Vikings 2023 NFL Draft First Round Live Blog: Updates, Analysis, Pick Tracker

The first round of the 2023 NFL Draft is underway from Kansas City, with the Panthers on the clock at No. 1 overall.

The Vikings are set to pick at No. 23, although they could trade up or trade down, perhaps out of the first round entirely. Last year, in his first draft as GM, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah moved down from No. 12 to No. 32 in a deal with the Lions, eventually selecting Lewis Cine.

There's been buzz around the idea of the Vikings trading up for a quarterback like Anthony Richardson if one falls a bit. A rookie QB could sit behind Kirk Cousins for a year and then take over in 2024. If they stay at 23, the most likely positions the Vikings will select are cornerback, wide receiver, and defensive line, although just about everything is on the table.

Another trade back could add to the Vikings' quantity of picks; they currently have just five picks.

Follow along below for live updates throughout the evening.

Live updates

10:51 p.m. — The Chiefs select DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah to wrap up the first round. No Will Levis or Joey Porter Jr. or Brian Branch, among others. They'll have to wait until tomorrow night.

10:45 p.m. — Catching up on some post-Vikings picks: The Giants took CB Deonte Banks at 24, the Bills took TE Dalton Kincaid at 25, the Cowboys took DT Mazi Smith at 26, the Jaguars took OT Anton Harrison at 27, the Bengals took DE Myles Murphy at 28, the Saints took DT Bryan Bresee at 29, and the Eagles took yet another Georgia defender, edge rusher Nolan Smith, at 30.

9:54 p.m. — The Vikings continued the run on wide receivers (Zay Flowers went at 22) by taking Jordan Addison at 23. Here's the initial story.

9:36 p.m. — Another wide receiver at 21: Quentin Johnston goes to the Chargers. Vikings are one pick from being on the clock.

9:29 p.m. — The Seahawks take WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba at 20. The first receiver off the board.

9:20 p.m. — The Bucs take DL Calijah Kancey at 19. That's a fun pick. Will Levis, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Joey Porter Jr., and Nolan Smith are among the top players on the board.

9:16 p.m. — At 18, the Lions just took Iowa LB Jack Cambell. That's a second consecutive interesting choice after taking Jahmyr Gibbs at 12. Campbell was a projected second-rounder by a lot of analysts.

9:07 p.m. — At 17, the Patriots get Christian Gonzalez. That could be a steal. Still a ton of great players on the board as the Vikings' pick gets closer.

9:01 p.m. — The Jets take EDGE Will McDonald IV at 15 and the Commanders, surprisingly, take CB Emmanuel Forbes at 16. Christian Gonzalez, one of the top cornerbacks in this draft, is still on the board.

8:46 p.m. — Popped onto the Purple Insider draft show for a bit, so let's get caught up. The Eagles moved up one spot to take DT Jalen Carter, the Bears took OT Darnell Wright, the Titans took OL Peter Skoronski, and the Lions made a stunning pick at No. 12, taking Alabama RB Jahmyr Gibbs. Two running backs off the board before a single receiver! The Packers at 13 took Iowa DE Lukas Van Ness, passing up on a WR for Jordan Love. And the Steelers traded up with the Patriots to take OT Broderick Jones. This is fun!

8:09 p.m. — The Falcons are taking Bijan Robinson at No. 8. A top-ten pick on a running back in the year 2023. (Robinson is awesome, to be fair).

8:04 p.m. — The Raiders take EDGE Tyree Wilson at No. 7. Jalen Carter, Christian Gonzalez, and Will Levis are all still on the board.

7:54 p.m. — The Cardinals, who traded from 3 to 12, just moved up to 6 in a deal with the Lions, giving up the 34th pick. At 6, they took Ohio State OT Paris Johnson Jr.

7:47 p.m. — The Seahawks reportedly considered trading down from 5, but stayed put and took Illinois CB Devon Witherspoon. He goes above Tyree Wilson and Jalen Carter.

7:38 p.m. — The Colts are taking Anthony Richardson at 4. The ultra-athletic quarterback will not be a Viking. Will Levis is now the best quarterback left on the board.

7:30 p.m. — Wow, the Texans just traded up from 12 to 3 in a deal with the Cardinals. They're going to make the second and third picks in this draft.

7:25 p.m. — The Texans have taken Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud at 2. Half of the top quarterbacks are gone, leaving Will Levis and Anthony Richardson. Will someone trade up to 3 to jump the QB-needy Colts at 4?

7:05 p.m. — The Panthers, as expected, are taking Alabama QB Bryce Young No. 1 overall. Let the fun begin.

Vikings draft selections

First round, No. 23
Third round, No. 87
Fourth round, No. 119
Fifth round, No. 158
Sixth round, No. 211

Minnesota's second-rounder was traded to the Lions in the T.J. Hockenson deal.

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