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Lunchbreak: Forbes Identifies 4 'Key Players' to Vikings Improving in 2022
While incoming leadership and new players want to help Minnesota finish better than the 8-9 showing in 2021, there's also an opportunity for returning players to help lift the team. With the latter in mind, Forbes' Steve Silverman opined "four key players must show improvement" for the Vikings in 2022. Silverman listed tight end Irv Smith, Jr., center Garrett Bradbury, defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson and left tackle Christian Darrisaw.
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Minnesota Draft Picks
Lewis
Cine
1
Rnd
32
Pk
S
Position
- Draft Grade: A
- Pre-Draft Rank: 21
- School: Georgia
- Height: 6' 1"
- Weight: 200
Eric Edholm's Commentary
Low-key one of our favorite picks of Round 1. Trading down felt like the play for the Vikings at 12, but we had no idea they’d be able to go this far down and get a top-20 talent in Cine. He’ll pair with Harrison Smith as one of the best safety duos in the NFL. Outstanding first selection for Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. Cine will start for a decade.
Andrew
Booth Jr.
2
Rnd
10
Pk
CB
Position
- Draft Grade: A-
- Pre-Draft Rank: 22
- School: Clemson
- Height: 6' 0"
- Weight: 200
Eric Edholm's Commentary
The Colts were slated to make their first 2022 pick, but the trade-down Vikings and new GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah just swung back up here to trade a few spots ahead of the Browns, his former team. Booth could easily have gone in the first round, possessing above-average skills (or better) in most areas and the potential to be a rookie starter. Well done by the first-year GM.
Ed
Ingram
2
Rnd
27
Pk
OG
Position
- Draft Grade: C+
- Pre-Draft Rank: 117
- School: LSU
- Height: 6' 4"
- Weight: 320
Eric Edholm's Commentary
The bull-strong Ingram has been a fixture for LSU since 2017, believe it or not, developing into a very good college guard even while the team fell far following the national title season. He was suspended in 2018 and had to answer character questions in the pre-draft process but has the makeup to become a solid NFL starter. He's more powerful than most of the Vikings' current linemen.
Brian
Asamoah
3
Rnd
2
Pk
LB
Position
- Draft Grade: B+
- Pre-Draft Rank: 79
- School: Oklahoma
Eric Edholm's Commentary
Like with their first-round pick, the Vikings took an athletic prospect well worth his draft position. Asamoah's lack of size makes him a tricky fit in every system, but his speed and tackling ability make him an ideal "Will" linebacker.
Akayleb
Evans
4
Rnd
13
Pk
CB
Position
- Pre-Draft Rank: 126
- School: Missouri
- Height: 6' 2"
- Weight: 197
Esezi
Otomewo
5
Rnd
22
Pk
EDGE
Position
- School: Minnesota
- Height: 6' 5"
- Weight: 282
Ty
Chandler
5
Rnd
26
Pk
RB
Position
- School: N. Carolina
- Height: 5' 11"
- Weight: 204
Vederian
Lowe
6
Rnd
5
Pk
OT
Position
- Pre-Draft Rank: 175
- School: Illinois
- Height: 6' 5"
- Weight: 314
Jalen
Nailor
6
Rnd
12
Pk
WR
Position
- Pre-Draft Rank: 170
- School: Michigan St.
- Height: 5' 11"
- Weight: 186
Nick
Muse
7
Rnd
6
Pk
TE
Position
- School: South Carolina
- Height: 6' 5"
- Weight: 259
NFC North Standings
| W | L | T | Pct | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 4 | 0 | .765 | |
| 8 | 9 | 0 | .471 | |
| 6 | 11 | 0 | .353 | |
| 3 | 13 | 1 | .206 |
- z
- - Clinched Home Field
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