2022 NFL Draft: Minnesota Vikings 7-round mock

New Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will have plenty of pressure on him to deliver in the 2022 NFL Draft. 

The NFL Draft is inching closer and closer, with Minnesota Vikings fans sitting on pins and needles waiting to see which big decisions new general manager Kewsi Adofo-Mensah will make. Fans loved the hire of Kevin O’Connell as head coach, and now their focus is on the draft.

The Vikings hold eight picks this time around, with things getting started at No. 12 overall for the first round. The expectation is the Vikings will focus on the secondary with this selection and grab a playmaking cornerback. Which player will hear his name called and pack his bags for Minnesota?

Minnesota Vikings Mock Draft – First Round

If the Vikings do end up focusing on the secondary to start their draft, then the team should look no further than LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr. The cornerback is highly regarded as one of the top defensive players out there, period.

Stingley is coming off a disappointing 2021, as a Lisfranc injury resulted in him missing the majority of his junior season. Stingley was only able to appear in three games this past campaign, finishing with eight tackles and a forced fumble.

Despite that, Stingley’s first two seasons with the Tigers were nothing short of fantastic. He was a beast for LSU in 2019, helping the team go 15-0 and win the National Championship. Stingley was named a First Team All-American.

He followed things up with another strong year in 2020, taking home First Team All-SEC honors for the second-straight season. Stingley won’t be participating in the NFL combine, but he’s ready to impress scouts at LSU’s Pro Day on April 6. If Stingley is still on the board, Vikings fans would undoubtedly love it if Minnesota took him.

Minnesota Vikings Mock Draft – Second Round

For the second round, the Vikings own the No. 46 overall pick. With the defense figuring to be a focus for the early rounds, Penn State linebacker Brandon Smith would make plenty of sense for this team.

Smith has become quite a popular target of late, as he’s coming off a strong year for James Franklin and the Nittany Lions. In 2021, the 6-foot-3, 240-pounder finished with 81 tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble.

What scouts love about Smith is his great speed. Despite weighing 240 pounds, Smith is able to fly all over the field and bring down players in space. That would be a welcome addition for Minnesota in the middle.

With Anthony Barr potentially leaving the Vikings in free agency, Smith would have an opportunity to go to Minnesota and make an immediate impact. Losing Barr would sting quite a bit, as fans love him, but Smith would surely be ready for the Vikes if his number is called. We’ll see how things play out here.

Minnesota Vikings Mock Draft – Third Round

For those lookin for an offensive selection, you’re going to have to keep waiting. In the third round, Minnesota is up at No. 77 overall. So, how about Oklahoma defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey to improve the push up front?

Winfrey closed out the ’21 season with 23 total tackles and 5.5 sacks. He was a force in the trenches for former Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley. Now, Winfrey is ready to take his talents to the next level and make a difference for an NFL side.

Winfrey very well could be available for the Vikings when it’s their time to pick in the third round. What could entice Minnesota to go with Winfrey is that defensive tackle Michael Pierce battled injuries last season and was only able to suit up for eight contests.

Pierce is a monster himself at 340 pounds, but injuries have been a concern for him. Winfrey could head to the Vikings and not be relied upon to be the leader of the defensive line, but also be counted on to step up when needed to.

Minnesota Vikings Mock Draft – Fifth Round

At tight end for the Vikings, Irv Smith Jr. was expected to have a huge 2021 after the team parted ways with Kyle Rudolph, but a torn meniscus sidelined him for the year. Tyler Conkin had a season to remember, but this team still needs some depth. That’s why using a fifth-round pick on Ohio State’s Jeremy Ruckert Jr. could be a wise move. Ruckert caught 26 balls for 309 yards and three touchdowns this past season.

Minnesota Vikings Mock Draft – Sixth Round

The Vikings are going to be quite busy in the sixth round, as they own three picks. First is No. 182, where Minnesota could go after another pass-catcher. In this spot, Oklahoma State’s Tay Martin could be a steal of a pick. He really came into his own late in 2021. Martin’s speed and great hands would be nice for Kirk Cousins.

Minnesota Vikings Mock Draft – Sixth Round

While the thought is the Vikings will go with a cornerback in the first round, that doesn’t mean they’ll be done at the position. With that said, Toledo cornerback Tycen Anderson is another player who has flown under the radar a bit. However, he’s got great speed and is a sure tackler. He’s got the potential to be a diamond in the rough.

Minnesota Vikings Mock Draft – Sixth Round

If the Vikings decide to go elsewhere at No. 191 over cornerback, then look for them to attack the position at No. 207. That’s where a guy like Washington State’s Jaylen Watson could come into play. Watson was a stud for the Cougars, recording countless big plays for the team over the past two years. Watson also hits the gridiron with plenty of swag, which Vikings fans would love to see.

Minnesota Vikings Mock Draft – Seventh Round

Last but not least, Minnesota will be closing their draft out in the seventh round with the No. 229 pick. With their being a need to improve the pass-rush, EDGE Jeremiah Moon out of Florida would be a great way to close things out. Moon is a 6-foot-2, 245-pounder who posted two sacks last season.