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Revisiting the Minnesota Vikings 2022 Draft Class

It takes NFL teams two or three years to evaluate a draft class. Let's further examine the 2022 haul for the Minnesota Vikings.

In 2022 the Minnesota Vikings had a new man running things for the first time in a decade. With former general manager Rick Spielman out, new one Kwesi Adofo-Mensah came in and made his mark for years to come, for better or worse. Much has been said about this draft class, almost none of it is good. Whether that’s your opinion or not, what matters most is how these players develop heading into year three, which is massive in telling whether there’s anything meaningful to take away from this draft.
Before looking at each player, it’s worth noting that Adofo-Mensah inherited the old regime’s scouts for this draft. It doesn’t absolve him from any criticism, but at the very least it’s something worth noting. Also, when any defenders are being discussed, keep in mind that they were drafted to play in Ed Donatell’s defense, not Brian Flores. Again, this is not an excuse for missing on a pick, but it is not something to ignore. With that being said, let’s talk about the infamous 2022 Vikings draft class.

Revisiting the Minnesota Vikings 2022 Draft Class

1:32- Lewis Cine, Safety

The player most people think of when hearing about this class, Lewis Cine was taken after trading back with the Lions from 12 so they could take Jameson Williams, while also leaving Kyle Hamilton to fall into the lap of Baltimore. Before any consideration of starting, Cine broke his leg in a gruesome injury against the Saints in London, halting any development he would’ve had for the majority of his rookie year. With Cine sidelined, the emergence of Cameron Bynum along with Harrison Smith keeping up with what Vikings fans were used to seeing from him, Cine would have a major roadblock in front of him by the time he heals from his injury, with a chance he may never be the same.

Heading into the 2023 season, Cine saw himself getting consistent backup reps in training camp and preseason, especially after Theo Jackson was signed off waivers and immediately impressed coaches. Then Josh Metellus came along and turned into the all-around star we know today. The only time he saw any playing time was after a litany of injuries caused him to be put in, but the season was practically over by then.

Now Cine heads into his third training camp listed behind the aforementioned Jackson (who is playing out of his mind in training camp thus far, something to be excited about!) and second-year, fifth-round pick Jay Ward. Cine will get tons of playing time in the preseason, defensively, and special teams. Special teams may be the only way he makes the roster let alone sees any playing time. He’s firmly in the fourth safety spot behind Smith, Bynum, Metellus and Jackson, and there isn’t much he can do to surpass them.

If the Vikings could go back in time and pick someone else at 32, they absolutely would, but it wasn’t because of the player. A mixture of a career-altering injury mixed with the simultaneous breakout of three players who all play the same position has put the Vikings and Cine in the spot they are in now. He’s had brutal luck so far and the only way he can change the public opinion on him is to ball out this preseason. Something that could happen but may just be too little too late.

2:42- Andrew Booth Jr., Cornerback

Most pre-draft scouting reports on Andrew Booth Jr. would say he’s incredibly talented and a first-round talent if he could stay healthy and play more disciplined- with fewer penalties and biting on fakes. When he got in his rookie year, he was routinely getting burned and eventually sidelined with a torn meniscus. He didn’t play much a season ago, but the playing time he did see was promising. It’s a very small sample size, but in a cornerback room begging for someone like Booth to step up, he’ll have every chance to get playing time this year.

The Vikings drafted an injury and penalty-prone cornerback and that’s exactly what he’s been to this point. From an on-field perspective, it’s gone about as poorly as it could have. He’s listed behind newly signed Fabian Moreau on the depth chart (which says more about Moreau than Booth) and like Cine, will play a lot in preseason. Still only 23 years old and with all the talent in the world, Booth shouldn’t be written off yet.

2:59- Ed Ingram, Guard

Ed Ingram has seen the most playing time from this class by far. Starting right away as a rookie and never having any real competition to be replaced, Ingram has had drastic highs and lows. As most rookie linemen do, he started rough but has been getting better with each game he’s played. In pass protection, he still has his rough spots, but run blocking is where he shines. The most successful and impactful player from this class right away, Ingram has been about an average guard up to this point. With the expected year-three leap in development, the Vikings got a good one In Ingram.

3:66- Brian Asamoah, Linebacker

No player was more impacted by the defensive coordinator switch than Brian Asamoah. As an undersized linebacker who lacks strength, he was drafted to be quick and rangy from sideline to sideline. In his rookie year, he did that a lot, even forcing a fumble later in the season when given a starting spot. But when Flores came in, the defense went from side-side to downhill and physical. Asamoah struggled to see the field in the new scheme and regressed statistically in every stat. Guys like Jordan Hicks and Ivan Pace Jr. came in and outperformed Asamoah, with Pace especially being a guy who benefited the most from playing under Flores (it’s the main reason he signed with the Vikings as a UDFA.)

