2023 NFL Draft: Track every Minnesota Vikings pick
MINNEAPOLIS -- The 2023 NFL Draft kicked off Thursday night, and the Minnesota Vikings selected wide receiver Jordan Addison with the No. 23 overall selection.
Vikings' top brass called Addison is a "day 1 starter." He was introduced as an official Vikings on Friday.
Check out WCCO's draft coverage below.
Vikings agree to terms with 15 undrafted free agents
The Vikings signed 15 undrafted free agents on Saturday including four more pass catchers and a kicker.
Vikings go for versatility on defense and add QB Jaren Hall
(AP) — Throughout the draft process, Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah heard from people in the organization that saw LSU's Jay Ward as a potential NFL starter at three spots in the secondary.
Ward's selection by Minnesota is no accident, with versatility emphasized to retool the defense under new coordinator Brian Flores.
The Vikings started the third day of the NFL draft by selecting Ward, who played cornerback, safety and nickel for the Tigers, in the fourth round. Minnesota followed with LSU defensive lineman Jaquelin Roy in the fifth round.
Vikings select RB DeWayne McBride
The Vikings selected University of Alabama-Birmingham running back DeWayne McBride on Saturday with the 222nd overall pick during the NFL Draft.
Another playmaker on offense.
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 29, 2023
Welcome to Minnesota, @Debo323232! pic.twitter.com/QFs3rZ8KFH
Viking select QB Jaren Hall
In the fifth round, the Vikings selected BYU quarterback Jaren Hall with the 164th overall pick.
Hall Yeah.
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 29, 2023
The #Vikings have selected @jarenhall3. pic.twitter.com/hH02cJNCV6
Vikings select Jaquelin Roy
In the fifth round, the Vikings selected Louisiana State University's Jaquelin Roy.
Made a move to go get @d1roy1000! pic.twitter.com/pll9H4hclD
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 29, 2023
Vikings select LSU's Jay Ward
The Vikings started Saturday by trading down with Kansas City, picking up an extra 5th round pick in the process.
They then selected cornerback Jay Ward from Louisiana State University.
JAY!
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 29, 2023
The #Vikings have selected @JWARD_4. pic.twitter.com/6sxOLavpDj
Vikings select CB Mekhi Blackmon
After taking USC wide receiver Jordan Addison in the first round, the Minnesota Vikings extended their wait for their second pick and eventually selected Trojans cornerback Mekhi Blackmon with the final pick of the third round of the NFL draft on Friday night.
Minnesota began the second day of the draft without a second-round pick from the trade they made last November with Detroit to acquire tight end T.J. Hockenson. The Vikings entered Friday with the 87th overall selection, in the third round, before moving back in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers.
Fight On ✌️
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 29, 2023
The #Vikings have drafted CB @MekhiBlackmon! pic.twitter.com/l14dcSFLqJ
In exchange for No. 87, Minnesota received the 102nd pick, a compensatory selection for San Francisco, to draft Blackmon. The team also added the 164th pick, in the fifth round, and No. 222, in the seventh round. After starting the draft with just five overall selections, the Vikings will have five during Saturday's third round.
Vikings trade down in third round to get 3 picks
The Minnesota Vikings traded down in the third round to get three picks in a deal with the San Fransico 49ers
The Vikings will now get pick 102 in round three, pick 164 in round five and pick 222 in round seven.
Picked up an additional pair of picks
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 29, 2023
📰: https://t.co/xiAMII4Qxh pic.twitter.com/NG4qsPWuE3
WR Addison: "Whatever they put on my plate, I'm gonna make sure I clean it."
Following his selection in the first round of the NFL Draft, Vikings' new wide receiver Jordan Addison had plenty say and he's ready to get to work.
"I'm just going to add that explosiveness. I'm probably built a little bit different than the previous receivers, so it's just gonna be a little bit different style of play that I'm going to bring," he said. "Whatever they put on my plate, I'm gonna make sure I clean it."
[Click here for more notable quotes from Addison]
Coach Kevin O'Connell says Addison has "explosiveness and suddenness"
The Minnesota Vikings' brass are high on their first-round selection, wide receiver Jordan Addison. Here are some notable quotes from head coach Kevin O'Connell.
"A really great scenario for the Minnesota Vikings. We added a really good player, an impact player at a very, very important position that continues to be a major position in our league as this game continues to evolve."
[Click here for more notable quotes]
New wide receiver says he's excited to "get to work"
JA is ready to get to work pic.twitter.com/5RSLThpmzl
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 28, 2023
GM: Addison was born to be in the NFL
Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah had some great things to say about the team's first-round draft pick, wide receiver Jordan Addison.
"Addison is somebody we targeted early in the process," he said. "Separation, sense in space, it's natural to him. A really good football player. Quiet, hard working, elevates those around him, he fits in our culture really well, so we're excited to add him."
.@Espn_Jordan was born to be in the @NFL pic.twitter.com/manRCpxHcL
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 28, 2023
Vikings select WR Jordan Addison in first round with 23rd pick
The Minnesota Vikings picked USC wide receiver Jordan Addison with the 23rd overall selection of the NFL draft on Thursday night, giving star Justin Jefferson a viable sidekick after the jettisoning of veteran Adam Thielen.
Vikings release draft hype video
We don't just draft players.
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 27, 2023
We draft dream chasers.#VikingsDraft pic.twitter.com/jOLNTSNEpq
A look at the last 10 years of Vikings' 1st-round picks
As speculation swirls around who the Vikings will pick in the first round, click here for a look back at the team's first-round picks of the last 10 years.
3 potential draft scenarios
WCCO threw its hat into the ring by mocking some potential draft scenarios for the Vikings, including a trade up for a top QB prospect.
Click here to check out that and the other mock draft scenarios.
Could the Vikings land their QB of the future in the draft?
There are a ton of exciting quarterbacks in the 2023 draft, and with Kirk Cousins set to be a free agent after this season, the Vikings could be on the hunt for a replacement.
To see some of their options at the most important position, click here.
Vikings look to improve team with limited picks – here's what to know
Need a primer on the Vikings' draft picks, positions of need, draft philosophies and more? Click here.