Vikings' final NFL Draft grades don't scream exciting class, but necessary in building the foundation for a Super Bowl run

The Minnesota Vikings have added six players during the seven rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft, including adding a veteran backup quarterback in Sam Howell. 24th overall: Donovan Jackson, OL, Ohio State102nd overall: Tai Felton, WR, Maryland139th overall: Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, DL, Georgia201st overall: Kobe King, LB, Penn State202nd overall: Gavin Bartholomew, TE, Pitt How good […]

Tyler Forness NFL & College Football News Writer
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Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates with offensive lineman Donovan Jackson (74) after a touchdown catch against Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first quarter during the College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20, 2025.
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings have added six players during the seven rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft, including adding a veteran backup quarterback in Sam Howell.

How good were the picks that general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah made across the board? Did the Vikings do a good job with their picks? Let's grade them.

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Round 1, No. 24 overall: Donovan Jackson, OG, Ohio State

Going into the first round of the NFL Draft, I believed that defensive line was going to be the focus. That ended up not being the case, as they fortified the offensive line.

Donovan Jackson played left guard for the Buckeyes after being a five-star recruit out of Texas. He ended up having to kick outside to left tackle for the stretch run and had a phenomenal College Football Playoff with just 2 pressures allowed and not a single QB hit. He looks to be a guy who can slide in and be the guy to start right away, but Jackson will likely have to beat Blake Brandel in a competition for the spot.

Grade: B


Round 3, No. 102 overall: Tai Felton, WR, Maryland

Going into the NFL Draft, the Vikings had a need at depth wide receiver. Jalen Nailor was set to be a free agent after the season. In fact, the Vikings only have Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison under contract at wide receiver after this year.

Felton is a good player who has an elite trick: speed. He ran a 4.37 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine and that track speed translates onto the field. He needs to get some more play strength, especially when it comes to the catch point. At minimum, he's a good special teams player with potential to develop as a WR3.

Grade: B


Round 5, No. 139 overall: Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, DL, Georgia

Going into the NFL Draft, the one spot I wanted to improve from a depth and youth perspective was the defensive line. Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave were both great additions to the defensive line, but they are both over 30 years old.

Ingram-Dawkins is quite an interesting player as a tweener. He's 6'5, 275 lbs with the ability to play both outside and inside. This is a guy who doesn't quite know how to use his athletic gifts quite yet, but there is a lot to like about his game.

Grade: A-


Round 6, No. 201 overall: Kobe King, LB, Penn State

Linebacker isn't the most important position for the Vikings, but it is one they could use some depth at. Brian Asamoah II and Eric Wilson have expiring contracts and King can potentially become their developmental guy.

He's an explosive player who runs downhill and will hit you hard in the hole. There are limitations as a coverage guy, but there is a lot to like with this kind of value, especially since he could be a star on special teams.

Grade: A-


Round 6, No. 201 overall: Gavin Bartholomew, TE, Pitt

The Vikings needed a developmental tight end and they chose the path of a well-rounded player in Bartholomew. He projects well to be an H-back at the next level and looks to be a core special teams player as well. Will he develop enough to be a starter? That's a big question mark, but he's got a good profile, especially from an athleticism perspective. There were some better players available at tight end, but he's a productive player who has a lot of experience.

Grade: B-


Overall Grade

The Vikings only made five picks, but they added six players, which is a good haul overall. They got their backup quarterback in Howell and five players to help fortify the roster with players at spots where they could have used young depth.

Grade: B