Minnesota Vikings fans are counting the days to the 2022 NFL Draft. With mock drafts galore, a vast majority of the fan community is operating under the assumption that new general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will select a cornerback with the 12th-overall pick. And with Patrick Peterson entering his age-32 season, building a bridge at corner makes sense. Recent speculation has even started to shift towards Minnesota leaning into the rebuild part of “competitive rebuild” by trading back in the first round in order to accumulate draft picks for next year’s draft.
But instead of adhering to the consensus by going corner with their first-round pick, what if the Vikings looked to build the succession plan for a fellow soon-to-be 32-year-old on the offensive side of the ball? Similar to Peterson, Adam Thielen is undoubtedly expected to play a critical leadership role for this team in head coach Kevin O’Connell‘s debut season with the Vikings.
And with O’Connell’s coaching background in Washington and Los Angeles that relied heavily on 11-personnel (one running back, one tight end, and three wide receivers), now could be the opportune time for the Vikings to find Justin Jefferson‘s long-term sidekick on the outside.
Let’s not forget, O’Connell’s Los Angeles Rams decided to take their offense to a new level by adding a third marquee receiver by the name of Odell Beckham Jr. during the middle of last season — despite already having perennial 1,000-yard receivers Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods in the fold. Granted, Woods unfortunately tore his ACL less than 24 hours after Beckham signed with the Rams, thus forcing the former New York Giants and Cleveland Browns receiver into a much bigger role. Without the Beckham signing, it’s tough to envision the Rams winning the Super Bowl.
Now that we’ve laid the ground work, let’s get into this three-round mock draft — should the Vikings decide to prioritize the offensive side of the ball in the first two days.
Round 1 — 12th-overall
Jameson Williams — wide receiver, Alabama
Before suffering an ACL injury during January’s National Championship game, Williams was regarded as arguably the best wide receiver in the 2022 class. After he spent his freshman and sophomore seasons at Ohio State, he blew the roof off of college football this past year with the Crimson Tide. Possessing game-breaking speed, Williams consistently generated explosive plays. Whether it was taking quick-hitting routes to the house or beating teams vertically, he couldn’t be stopped.
And for a fanbase that still holds fond memories of a particular receiver throwing up “the hand” the moment he knew he had his defender beat deep, it wouldn’t take much convincing for Skoldiers to get on board with this uniquely talented receiver in purple.
But before you pigeonhole Williams as “just a speed receiver,” take a look at his technicial route capabilities by beating corners with double-moves.
Coming off the ACL, the Vikings theoretically wouldn’t need to have an extensive amount of urgency with expediting Williams’s rehab. With Jefferson, Thielen, and K.J. Osborn already in the receiver room this season, the Vikings would have the luxury of ensuring that Williams is fully recovered from the knee injury before unleashing him in O’Connell’s offense.
Round 2 — 46th-overall
Roger McCreary — cornerback, Auburn
The Vikings are able to address the cornerback position with their first pick of Day 2 in this particular mock courtesy of Pro Football Focus’s draft simulator. And according to PFF, McCreary led all cornerbacks in college football with 20 forced incompletions — while playing in the best conference in America.
At 5’11”, there are warranted concerns about McCreary’s ability to effectively hold up outside against the NFL’s best receivers. And with a wingspan of 28 7/8″, McCreary shares the same red flags as Washington’s Trent McDuffie. But considering the discounted price point of McCreary in the second round, the size concerns become a little less daunting.
The Vikings can afford to develop McCreary during his rookie season under Peterson’s tutelage. And with Cameron Dantzler providing the secondary with sufficient length at 6’2″, Ed Donatell and Mike Pettine could work McCreary outside when necessary and explore McCreary’s capabilities in the slot with Chandon Sullivan in dime packages in Year 1.
Round 3 — 77th-overall
Dylan Parham — guard/center, Memphis
With their final pick of Day 2, the Vikings address their most immediate need throughout the entire roster. Although Chris Reed and Jesse Davis should provide improvement up front with their veteran presence, Parham would bolster the interior offensive line and provide additional depth as a developmental piece.
Since 2020, Parham allowed just one sack and 14 hurries across 1,047 pass-blocking snaps for the Tigers. Like Reed and Davis, Parham brings versatility up front, having played right tackle and both guard spots over the past three years at Memphis. However, at 6’3″ and 311 lbs., it’s difficult to envision Parham playing tackle on Sundays. But it certainly doesn’t hurt that he has experience outside, should the Vikings find themselves in a pinch.
In fact, Parham projects as a possible candidate for center at the next level. And with Garrett Bradbury likely entering his final season with the Vikings on his rookie contract, Parham could potentially develop into Minnesota’s starting center in 2023 while serving as his immediate backup this season.
So there you have it, Skoldiers. With the new regime spending a vast majority of their free-agent resources on the defensive side of the ball, don’t be surprised if Adofo-Mensah rewards his new head coach with some much-needed reinforcements for the offense. And at positions of need, both Williams and Parham could have a fairly substantial impact as rookies while also proving to be critical long-term pieces.
Former general manager Rick Spielman had a propensity for succumbing to the outside noise on where he was supposed to draft in the first round. And if he had remained as the GM, that likely would have meant that the Vikings would go corner with their first pick — following a predictable trade-back in the opening round.
But with a new sheriff in town, all eyes will be on Adofo-Mensah as he orchestrates his first draft as an NFL general manager.
