The NFL Draft is the one event every year where every fanbase gets to have some renewed thoughts of hope. Whether you are a team like the Las Vegas Raiders, who have the first pick and never had a season get its legs under them, or you’re a Vikings fan who missed the playoffs despite ending the season on a five-game winning streak, you look forward to the draft.
In the case of the Vikings, there seem to be several key needs that became evident if you watched the season unfold. ESPN Draft Analyst Matt Miller was asked what was there bigest need to address in April’s latest installment of the NFL Draft.
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Now, Miller gives one domino that needs to fall for his suggestions to make sense. Miller writes, “If Flores isn’t hired away as a head coach, he’ll want to bolster the secondary. Ohio State’s Caleb Downs is unlikely to last until the late teens, but he would be an ideal pick in a Minkah Fitzpatrick-type role. Either Brandon Cisse (South Carolina) or Colton Hood (Tennessee) might be more likely options to fill a need at cornerback.”
One could argue whether Brian Flores comes back or not, but the defense needs some more help in the secondary. At safety, they are likely to be missing Harrison Smith, and the idea of replacing him with Caleb Downs should have Vikings fans booking Super Bowl hotels, okay, maybe just check the prices. But also, if they don’t add to the secondary, that unit is going to be a major liability for the team in 2026.
While Miller says these suggestions hinge on the retention of Flores, they make sense regardless.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Draft analyst has some suggestions for the Vikings in the NFL Draft