NFL Teams Biggest Needs by Draft Order
A brand-new article series! NFL writer Logan Lepiscopo brings a series that will entitle every NFL team’s biggest offseason need heading into free agency and the NFL draft. Each article will consist of two teams going in draft order. This article will be about the Washington Commanders and Minnesota Vikings. Free agency began yesterday, so many previous mock drafts and articles written may be outdated with what the team needs. If a team has multiple first round picks, the team that originally owned that pick will be covered, to avoid repetitiveness and ensure all 32 teams are covered. Every article will continue to have a mock draft done, but now using https://www.nflmockdraftdatabase.com/mock-draft-simulator due to other websites not having some under the radar prospects that tested phenomenally.
Washington Commanders: Cornerback
The Commanders just got their quarterback for at least this next season with the addition of Carson Wentz which rules out the need to draft one, well at least in the first round of the draft this year. With all of the offensive lineman hitting free agency for the Commanders and their lack of space it seems essential that they go about addressing the offensive line in the draft. A lot of the Commanders’ needs are going to need to come from the draft because with currently only having 5.26M in cap space it is unlikely to find a quality starter for that price. Along with the offensive line, Terry McLaurin needs some support in the passing game. Though McLaurin will stay in the WR1 role and have defenses constantly worrying about him, having somebody else on the other side of him can open things up for the entirety of the offense. The last and arguably the biggest need for the Commanders is the cornerback position, Kendall Fuller and William Jackson can get the job done but realistically the team needs a true CB1 or CB2. Nothing against Fuller or Jackson, they are both fine cornerbacks, but a new young star needs to come in and help out this Washington secondary. With that being said, let’s get into this 2022 NFL mock draft for the new Washington Commanders team.
RD-1-Pick 11- CB-Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner- Cincinnati
RD-2-Pick 47- IOL-Jamaree Salyer- Georgia
RD-4-Pick 112- OT-Kellen Diesch- Arizona State
RD-6-Pick 188- WR-Kevin Austin Jr.- Notre Dame
RD-7-Pick 228- LB-Chance Campbell- Ole Miss
Top player hitting free agency: Brandon Scherff (signed by the Jaguars)
Cap space: $5.26M
Minnesota Vikings: Cornerback
The Minnesota Vikings biggest need is undoubtedly the cornerback position. Patrick Peterson, Bashaud Breeland, and Mackensie Alexander all are set to hit free agency which leaves Cameron Dantzler and Harrison Hand as the cornerback one and twos. Expect the Vikings to address that need with their first-round pick. Offensive line is always a position that can be upgraded for any team, but with Dalvin Cook and Kirk Cousins standing in the backfield it is even more crucial to bolster the unit. Lastly would be the linebacker position, Anthony Barr and Nick Vigil are both heading to free agency which would only leave Eric Kendricks to man the unit. Whether it be a linebacker dropping back in coverage or rushing the passer, it is essential that with the Vikings low salary cap the position will likely need to be addressed in the draft. The Vikings have eight draft picks this year, three of them coming in the 6th round of the draft. Without any further analysis, let’s get into what the Minnesota Vikings should do in the 2022 NFL Draft:
RD-1-Pick 12- CB-Derek Stingley Jr.- LSU
RD-2-Pick 46- DL-Travis Jones- UConn
RD-3-Pick 77- LB-Troy Andersen- Montana State
RD-5-Pick 156- IOL-Chris Paul- Tulsa
RD-6-Pick 107- S-Markquese Bell- Florida A&M
RD-6-Pick 151- P-Matt Araiza- San Diego State
RD-6-Pick 152- QB-E.J. Perry- Brown
RD-7-Pick 226- ED-Jeffery Gunter- Coastal Carolina
Top player hitting free agency: Anthony Barr
Cap space: $ -2.48M