In 2022, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell went into a draft as general manager and head coach for the first time. In an ideal world, several rookies would have made a significant impact in Year 1, and everyone would be calling their first draft a great success.
We don’t live in an ideal world.
However, one year is too early to call players and a draft a bust. Not many players come into the league and take it by storm as Justin Jefferson did. Whether it’s because of injury, needing time to acclimatize to the professional game, or just a lack of chances to play. It often takes players more than one season to reach their full potential.
5 Second-Year Breakout Candidates for Vikings
1. Brian Asamoah
Brian Asamoah
Linebacker Brian Asamoah shined in his limited chances in his rookie season. He played just 119 defensive snaps, making a total of 17 tackles, including a big forced fumble and fumble recovery against the New York Giants in the regular season. That play was pivotal in the Vikings winning that game.
The speed and aggression he displayed were in stark contrast to the Vikings starting linebackers — Eric Kendricks and Jordan Hicks, who are both on the wrong side of 30, and both would bring the Vikings significant salary cap relief if Minnesota decided to move on from them.
For that reason, people are looking at Asamoah to step into a starting role. If the Vikings choose to move on from one, even both of Kendricks and Hicks, you can expect competition will be brought in through free agency and/or the draft.
Asamoah won’t just fall into a starting role. He will have to earn it. However, as the man already in the building, Asamoah is well-placed to stake his claim. Can he turn the glimpses of promise into something more substantial? New defensive coordinator Brian Flores could be the perfect man to make that happen. Asamoah’s fast, aggressive style should make him an ideal fit for Flores.
2. Lewis Cine
Georgia safety Lewis Cine, who played at Everett High, was taken with the 32nd and final pick in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Vikings. BRETT DAVIS/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Expectations are always high for first-round rookies, and it was no different for Lewis Cine. There was disappointment when Camryn Bynum started the season next to Harrison Smith as the safety duo instead. Was Bynum seen as the better player, or just simply more developed with two seasons of football under his belt? Did the Vikings plan to ease Cine into the team? After all, Cine was on the injury report with a knee injury heading into the Week 1 game against Green Bay.
Alas, we never got to find out what the Vikings plans for Cine were due to a horrible injury during the international game in London against New Orleans. Cine suffered a compound fracture in his left leg on a special teams play, and his season ended on the spot. The good news comes in the form of the safety’s recovery, which appeared superhuman in its progress.
He was spotted walking unaided after multiple surgeries in less than a month. Four months later, Cine has shared footage of himself working out as he aims to be ready for his second season.
His recovery progress not only showcases physical strength, but also a great strength of character. That alone is something to be excited about, and the fact that this is a first-round talent we have barely seen in a Vikings uniform.
A healthy Cine would be like having an extra first-rounder this year. He is also another player I expect Flores to maximize. His ability as a run defender is something the Vikings could benefit from.
3. Andrew Booth
Mar 5, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Clemson defensive back Andrew Booth. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports.
The concern with Andrew Booth was always injury, particularly a history of knee issues dating back to childhood. So, of course, he ended up on IR after needing surgery on a knee injury in his rookie season. Booth did play in six games during his rookie season, including one start, as the Vikings were plagued by injuries to their DBs.
He did little to impress in his short playing time, however, with a new DC in town and an expectation that will bring a change in how the Vikings Defense plays, Booth could be an ideal fit. If he is tasked to play man coverage on the outside, it would better suit him than the zone coverage employed by Ed Donatell last season. In fact, he could well be the best-man coverage corner the Vikings have right now.
The Vikings drafted Booth in the second round, but he was widely seen as a Day 1 talent. At times in the draft process, analysts had him as high as a top 10 pick, with The Draft Network giving Jaire Alexander as his player comparison. The question mark was injuries, and that is still the case. Can his body, particularly his knees, hold up? If they can, the Vikings have another talented player coming back into the ranks in the secondary.
4. Ed Ingram
Mar 4, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Louisiana State offensive lineman Ed Ingram (OL21) runs the 40-yard dash during the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.
It was a baptism of fire for Ed Ingram in Year 1, but he improved as the season went on. That gives fans cause for optimism that the Vikings can keep him in place at right guard.
Of course, further improvement is required before we can declare Ingram as the long-term solution for the position. If he can come back stronger and with refined technique, largely around moving his feet quicker, an area of his game that needs vast improvement, it will be a huge boost for the Vikings. The interior line has long been an area of concern in Minnesota and needs to be addressed.
Ingram’s biggest problems came in pass protection, where he had some brutal days at the office, earning a PFF pass-blocking grade under 40 on six occasions. He did enjoy better days, so the first step for Ingram is to ensure the bad days aren’t so bad, thus bringing more consistency.
If he can rid his nasty habit of stepping on Kirk Cousins’ toes, that would also help. He was guilty of that unusual mistake a staggering three times during his rookie season. Minnesota has been searching for a solid starting right guard forever, and Ingram has the potential to be that if he can build on his rookie season.
5. Jalen Nailor
Jan 1, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports.
The Vikings need to see an improvement at wide receiver outside of superstar Justin Jefferson in 2023.
A lot of talk this offseason surrounds the decline of Adam Thielen and the possibility of the Vikings drafting a WR in the first round. Getting more out of the guys currently on the roster is also something to look at. KJ Osborn has proved himself as a reliable WR3, and Jalen Reagor can make an occasional play, but can they progress further? The other option is Jalen Nailor, a sixth-round rookie from last year.
Nailor announced himself to the NFL by hauling in a fake punt pass from Ryan Wright during the international series game against New Orleans. Other than that, he only made one catch from four targets — including another fake punt that was unsuccessful — in the first 15 games of his career. In the last two games of the regular season, Nailor would get his chance, and he made the most of the opportunity.
Against Green Bay, with the game out of reach, Kevin O’Connell looked to get the rookie involved. Nailor caught all three of his targets for 89 yards and his first touchdown. The following week in a dead rubber against Chicago, the starters were rested in the second half, and Nailor shined again, this time catching 4 of 5 targets for 62 yards.
Over the season, Nailor caught nine passes for 179 yards at an average of 19.89 yards per reception. He has elite-level speed, so making use of that as a deep option is something that can benefit the Vikings offense.