NFL Draft analyst’s shocking selection for the Minnesota Vikings raises serious questions about strength of draft class

Daniel Jeremiah’s first mock draft of the NFL Draft process is one to take very seriously.

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Feb 25, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center.
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Each year, I take a look at the Minnesota Vikings’ first-round picks throughout the NFL Draft process. The mock draft tracker provides solid data on how the industry expects the Vikings to approach the process. In the first four years of the project, they have done a good job, with quarterback J.J. McCarthy (most selections), wide receiver Jordan Addison (second most), and edge rusher Dallas Turner (seventh most) ranking highly.

Right now, the mock draft tracker has Clemson Tigers cornerback Avieon Terrell going to the Vikings in 30 of 71 collected industry mock drafts, with safety only being selected one time.

Daniel Jeremiah sends safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren to the Vikings in mock draft

Every year during Senior Bowl week, NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah releases a mock draft, and it usually has a few eye-popping selections. This year, it didn’t disappoint, as he sent the Vikings a safety, but one from the Group of Five level in Emmanuel McNeil-Warren from the Toledo Rockets.

“I’m higher on McNeil-Warren than some other people around the league, but I love his combination of size and explosive playmaking ability,” Jeremiah wrote. “He could help replace Harrison Smith if the soon-to-be 37-year-old does indeed retire.”

Safety is obviously a position of need for the Vikings this season. Smith is likely to retire, and aside from Josh Metellus, there isn’t much depth on the roster. McNeil-Warren might be from Toledo, but he’s a plug-and-play safety option for the Vikings who is aggressive against the run and also displays really good instincts in the passing game.

It would be a fascinating selection for the Vikings because of both the position and also that he is a Group of Five prospect. The Vikings have only taken one player at that level (DeWayne McBride) and one FCS player (Levi Drake Rodriguez) in Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s tenure. They did take Lewis Cine in the 2022 NFL Draft and were projected by many to select either Malaki Starks or Nick Emmanwori last year, but they ended up choosing Donovan Jackson.

If you think about it, taking a guard at 24th overall was a pivot based on the first three years of data, and safety is a serious need for the Vikings. The next three months will be fascinating.

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