Putting into context how bad Vikings’ 2022 draft was

Just how bad was the Minnesota Vikings’ 2022 draft? The jury is still out on players like safety Lewis Cine, guard Ed Ingram and cornerback Andrew Booth Jr., but that fact that Cine and Booth Jr. aren’t playing and Ingram continues to struggle in pass protection are good indicators that it was a terrible inaugural draft for general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell. 

Of the 64 players selected in the first two rounds of the ’22 draft, Cine and Booth Jr. are two of only five players who have had little to no impact thus far this season:

1. Travon Walker, DE, Jaguars: 117 snaps, 1 sack, 4 pressures
2. Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Lions: 126 snaps, 13 pressures
3. Derek Stingley Jr., CB, Texans: 118 snaps, 2 catches allowed
4. Sauce Gardner, CB, Jets: 151 snaps, 10 catches allowed
5. Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Giants: 102 snaps, 2 pressures
6. Ikem Ekwonu, OT, Panthers: 137 snaps at left tackle with good PFF grades
7. Evan Neal, OT, Giants: 138 snaps at right tackle with poor PFF grades
8. Drake London, WR, Falcons: 113 snaps, 6 catches for 67 yards and 1 TD
9. Charles Cross, OT, Seahawks: starting left tackle dealing with knee injury
10. Garrett Wilson, WR, Jets: He’s a star
11. Chris Olave, WR, Saints: He’s a star
12. Jameson Williams, WR, Lions: Serving 6-game suspension
13. Jordan Davis, DT, Eagles: Monster on the interior D-line
14. Kyle Hamilton, S, Ravens: No. 1 rated safety in NFL by PFF as a rookie
15. Kenyon Green, G, Texans: Starting left guard as rookie is on IR this season
16. Jahan Dotson, WR, Commanders: 8 catches for 62 yards as a starter
17. Zion Johnson, G, Chargers: 148 snaps, 2 sacks allowed as starting LG
18. Treylon Burks, WR, Titans: 5 catches for 94 yards as starting WR
19. Trevor Penning, OT, Saints: 142 snaps, 3 sacks allowed as starting LT
20. Kenny Pickett, QB, Steelers: Starting quarterback
21. Trent McDuffie, CB, Chiefs: 135 snaps, 7 catches allowed with nice PFF grades
22. Quay Walker, LB, Packers: Starting middle linebacker with great PFF grades
23. Kaiir Elam, CB, Bills: Starter as a rookie, benched to start this season
24. Tyler Smith, OT, Cowboys: High-end starting left tackle
25. Tyler Linderbaum, C, Ravens: Starting center
26. Jermaine Johnson, DE, Jets: 108 snaps, 1 sack as starting OLB
27. Devin Lloyd, LB, Jaguars: 138 snaps as starting inside linebacker
28. Devonte Wyatt, DT, Packers: 78 snaps, 2 sacks through 2 weeks
29. Cole Strange, G, Patriots: Starting left guard
30. George Karlaftis, DE, Chiefs: 112 sacks, 2 sacks through 2 weeks
31. Dax Hill, S, Bengals: 147 snaps as starting free safety
32. Lewis Cine, S, Vikings: 0 snaps, inactive both games
33. Logan Hall, DE, Buccaneers: 73 snaps
34. Christian Watson, WR, Packers: Injured but is a starting WR
35. Roger McCreary, CB, Titans: 124 snaps
36. Breece Hall, RB, Jets: Starting running back
37. Jalen Pitre, S, Texans: Starting free safety
38. Arnold Ebiketie, DE, Falcons: 49 snaps, 5 pressures
39. Kyler Gordon, CB, Bears: 27 snaps
40. Boye Mafe, OLB, Seahawks: Starting outside linebacker 
41. Kenneth Walker, RB, Seahawks: Starting running back
42. Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Vikings: 0 snaps
43. Wan’dale Robinson, WR, Giants: On verge of returning from torn ACL
44. John Metchie III, WR, Texans: 1 catch on 14 snaps in NFL debut in return from cancer
45. David Ojabo, LB, Ravens: 79 snaps, 1 sack and two pressures
46. Josh Paschal, DE, Lions: 17 snaps, 2 hurries
47. Phidarian Mathis, DT, Commanders: Missed majority of rookie season with injury and is currently on IR
48. Jaquan Brisker, S, Bears: 98 snaps as starting strong safety
49. Alontae Taylor, S, Saints: 102 snaps as starter
50. Tyquan Thornton, WR, Patriots: 22 catches as a rookie, currently on IR
51. Cameron Jurgens, C, Eagles: Not playing as he transitions to right guard
52. George Pickens, WR, Steelers: Starting wide receiver with star potential
53. Alec Pierce, WR, Colts: Starting wide receiver
54. Skyy Moore, WR, Chiefs: 84 snaps, 3 catches for 70 yards and 1 TD
55. Trey McBride, TE, Cardinals: 55 snaps, 4 catches for 55 yards
56. Sam Williams, LB, Cowboys: 54 snaps, 5 pressures
57. Luke Goedeke, OT, Buccaneers: 139 snaps as starting right tackle
58. Troy Andersen, LB, Falcons: Missed Week 2 with injury but started and had a sack in Week 1
59. Ed Ingram, G, Vikings: Started every game but may be losing his job now
60. Cam Taylor-Britt, S, Bengals: Starting safety
61. Drake jackson, LB, 49ers: 68 snaps, 8 pressures this season
62. Bryan Cook, S, Chiefs: 136 snaps as starting safety
63. James Cook, RB, Bills: Starting running back
64. Nik Bonitto, LB, Broncos: 60 snaps, 1 sack and 6 pressures

Cine suffered a season-ending injury early as a rookie but is buried on the depth chart in his second year in the league. Booth Jr. has dealt with injuries but is healthy again, yet he’s also buried. Cine and Booth Jr. were inactive for both Vikings games to start this season. 

Ingram has started every game at right guard but his play has been porous to the point that the Vikings signed Dalton Risner this week and the expectation is that Risner is going to take the starting job from Ingram or left guard Ezra Cleveland. 

Those are huge swings and misses by Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell. The majority of the NFL teams drafted players in Rounds 1 and 2 who are now making impacts or at the very least contributing on a weekly basis. 

Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams is expected to play the role of deep threat when he returns from his suspension. He missed the majority of his rookie season recovering from an ACL tear and was highly regarded in the ’22 draft class. 

Phidarian Mathis could be an injury bust for the Patriots while Cam Jurgens, a second-round pick by the Eagles, still has high hopes as the Eagles are intentionally bringing him along slowly as he makes the transition from center to right guard. 

Yes, it was a very bad debut draft for the new Vikings regime. Now you know how bad it really was…