20 different prospects across 95 mock drafts prove Minnesota Vikings can go any direction in NFL Draft

The NFL Draft is finally here and it's a glorious day. Since January 1st, I have been collecting industry mock drafts to see how things change with the Minnesota Vikings. In those months, I have collected a whopping 656 mock drafts with 92 of them coming in the final four days leading up to, and […]

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Dec 8, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah looks on before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

The NFL Draft is finally here and it's a glorious day.

Since January 1st, I have been collecting industry mock drafts to see how things change with the Minnesota Vikings. In those months, I have collected a whopping 656 mock drafts with 92 of them coming in the final four days leading up to, and including draft day.

As we look at the final projections, 20 different prospects were sent to the Vikings, proving general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah can go just about any direction in the first round. 

Here are what the experts say about the Vikings.

Minnesota Vikings Final NFL Mock Draft Roundup

Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia

Scouting Report

Walker isn’t the most explosive athlete in this class at either linebacker or defensive end, but he’s got a high motor and is a strong tackler. He also seems to have the mental makeup of a future franchise leader. In other words, he’s the perfect archetype of a player for defensive coordinator Brian Flores.

Walker is more of an off-ball linebacker to me and can be a great playmaker as a blitzer and run stuffer—and I’m banking on Flores to develop him as a coverage player because Walker’s football IQ is clearly there.-Lee

Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky

Scouting Report

Safety is a need here but Hairston's play style reminds me of Devon Witherspoon, the Vikings also have needs at cornerback.-Wilson

Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall

Scouting Report

ESPN breakdown: "Green broke through in 2024, leading the FBS with 17 sacks, a big step up from the 4.5 he had in 2023. He is a high-effort player with flexibility and an array of counters to get to the quarterback."-Barbieri

Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss

Scouting Report

General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has been steadfast in wanting to get both an impactful player and one you can't get in free agency in this class. That is the epitome of a talent like Nolen. There are certainly flaws there (including some effort concerns), but you don't get his combination of size, athleticism, and power anywhere other than the first round.-Forness

Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina

Scouting Report

At the combine, Emmanwori ran a 4.38 40 and leaped 43 inches in the vertical and 11 feet, 6 inches in the broad jump. Those were all records at safety dating back to at least 2003. But Emmanwori is more than a combine warrior. He picked off four passes last season, including two pick-sixes, and didn't allow a touchdown in 392 coverage snaps. He can play multiple safety spots, which fits well in a Brian Flores-led defense that emphasizes versatility and complex defensive structures. With the departure of Camryn Bynum this offseason and Harrison Smith turning 36, the Vikings need a younger player in the back end of the secondary.-Reid

Malaki Starks, S, Georgia

Scouting Report

After trading up for Dallas Turner, the Minnesota Vikings don’t have their own second-, third-, or fourth-round picks (though they were awarded a compensatory pick in Round 3). If they stay put at No. 24, they need to make it count.

Malaki Starks’ tape speaks for itself. He’s a well-rounded safety with fluid coverage skills, strong ball-tracking ability, and physicality at the point of contact. His NFL Combine numbers weren’t great, but he’s a first-round talent.-Infante

Grey Zabel, OL, NDSU

Scouting Report

“The Vikings have spent the offseason upgrading a protection unit that gave up nine sacks in a wild-card loss to the Rams, but after they signed Ryan Kelly and Will Fries, they could use one more addition at left guard. That’ll lead them to Zabel, who played all five positions at North Dakota State but would be a natural fit at left guard, where he’d line up between Kelly and Christian Darrisaw and add some size, tenacity and athletic ability to the middle of the line.”-Goessling

Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas

Scouting Report

The Vikings brought back Byron Murphy, and signed two veteran corners in free agency, but they could use a young, talented man on the outside of their defense. Barron fits the bill perfectly.- Zaksheske

Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon

Scouting Report

Another player who could go much earlier in the evening, the Vikes give DC Brian Flores a ready-to-go toy to play with.-Goldsher

Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss

Scouting Report

Trey Amos is a long, physical press cornerback the Vikings need to pair up with Byron Murphy Jr.-Blakeway

Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan

Scouting Report

With all the crazy picks happening at the back end of the first round, Grant falls directly into the Vikings' lap. They need a guy to hold down their defensive interior. They couldn't ask for a better fit here at 24th overall than Grant, a nose tackle who moves in ways a nose tackle shouldn't.-McKenna

James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee

Much has been discussed about Pearce’s off-field rumors but alas, he’s an outstanding pure rusher who can put significant stress on offensive tackles in their pass sets. The Vikings would be giving them a player that has been compared to Giants pass rusher Brian Burns.-Feinberg

Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina

Scouting Report

The Vikings have needs elsewhere and wouldn't list running back as a clear hole on their roster. But if Hampton is on the board, he'd be a wonderful addition to a young core that the organization hopes can grow old together.-Schrager

Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama

Scouting Report

Minnesota entered the draft with just four picks and desperately needed to move back to acquire more capital. The Vikings accomplish that by trading with the Eagles and also adding Campbell, who should earn the linebacker spot opposite Blake Cashman.-Jackson

Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama

Scouting Report

Even with safety Harrison Smith returning for another season, there’s a need in the middle of the secondary. More pressing, however, is the need to fortify the interior of the offensive line as the Vikings want to put second-year QB J.J. McCarthy in the best position to succeed. They’re viewed as being open to a trade down as they own only three other picks: one each in the third, fifth and sixth rounds.-Biggs

Matthew Golden, WR, Texas

The Vikings have a well-rounded roster, which allows them to go in any direction with this pick. Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are the only wide receivers who remain on the Vikings roster and earned a PFF receiving grade above 60.0 last season. Golden would give the Vikings a second deep shot to go along with Addison, while Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson eat up the short and intermediate targets. This would be a terrible landing spot for Golden’s fantasy value, as he might be the last option in the Vikings offense. However, it would help the fantasy value of J.J. McCarthy.-Jahnke and Macri

Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M

Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

Scouting Report

The Vikings might end up with a bargain. For now, they’re taking a chance on a player whose speed remains in question.-Maiocco

Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M

Scouting Report

Stewart doesn't have a ton of production (4.5 total sacks in three seasons), but a 6'5" 267 lbs. (rumors are he played closer to 290 lbs.) he is a massive EDGE rusher. He can help shore up their run defense, which is a big point of emphasis playing in a division with Detroit and Green Bay. But developing more of a pass rush plan he has sky high potential if he can put it all together.-Cheah

Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas

Overview

ProspectSelection

S Nick Emmanwori

130

S Malaki Starks

95

CB Jahdae Barron

61

DT Derrick Harmon

47

CB Shavon Revel Jr.

41

DT Walter Nolen

35

OG Tyler Booker

28

CB Benjamin Morrison

24

DT Kenneth Grant

23

CB Maxwell Hairston

21

OL Grey Zabel

20

RB Omarion Hampton

12

LB Jihaad Campbell

12

CB Trey Amos

10

CB Azareye’h Thomas

9

OL Donovan Jackson

9

OT Kelvin Banks Jr.

8

CB Will Johnson

8

EDGE Shemar Stewart

7

DT Tyleik Williams

6

RB Ashton Jeanty

5

CB Darien Porter Jr.

3

OT Josh Conerly Jr.

3

RB TreVeyon Henderson

3

RB Quinshon Judkins

3

EDGE Jalon Walker

3

EDGE James Pearce Jr.

3

OT Armand Membou

2

OT Josh Simmons

2

S Xavier Watts

2

WR Emeka Egbuka

2

EDGE Mike Green

2

WR Matthew Golden

2

CB/WR Travis Hunter

1

RB Kaleb Johnson

1

DT Darius Alexander

1

DT Deone Walker

1

DT Omarr Norman-Lott

1

DT T.J. Sanders

1

EDGE Landon Jackson

1

EDGE Mykel Williams

1

OG Tate Ratledge

1

OL Marcus Mbow

1

OT Emery Jones Jr.

1

OT Jonah Savaiinaea

1

EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku

1

WR Luther Burden III

1

EDGE Nic Scourton

1

Total

656

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