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The second 2023 NFL mock draft roundup includes a few new names
Mock draft season is upon us and that means our mock draft roundup is back!
What we do every week is track the mainstream outlets mock drafts and aggregate how many times a player gets selected. Last season, we tallied up 173 mock drafts and only 10 of them were on offense. This season could end up being much of the same.
We will track them and try to determine trends and patterns, along with giving my own analysis on how they could fit with the Minnesota Vikings
The Illinois cornerback is a popular selection for the Vikings
Cornerback continues to be a popular position for the Minnesota Vikings and rightfully so. Their pass defense has left a lot to be desired and their two starting cornerbacks Duke Shelley and Patrick Peterson aren’t likely to continue to play this well.
With that in mind, adding a cornerback to a room that Andrew Booth Jr. and Akayleb Evans just joined in the draft last year. That would be a dynamic young room that will continue to grow and develop.
CBS Sports’ Kyle Stackpole agrees and has the Vikings taking Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon. Here is what Stackpole had to say about the Fighting Illini star.
“Devon Witherspoon, coming from one of the best defenses in all of college football, will bring a tenacity and physicality that Minnesota could use in the secondary, especially with Patrick Peterson set to become a free agent.”
Witherspoon is someone that I really liked when I watched him and you can read his full scouting report here. He likely won’t end up going in the back end of the first round, but he would be an excellent addition to the Vikings’ defense.
Witherspoon is a fast-rising cornerback with a very aggressive nature. @TheRealForno dives deep into how talented he is.
Welcome to SKOL Search!
This series will be your guide to the 2023 draft class. From scouting reports to mock drafts and exploring different scenarios, we will be covering the NFL draft and the future of the Minnesota Vikings from all angles.
The focus of the draft class in this space will be on the Vikings’ major needs at wide receiver, running back, cornerback and both interior and edge pass rusher.
The Vikings are slated to have four picks before compensatory selections are awarded and they need to make the most out of them.
Our first mock draft roundup of the season has the Vikings selecting 12 different players
Mock draft season is upon us and that means our mock draft roundup is back!
What we do every week is track the mainstream outlets mock drafts and aggregate how many times a player gets selected. Last season, we tallied up 173 mock drafts and only 10 of them were on offense. This season could end up being much of the same.
We will track them and try to determine trends and patterns, along with giving my own analysis on how they could fit with the Minnesota Vikings
The fastest-rising corner heads to Minnesota in The Draft Network’s latest mock draft
The Minnesota Vikings spent a lot of resources last offseason on the cornerback position. They re-signed cornerback Patrick Peterson along with drafting Andrew Booth Jr. and Akayleb Evans.
Due to injuries to both rookies and starting cornerback Cameron Dantzler, the Vikings were forced to start former practice squad player Duke Shelley. While he has played well this season, it’s not an ideal scenario for the defense.
In the latest mock draft from The Draft Network, Jaime Eisner agrees with that and sent them Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon. Here is what Eisner had to say about the physical cornerback.
“Patrick Peterson’s contract voids after this season, but the Vikings need more reinforcements in the CB room regardless. Devon Witherspoon is a momentum-flipper with his ability to get his hands on the ball. Outside of his ball skills, versatility may be his best trait. I believe Witherspoon can play outside or as the nickel and have success in both man and zone coverages.”
A fast riser up draft boards, Witherspoon would be a great get for the Vikings and could solve their slot cornerback issues year one before transitioning outside.
Another cornerback gets sent to the Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are going to have quite the fascinating offseason in 2023.
After accepting the general manager position in January of last year, this will be the first full offseason he will have with his front office fully established. How he will have that play out will be something worth monitoring over the next few months.
Mock drafts are coming out in full force and they continue to have the Vikings going cornerback. The latest from CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards has the Vikings taking a fast riser in Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon.
“Minnesota upgrades its secondary with an intelligent, well-coached defensive back.”
That is very well said about Witherspoon. He has a quick trigger when he sees something in the open field and has the ball skills and athleticism to match.
PFF sends the Vikings another cornerback
The Minnesota Vikings spent three of their first five picks in the 2022 NFL draft on the secondary, but they didn’t get much return on that investment because of injury. It’s easy to want to pour more money into the cornerback position when you are consistently playing fifth- and sixth-string players.
Nevertheless, the Vikings will need to fortify the position in the offseason, and mock drafts are going to have them taking a cornerback.
The latest mock draft from Trevor Sikkema at Pro Football Focus has the Vikings doing just that by taking Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon. Here is what Sikkema had to say about him:
The Vikings’ projected offseason shows they’ll have a big cornerback need, especially with Patrick Peterson getting up there in age as a 32-year-old pending free agent. Witherspoon has been one of the best outside cornerbacks in the country this season, with an elite 92.6 grade in coverage and only 206 yards allowed all year. He now oozes first-round potential because of it.
Witherspoon has both the coverage and physical skills to succeed in the National Football League and could give a real boost to the Vikings defense. Would it be wise to go cornerback so early after investing a lot into both Andrew Booth Jr. and Akayleb Evans? That’s the question.
The Vikings could use another cornerback
The Minnesota Vikings’ draft needs are all over the board. Some view wide receiver as the biggest need while others want to focus on the defense.
Some of the mock drafts we have looked at so far have had both wide receiver and cornerback and Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling has the Vikings selecting the latter at pick 29 in Illinois’ Devon Witherspoon.
Here is what Easterling said about the talented cornerback.
“This defense needs a ton of help, and there are promising options at multiple positions on that side of the ball here. Injuries have hurt the Vikings’ depth at corner, and Patrick Peterson will be 33 next year, so adding a corner with the dominant track record Witherspoon has would be an ideal pick.”
He not only has been dominant but Witherspoon is a physical force that plays with an attitude that can be a culture changer for the Vikings.
Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon is opting out of his team’s bowl game, and will leave school early to enter the 2023 NFL draft
Thank you ILLINI NATION! 🔶🔷 pic.twitter.com/e5naZ0M07Q
— Devon Witherspoon (@DevonWitherspo1) December 17, 2022
One of the best defensive backs in college football is getting an early start on his preparations for the next level.
Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon is leaving school early to declare for the 2023 NFL draft, and will be opting out of his team’s bowl game.
Witherspoon made his announcement Saturday via social media.
One of the top cornerback prospects in this year’s draft class, Witherspoon’s dominant performance in coverage this season could end up making him a first-round pick.
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Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon has been an absolute shutdown artist in man coverage this season
Devon Witherspoon in man coverage this season:
🔸 34 Targets
🔸 7 Catches Allowed
🔸 0 TDs Allowed
🔸 27.3 Passer Rating Allowed pic.twitter.com/t58FAKyXDa— PFF College (@PFF_College) November 11, 2022
If your favorite NFL team is looking for a stud cornerback prospect who excels in man coverage, they might want to make sure they land Syracuse’s Devon Witherspoon in the early rounds of the 2023 draft.
Witherspoon has been an absolute shutdown artist when locked up man-to-man so far this season, allowing just seven receptions on 34 targets, with no touchdowns and an opposing QB rating of just 27.3 (per Pro Football Focus).
This year’s draft class has plenty of talented corner prospects, but few are playing as well as Witherspoon so far this season. Depending on how he finishes the season, and what happens during the predraft process, it won’t be surprising to see Witherspoon land in the first round as one of the top corners off the board.
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