Vikings projected to make expected selection with a different player in latest NFL mock draft

We might be in week two of the National Football League season, but it's never too early to look forward to the NFL Draft. One of the ways Minnesota Vikings fans can use way too early mock drafts during the early part of the season is more of a tool for who to watch during the college football season.

There are a lot of intriguing prospects for fans of the Vikings to keep an eye on across multiple positions but defensive line and cornerback are the strongest positions in the class.

Vikings go cornerback in latest mock draft

There are a lot of interesting ways the Vikings could go with their first-round pick but A to Z Sports' Ryan Roberts has the Vikings prioritizing cornerback with Ohio State's Denzel Burke with the 21st overall pick.

Minnesota has seemingly had needs at cornerback for a long time now. Burke not only fills a need, but he also brings a tenacity to the position that is a pleasure to watch. This is a type of tone setting defender that can rub off on the rest of the team. The transformation from the 2022 version of Burke until now has been something to watch.

It's worth noting that the picks are based on the current standings, not the projected ones. Burke is an interesting player, especially with the tenacity he plays with. That is something that Brian Flores likes to have on his defense.

After extending defensive tackle Harrison Phillips on Tuesday, cornerback feels like a logical option. The other element that will be intriguing to keep an eye on is how general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah prioritizes the cornerback position. The first three years of moves shows that he believes in the group being a weak link system rather than prioritizing top talent. This offseason will tell us a lot about what he thinks of the position.

Related: Minnesota Vikings have a healthy salary cap situation, still have room for more extensions