EAGAN, Minn. — We are less than a month from opening night of the 2023 NFL Draft and two weeks into free agency.
The draft will have a fixed end point, as it's scheduled for April 27-29. Free agency will continue and could have another reactive period of activity after the selections are made, but the early wave has already impacted multiple mock drafts.
Vikings representatives have been visiting college pro days across the country.
Minnesota currently has the 24th pick, but it will be the 23rd overall selection due to Miami having to forfeit its first-round pick this year and a third-rounder in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Dolphins engaged in "impermissible communications" with Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady in 2019-20 while he was with New England and after the 2021 season while he was with the Buccaneers.
The Vikings have drafted at No. 23 overall four times in franchise history, most recently selecting left tackle Christian Darrisaw in 2021. Minnesota has also drafted wide receiver Laquon Treadwell (2016), defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd (2013) and receiver Lance Rentzel (1965).
Minnesota currently has five picks in this year's draft after being awarded a sixth-round compensatory selection last week.
The 2023 NFL Draft will be held in Kansas City, Missouri. The first round will be on April 27 while the second and third rounds will be on April 28. The final four rounds will conclude this year's draft on April 29.
Here is the sixth version of our Vikings 2023 Mock Draft Tracker, which features 20 predictions from around the world of football that have been made since publishing version 5.0.
Receiver is the most popular position currently projected to Minnesota in this round with eight forecasting an addition at that position in the first round after the release of Adam Thielen. Jordan Addison out of USC (four), Zay Flowers from Boston College (three) and Quentin Johnston of TCU (one) accounted for the projections.
The fact that Kirk Cousins is entering his final year of his current contract led to five quarterback predictions split by Kentucky's Will Levis (three) and Tennessee's Hendon Hooker (two).
Take a look at our sixth Vikings 2023 Mock Draft Tracker:
ESPN's Mel Kiper, Jr.
March 21, 2023
The predicted pick: Quentin Johnston, Receiver, TCU
Kiper's take: "I'm switching gears a bit for the Vikings, as I had projected a cornerback here in my first two mock drafts. They could still go that way, as adding Byron Murphy helps fill their immediate hole. At receiver, though, with Adam Thielen gone, I love the idea of Johnston playing on the other side of Justin Jefferson, helping take defensive backs away. The 6-foot-3 Johnston will be an immediate red zone threat in the NFL, and his skills after the catch mean he will break a bunch of tackles and score long touchdowns. I know K.J. Osborn has earned a bigger role in the Minnesota offense, but there's room for Johnston, too."
Click here for Kiper's full mock draft.
Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com
March 21, 2023
The predicted pick: Hendon Hooker, Quarterback, Tennessee
Jeremiah's take: "The Vikings have been doing their homework on this quarterback class. Hooker is well-liked around the league, and he could sit for a year behind Kirk Cousins before taking over and ushering in a new era for Kevin O'Connell."
Click here for Jeremiah's full mock draft.
Charles Davis of NFL.com
March 23, 2023
The predicted pick: Will Levis, Quarterback, Kentucky
Davis' take: "Finally! Teams picking as high as No. 4 overall will likely consider the big-armed passer from Kentucky, but he lands with QB-friendly coach Kevin O'Connell in Minnesota as the franchise's signal-caller for the future. And if Tennessee's Hendon Hooker had not suffered an ACL tear late last season, a HEAVY debate would be had about the former Volunteer being picked in this spot, or others, in Round 1."
Click here for Davis' full mock draft.
Eric Edholm of NFL.com
March 27, 2023
The predicted pick: Calijah Kancey, Defensive Tackle, Pittsburgh
Edholm's take: "The Vikings are badly in need of interior pressure, and Kancey can provide that. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if Will Levis lands here should he still be available."
Click here for Edholm's full mock draft.
