Mel Kiper’s Vikings Predictions in 2023 NFL Draft

Kiper also mentioned Christian Gonzales, who took a big step forward for Oregon in 2022 and nabbed four interceptions.

“Deonte Banks, Maryland – he can’t locate the deep ball as well as you would want, that’s the one thing he could work on, but I’ll tell you what. He tested well, he had a heck of a year, came back from a shoulder injury,” Kiper said. “D.J. Turner from Michigan; Cam Smith, South Carolina. …. I’m telling you, I’d go 29-35 deep at corner. It’s the deepest position in the draft, by far.

“You’re gonna find corners like Kei’Trel Clark at Louisville; LaMiles Brooks, Louisiana Tech; Lance Boykin, Coastal Carolina; Corey Trice, Jr., Purdue,” Kiper continued. “Eric Scott, Southern Mississippi, is a little underrated. Nic Jones, Ball State.”

Kiper did address 40-yard-dash numbers at the NFL Scouting Combine and regional Pro Days, and he emphasized that in-game speed, versus straight-line speed, is “really all that matters.”

Asked about some of the speedy wideouts in this year’s draft, he said he believes the “quickest” guy is Boston College’s Zay Flowers.

“He’s electric with the ball in his hands. A few say he has his drops. I don’t see them,” Kiper said. “I’ve watched a lot of Zay Flowers, and I saw a couple, but it was nothing that was on him – the ball was not perfect, he was trying to run before the catch – I don’t see that. I think his hands are really good. I think he’s a great kid.

“I think the guys that play fast – I think Jackson Smith … is deceptive. Very deceptive in the way he’s smooth. And I think he lulls some guys, when they’re taking angles after the catch, into a false sense of security there,” Kiper continued. “I think when you look at Josh Downs from North Carolina, a really quick slot guy. I really like him in the second round. I think you look at Cedric Tillman – he doesn’t run great, but I’ll tell you what – as a No. 2 receiver, he will go get the ball in traffic and go make the tough catch.”

Kiper called Houston’s Nathaniel “Tank” Dell “a very underrated slot guy” that could help teams on offense and on special teams a punt returner.

“The receivers, I’ll tell you what they are. … Some of these guys you’ll hit on, and there are some guys who are gonna miss. There are hit-or-miss guys,” Kiper noted. “Kayshon Boutte from LSU, who was expected to be a highly rated guy, didn’t test great, didn’t have the kind of year expected. How does he perform in the NFL? That’s going to be interesting to see there.”