Vikings continue to focus on defense with Asamoah at No. 66

The Minnesota Vikings selected Oklahoma linebacker Brian Asamoah in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, No. 66 overall.

The Vikings have mostly focused on fixing their defense, which severely regressed over the last two seasons, early in the draft.

Asamoah joins safety Lewis Cine (No. 32 overall) and cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. (No. 42) as new additions to the unit. Minnesota also took guard Ed Ingram in the second round.

Linebacker isn't an immediate need for the Vikings. Veterans Eric Kendricks and Jordan Hicks are set to start, while the likes of Blake Lynch and Troy Dye will compete for depth spots.

But Kendricks and Hicks will both be 30 years old when the season begins, so the NFC North club needed to find a long-term answer at the position.

Scouting profile: Brian Asamoah

Asamoah fits a similar mold as Alabama's Harris as both shine through their athleticism. However, the major difference is Asamoah has an eagle-like wingspan. The Oklahoma product checks all the boxes - he has pursuit speed, sideline-to-sideline range, and he's an adequate processor. Asamoah is prone to playing too fast and overpursuing, but that'll be part of the challenge for coaches at the next level. An added bonus is he shows coverage ability, getting good depth in zone responsibilities. One major question with Asamoah's evaluation is the lack of big plays across his resume. The linebacker recorded just four tackles for a loss last season and had just one interception.