The Vikings entered the 2023 NFL draft with just five picks and ended up making six — three for the defense and three on offense.
JORDAN ADDISON
WR, Southern California (Round 1, No. 23)
Just 5 feet 11 and 173 pounds, Addison, 21, was named the nation's best receiver in 2021, catching 100 passes for 1,593 yards and 17 touchdowns to win the Biletnikoff Award. He transferred to USC before his junior year and led the Trojans with 875 yards and eight touchdowns despite missing three games to injury. He gives the Vikings a receiver who has played multiple spots and has experience as a return man. Read more on Addison.
MEKHI BLACKMON
CB, Southern California (Round 3, No. 102)
The 10th corner drafted on Friday, Blackmon, 24, was a USC teammate of Addison. The 5-11, 178-pounder spent four seasons at Colorado before leaving for USC, where he had team-leading 12 deflections and was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection. The native Californian was categorized as an aggressive man-to-man cornerback by draft analysts, which would be a good fit in defensive coordinator Brian Flores' system. Read more on Blackmon.
JAY WARD
DB, Louisiana State (Round 4, No. 134)
The 22-year-old from Georgia is an aggressive safety who also played cornerback and nickel in college and could end up doing so for the Vikings. At LSU, Ward played for Vikings defensive backs coach Daronte Jones, who was the Tigers' defensive coordinator in 2021. The 6-1, 188-pound Ward intercepted six passes during his final three seasons at LSU and excelled in run support. Read more on Ward.
JAQUELIN ROY
DT, Louisiana State (Round 5, No. 141)