Vikings Aim to Spark Draft with Four Top-100 Picks

Interim GM Brzezinski vows patience and simplicity in approach to NFL Draft

Apr. 16, 2026 at 4:37pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a Vikings football game or draft strategy, with sharp geometric shapes and planes in the team's colors of purple, gold, and white, conveying a sense of complex strategy and decision-making.The Vikings' strategic approach to the 2023 NFL Draft aims to build a more sustainable roster through a consensus-driven process.Minneapolis Today

The Minnesota Vikings enter the 2023 NFL Draft with nine total picks, including four in the top 100, as they look to supplement their talented but incomplete roster. Interim GM Rob Brzezinski, a long-time Vikings executive, is running the draft process and emphasizing a consensus-building approach between the coaching staff and personnel department. Brzezinski says the focus will be on finding good 'Vikings fits' rather than making splashy moves, as the team aims to get incrementally better each year and return to Super Bowl contention.

Why it matters

The Vikings have missed the playoffs in recent seasons and are approaching 50 years since their last Super Bowl appearance. This draft represents a critical opportunity for the team to add impact talent and get back on track. Brzezinski's steady hand and emphasis on simplicity could help the Vikings avoid the missteps of last year's aggressive draft strategy under the previous regime.

The details

The Vikings own nine picks in this year's draft, including four in the top 100 selections. This is the most top-100 picks the team has had since 2022. Key needs for the Vikings include the secondary, offensive and defensive lines. Brzezinski says the focus will be on finding good 'Vikings fits' rather than making splashy moves, as the team aims to get incrementally better each year and return to Super Bowl contention.

  • The 2023 NFL Draft will take place from April 27-29.

The players

Rob Brzezinski

The executive vice president of football operations who is serving as the Vikings' interim general manager this offseason following the firing of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. Brzezinski is in his 28th year with the Vikings and is known as one of the league's most respected salary cap managers and contract negotiators.

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah

The former Vikings general manager whose aggressive 2022 draft strategy proved costly, as none of the team's draft picks that year remain on the roster.

Kevin O'Connell

The Vikings' head coach who is entering his fifth season without a playoff win, as the team looks to end its long drought since its last Super Bowl appearance.

Harrison Smith

The six-time Pro Bowl safety whose potential retirement could create a need the Vikings may address in the draft.

Jonathan Greenard

The edge rusher who the Vikings may look to keep unless they receive an offer they can't refuse.

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What they’re saying

“We can't manufacture what's not there, so it's trying to look at the depth of the draft, where we're picking, who's going to be there, who are good Vikings fits, and who are really good football players. Just trying not to overcomplicate it.”

— Rob Brzezinski, Executive Vice President of Football Operations

“We want to get incrementally better every year, and that includes being able to look toward next year.”

— Rob Brzezinski, Executive Vice President of Football Operations

What’s next

The Vikings will begin the process of finding a permanent general manager after the 2023 NFL Draft, with Brzezinski as a potential candidate.

The takeaway

The Vikings are taking a measured, consensus-driven approach to the 2023 NFL Draft as they look to add impact talent and get back on the path to Super Bowl contention. Interim GM Rob Brzezinski's emphasis on simplicity and finding the right 'Vikings fits' could help the team avoid the missteps of recent drafts and build a more sustainable roster.