Vikings Use 2023 NFL Draft To Boost New Look Defense
The Minnesota Vikings had one of the NFL’s worst defenses last season, allowing 388.7 yards per game and 25.1 points per game.
It’s not like the franchise has ignored the problem. The Vikings hired former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores as the team’s new defensive coordinator and signed guys like linebacker Marcus Davenport, defensive end Dean Lowry and cornerback Byron Murphy during free agency.
Minnesota continued to strengthen the defense on the second and third days of the 2023 NFL Draft, selecting defensive players with three of their six picks. Let’s look at the three latest additions to the Vikings’ defense.
Former USC Trojan
The Vikings took cornerback Mekhi Blackmon with the 102nd overall pick on Friday, adding to a cornerback room which includes Byron Murphy, Andrew Booth and Akayleb Evans.
Mekhi started his college career playing for Colorado. He saw action in 21 games over four seasons with the Buffaloes before transferring to USC.
Blackmon started 14 games for the Trojans in 2022, recording 66 total tackles, two tackles for loss, three interceptions and a forced fumble. The 24-year-old defended 12 passes which led the Pac-12.
With Murphy seemingly set as a Week One starter, the battle for the second starting spot should be a highlight during training camp. If Blackmon can impress, don’t be surprised to see him in early-season action.
Help At Safety
LSU safety Jay Ward was selected by Minnesota 134th overall. Although Harrison Smith has been one of the league’s top safeties since he began his pro career in 2012, the Vikings’ secondary has struggled for a number of years.
The Moultrie, Georgia native spent all four college seasons at LSU. He finished his 2022 campaign with 60 tackles, one interception and a single scoop-and-score touchdown.
Ward will have to work his way to a roster spot this summer. Harrison Smith, Camryn Bynum, Lewis Cine and Josh Metellus will all start camp ahead of him on the team’s depth chart. However, Ward’s size a determination make him an exciting prospect to add to a safety room in desperate need of a boost.
Back-To-Back Tigers
The Vikings took another LSU Tiger in the fifth round, going with defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy 141st overall.
Roy measures 6′ 3″, 305 pounds. He finished his college career with 31 games played, making 13.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries.
At the NFL Draft Combine in March, Next Gen Stats gave Roy a production score of 72, which ranked fourth among defensive tackles.
Similar to cornerback, the fight for a roster spot at nose tackle will be interesting to watch during training camp. With three guys currently ahead of Roy on the team’s predicted depth chart, the 22-year-old has a steep climb in front of him.
Final Thoughts
As a Vikings fan, last year’s defense was frustrating, to say the least. Their 265.6 passing yards allowed per game was the second-worst in the league, behind only the Detroit Lions. The defensive problems were somewhat overshadowed by the Vikings’ stellar 11-0 record in one-score games. It seemed to stay that way until Giants’ quarterback Daniel Jones threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns in New York’s wild-card victory over Minnesota.
While Blackmon, Ward, and Roy are unlikely to start in the season opener, it’s great to see the Vikings’ front office acknowledge last season’s glaring issue. Minnesota should still have one of the league’s most exciting offensive units, now it’s time to step up on the other side of the ball. With head coach Kevin O’Connell leading the way and Brian Flores reshaping the defense, Minnesota has a real opportunity to build off of last year’s success.
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