Chad Reuter of NFL.com (four rounds)
March 24, 2023
The predicted pick at No. 10 (after trading a 2023 third-round pick and a 2024 first-rounder): Will Levis, Quarterback, Kentucky
Reuter's take: "Kirk Cousins is entering a contract year, and the Vikings expect to be good enough to keep them out of the running for the top quarterback prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft. Minnesota might choose to shoot its shot now, getting Levis in a trade with Philadelphia in exchange for a third-round pick this year and 2024 first-rounder. Levis may still find a fan among the teams at the top of the draft because of his arm strength, mobility and competitive fire, but he reminds me of former NFL passer Jay Cutler, who went 11th in 2006. And in some recent drafts, we've seen at least one highly regarded quarterback come off the board in the 10-12 range: Justin Fields (2021), Josh Rosen (2018), Patrick Mahomes (2017) and Deshaun Watson (2017)."
The predicted pick at No. 119: Riley Moss, Cornerback, Iowa
Click here for Reuter's full mock draft.
Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports (three rounds)
March 27, 2023
The predicted pick: Bryan Bresee, Defensive Line, Clemson
Wilson's take: "The Vikings have four defensive tackles on the roster who will be free agents after the '23 season. And while Bresee's tape was uneven in '22, he suffered a family tragedy and was sick for much of the season. And the year before, he suffered an ACL injury. When he's healthy and locked in, Bresee is a special talent whose best football is ahead of him."
The predicted pick at No. 87: Jalin Hyatt, Receiver, Tennessee
Click here for Wilson's full mock draft.
Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports
March 27, 2023
The predicted pick: Jordan Addison, Receiver, USC
Wilson's take: "Justin Jefferson may be the best WR in the league, but every receiver is helped by having other weapons around them. Enter Jordan Addison, who could feast underneath. He's a natural at getting open and finding seams in the defense, and there will be plenty for him to find in Minnesota's offense."
Click here for Fornelli's full mock draft.
Josh Edwards of CBS Sports
March 27, 2023
The predicted pick: Jordan Addison, Receiver, USC
Wilson's take: "Minnesota has officially made the decision to move on from Adam Thielen, as I have alluded to for months in mock draft scenarios. Jordan Addison enters as a valuable complement to Justin Jefferson."
Click here for Edwards' full mock draft.
Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports
March 22, 2023
The predicted pick: Hendon Hooker, Quarterback, Tennessee
Trapasso's take: "The Vikings have other needs, but instead of hoping to bottom out or attempt to a glut of extra picks to move up in next year's draft to pick a quarterback, they pick Hooker and get him with the fifth-year option."
Click here for Trapasso's full mock draft.
Kyle Stackpole of CBS Sports
March 17, 2023
The predicted pick: Zay Flowers, Receiver, Boston College
Stackpole's take: "What Zay Flowers lacks in size (5-foot-9, 182 pounds), he makes up for with his route-running ability, contested-catch prowess and after-the-catch flair. He'd pair well with Justin Jefferson after the Vikings released Adam Thielen."
Click here for Stackpole's full mock draft.
Pete Prisco of CBS Sports
March 21, 2023
The predicted pick: Jordan Addison, Receiver, USC
Prisco's take: "They let Adam Thielen go, which means they need help in their passing game. Jordan Addison is a great route-runner who would be a nice 1-2 punch with Justin Jefferson. They could go corner here as well."
Click here for Prisco's full mock draft.
Nate Davis of USA Today
March 22, 2023
The predicted pick: Zay Flowers, Receiver, Boston College
Davis' take: "A weapon in the slot, from where he'll occasionally motion into a jet sweep (57 rushes in four seasons), the 5-9, 182-pounder with 4.4 speed could bring a different dimension to a passing game undergoing a transition following the release of Adam Thielen."
Click here for Davis' full mock draft.
Cam Mellor of Pro Football Network (three rounds)
March 21, 2023
The predicted first-round pick at No. 23: Brian Branch, Safety, Alabama
Mellor's take: "A cornerback is the top need, but securing the draft's top safety who can double as a slot cornerback at the same time is an easy choice. Brian Branch has instincts on top of instincts and presents a movable, moldable safety prospect who can play all three middle-of-the-field positions."
The predicted pick at No. 87 (third round): Jaylon Jones, Cornerback, Texas A&M
Click here for Mellor's full mock draft.
