Vikings' 2023 rookie class given mediocre grade by NFL.com

The Vikings' 2023 rookie class is already clearly superior to the massively-disappointing 2022 group that has made very little impact through two seasons. Jordan Addison had a fantastic debut season and looks like a perfect complement to Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson in Kevin O'Connell's offense. Defensively, Ivan Pace Jr. was a steal of an undrafted free agent; he had a very promising season in Brian Flores' scheme.

But those two weren't enough to keep the Vikings from getting the worst grade for their rookie class among the four teams in the NFC North. Eric Edholm of NFL.com gave Minnesota a "C" for its first-year players in 2023. The Lions (A-), Packers (B+), and Bears (B) all got notably better marks.

Edholm's reasoning is that outside of Addison, Pace, and some signs of potential from Mekhi Blackmon, the Vikings didn't get anything else from their rookies last season.

The Vikings received big contributions from their first-round selection and an undrafted player. The problem was, they did not find enough in between. A lack of picks hindered Minnesota's drafting efforts in 2023, as they had to wait nearly 80 selections between taking Addison in Round 1 and Blackmon in Round 3.

It wasn't a great class overall, but the Vikings appear to have found at least three players who can be notable contributors going forward. 

That's fair. I think the Vikings will view the class as a success if Addison — who had 911 yards and ten touchdowns as a rookie — is a perennial 1,000-yard WR2 and Pace and Blackmon cement themselves as long-term starters on defense. But Pace and Blackmon still have plenty to prove in year two.

What may keep this class from being a truly great one is its small size and lack of premium picks. Addison was the only player the Vikings took in the top 100. After Blackmon at 102, they took four players — Jay Ward, Jaquelin Roy, Jaren Hall, and DeWayne McBride — on Day 3. Roy (95 snaps) is the only player in that group who saw at least 50 offensive or defense snaps in 2023. McBride didn't play at all, although undrafted players Andre Carter II, NaJee Thompson, and Jaylin Williams did.

If Addison, Blackmon, and Pace all pan out, any contributions from other '23 rookies would just be gravy. But for now, a "C" grade isn't unreasonable.