lot of critiques on the pick itself, more on the fact that they traded so far back. Blackmon will do well in the Vikings defensive system, and the purple add to their CB depth.
Grade: B-

Round 4 Pick 32 Jay Ward, S LSU
The Vikings selected a safety late in the 4th round on day 3. Minnesota will appreciate the added defensive back help after losing a bit of it to injury last year. Not much negatives to say on this one.
Grade: B+

Round 5 Pick 7 Jaquelin Roy, DT LSU
Minnesota likes to take defensive players in the draft and it has transcended regimes. It is very hard to picture what a late round defensive tackle will do in the league, but even if he only plays a few games for the Vikings that would be fine.
Grade: B+

Round 5 Pick 30 Jaren Hall, QB BYU
The Vikings drafted their project QB with this pick. I don't mind the pick, however I kind of wished they had taken an offensive lineman somewhere in this draft. Hall doesn't project to be anything starter material in the NFL, so any positives will be better then nothing.
Grade: B-

Round 7 Pick 5 DeWayne McBride, RB UAB
Everyone is saying the Vikings got a steal with McBride here. From what I have seen, I would agree. McBride is the real deal as a running back and I am surprised he fell to the 7th round. If the Vikings need him during the year, I would expect him to surprise people.
Grade: A-

Final Grade: B

​Overall I think the Vikings draft went well considering they came in with only 5 picks. I didn't expect them to balloon their picks to an outrageous level, and they didn't. A couple of the trades were rather interesting but we will see if they pan out in the next couple of years.

#SKOL