Ian Cummings of Pro Football Network (seven rounds)
March 18, 2023
The predicted pick at No. 23: Jordan Addison, Receiver, USC
Cummings' take: "We'd known beforehand that wide receiver would be a need for the Vikings in the 2023 offseason, but the release of Adam Thielen confirmed it. The Vikings need a running mate alongside Justin Jefferson, and Jordan Addison can be that player. In spite of his lacking size and mass, he's a sudden, agile route runner with superb instincts and RAC ability."
The predicted pick at No. 87 (third round): Zacch Pickens, Defensive Tackle, South Carolina
Cummings' take: "Zacch Pickens is a forceful presence against the run and the pass with his explosiveness, prying strength and torque."
The predicted pick at No. 119 (fourth round): Andre Carter II, Outside Linebacker, Army
The predicted pick at No. 158 (fifth round): Terell Smith, Cornerback, Minnesota
The predicted pick at No. 211 (sixth round): Deneric Prince, Running Back, Tulsa
Click here for Cummings' full mock draft.
Tommy Garrett of Pro Football Network
March 24, 2023
The predicted first-round pick at No. 23: Kelee Ringo, Cornerback, Georgia
Garrett's take: "Very few cornerbacks can compare with Kelee Ringo from an athleticism standpoint. At 6'2" and 205 pounds, Ringo is as gifted as possible for an outside corner. You're rarely going to beat him vertically in a foot race, and he excels in trail technique against mesh or crossing patterns.
"The only potential knock on him is he is not the quickest at changing directions because of how big he is. But outside of that, he's got the speed and athleticism to recover against darn near anyone."
Click here for Garrett's full mock draft.
James Fragoza of Pro Football Network (three rounds)
March 25, 2023
The predicted pick at No. 12 (after trading 23, 119 and a 2024 second-rounder to Houston): Will Levis, Quarterback, Kentucky
Fragoza's take: "Will Levis has the raw arm talent and overall athleticism to challenge the NFL's most renowned passers, but he's nowhere near their level in accuracy, decision-making or consistency. Let's see how he develops under Cousins for a year. And who knows, maybe it will spark a fire under the veteran QB — not too dissimilar to what Patrick Mahomes did to Alex Smith."
The predicted pick at No. 87 (third round): Jaylon Jones, Cornerback, Texas A&M
Click here for Fragoza's full mock draft.
Keith Sanchez of The Draft Network
March 27, 2023
The predicted pick: John Michael Schmitz, Interior Offensive Line, Minnesota
Sanchez's take: "The Vikings need a receiver opposite Justin Jefferson, but they also need an upgrade on the interior of the offensive line. With this pick, they decide to upgrade the offensive line and draft John Michael Schmitz from Minnesota. Schmitz has the skill and motor to easily be a 10-year starter for the Vikings."
Click here for Sanchez's full mock draft.
Brentley Weissman of The Draft Network
March 22, 2023
The predicted pick: Zay Flowers, Receiver, Boston College
Weissman's take: "Adam Thielen's run with the Vikings has ended and the team must look to add another receiver to go opposite Justin Jefferson. The speedy playmaker out of Boston College could be a great fit as a deep-threat option and he is also excellent with the ball in his hands after the catch."
Click here for Weissman's full mock draft.
Ryan Fowler of The Draft Network
March 15, 2023
The predicted pick: Emmanuel Forbes, Jr., Cornerback, Mississippi State
Fowler's take: "Patrick Peterson and Duke Shelley [departed in free agency], and [the Vikings waived] Cameron Dantzler, Sr., making the way for Emmanuel Forbes, Jr., to start opposite 2022 second-rounder Andrew Booth, Jr., this fall. The premier ball-hawk in the class, a secondary of Booth, Forbes, safety Lewis Cine, and Akayleb Evans is young, yes, but extremely talented that can do a lot of things well."
Click here for Fowler's full mock draft.
Jeff Risdon of Draft Wire (three rounds)
March 19, 2023
The predicted pick: Nolan Smith, Outside Linebacker, Georgia
Risdon's take: "Smith gets a little lost after missing the end of his final Bulldogs season with a torn pec. A team like the Vikings stops the fall for an accomplished all-around stand-up [edge defender]. Smith has enough athleticism and savvy to work in some off-ball LB looks, too."
The predicted pick at No. 87: Israel Abanikanda, Running Back, Pittsburgh
Click here for Risdon's full mock draft.