It’s hard to see a world where Asamoah makes an impact in purple, especially with the singing of Blake Cashman and Andrew Van Ginkel. Unless it’s on special teams, Asamoah will need a massive preseason to have an impact on the team and will start camp on the roster bubble.

4:118- Akayleb Evans, Cornerback

The Vikings traded up for Akalyeb Evans in the fourth round and played regularly midway through his rookie season, notably over Booth. Struggling with concussions he only played 10 games his rookie year but his play in 2022, along with the camp he had in 2023 was enough to put him as the second cornerback next to Byron Murphy Jr. to start the season. He started the year great but struggled heavily to end the year, eventually being benched in favor of undrafted free agent Jaylin Williams. He especially struggled making tackles at the end of the season. There was supposed to be more competition for the second corner spot heading into 2024, but plans have changed, and Evans will go into the season again a starter barring injury.

5:165- Esezi Otomewo, Defensive Tackle

After testing well in pre-draft workouts, Esezi Otomewo was drafted and meant to be a developmental project. A majority of the time these raw but athletic prospects don’t work out. In this case, it didn’t, as Otomewo lasted a season in Minnesota before being released and picked up by Jacksonville where he didn’t play a game in 2023.

5:169- Ty Chandler, Running Back

The Vikings loved Ty Chandler the second he stepped into the building. Listen to any quote from Adofo-Mensah or Kevin O’Connell and they’ll have nothing but the highest praise for Chandler. He didn’t make his mark until late last year when Alexander Mattison went down with an injury, Chandler stepped in and gave the offense much-needed juice in the run game. As of now, he isn’t a complete three-down back due to his lack of size, which translates to poor pass protection, but that’s okay. Aaron Jones will be taking the majority of snaps, but the Vikings would love a scenario where Jones plays out the year and Chandler takes steps to become a starting-level player, which he isn’t just yet but certainly showed flashes that he could be one someday.

6:184- Vederian Lowe, Tackle

Vederian Lowe was traded to New England for a sixth-round pick (which was later used in the Texas trade to acquire pick 23) before the season even started. The trade came as a surprise with how well he played in the preseason. In New England, injuries forced him to start, and saying he wasn’t good would be a big understatement. PFF graded him a 41.7 (an average PFF grade is 60) and he struggled majorly all season long. Lowe is still in New England and looking to make the team as a backup. From the Vikings’ perspective, this isn’t a hit or a miss considering they traded him for a sixth, which is what they used to take him in the first place.

6:191- Jalen Nailor, Wide Receiver

The best way to describe Jalen Nailor’s spot on the team right now is if Ty Chandler was a year away from being ready. All the signs are pointing to Nailor not only getting starting receiver snaps but producing at a high level with those snaps. The third receiver spot is between him and Brandon Powell with Nailor listed as the third receiver on the depth chart. But with Jordan Addison almost certainly suspended to start the season, both will start the year. Like Chandler, at every press conference or interview the staff do rave about Nailor and how well he’s been practicing. Nailor is an underground pick to break out in a major way for Minnesota.

7:227- Nick Muse, Tight End

There isn’t much to say about Nick Muse. He’s only played in two games in his career, catching one pass for 22 yards. The signing of veteran Robert Tonyan has pushed Muse back in the depth chart, but the slight opportunity to get playing time is there with the uncertainty of T.J. Hockenson’s knee and when he’ll be ready. This preseason will be big for him because there isn’t much we’ve seen up to this point.

While this draft class has its glaring flaws, Adofo-Mensah has identified a handful of guys in the later rounds that have fit into their plans well a couple of years out. By no means is this a draft class to brag about, but there’s a real chance the Vikings found a quality starting guard, a future starter at running back, receiver who has already gotten quality seasons from a corner. This isn’t even considering the UDFA class of Ivan Pace Jr., Najee Thompson, and Andre Carter II. Hopefully, the two early picks can develop, but even if they don’t, the Vikings did better with this draft than most people realize.

Main Photo: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Alex Anger

Alex Anger

Alex Anger is a journalism student at Arizona State with a passionate love for sports, specifically football. Being from Minnesota Alex is a Vikings fan, but wants to give readers an unbiased opinion on all things football from all around the league. Alex, like many football fans alike, is an expert at watching redzone.

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