Vikings Take Playmaking Wide Receiver in Todd McShay's First 2023 Mock Draft

The NFL enters the final month of the regular season in Week 15 and the league is beginning to get a clear look at the playoff picture. This also coincides with the end of college football's regular season, which makes it the perfect time to look ahead at the 2023 NFL Draft.

ESPN's Todd McShay unveiled his first mock draft on Tuesday and has the Vikings targeting a playmaking wide receiver.

McShay used ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) for the order of his first mock and lists Minnesota as drafting Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers with the No. 27 overall pick. Flowers would be the first Vikings' wide receiver taken in the first round since none other than Justin Jefferson. We all know how that situation played out.

The thought process behind this pick is Minnesota looking for another offense weapon, especially considering Adam Thielen turns 33 in the offseason. He's simply not the 1,000-yard receiver the Vikings had back in 2017 and 2018.

McShay notes that Minnesota could look to address the cornerback position with this pick. He has six cornerbacks being taken before No. 27, and believes Minnesota would opt for one of those "if they slide." Flowers scored 12 TDs for the Boston College Eagles this past season thanks to his "terrific instincts and elusiveness."

Adam Taylor McKillop is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Adam Taylor also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username atmckillop. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel. 

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