Vikings 7-Round NFL Mock Draft: Simulator makes all the selections, and it’s nothing like you’ve seen before

This mock draft was completed by the Pro Football Focus mock draft simulator, and their process was extremely questionable.

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Dec 20, 2025; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver KC Concepcion (7) runs the ball against the Miami Hurricanes during the second half at Kyle Field.
Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

We are less than a week from the NFL Scouting Combine, and mock drafts are coming in fast and furious for the Minnesota Vikings.

Through the first seven weeks, there have been 145 collected mock drafts with Clemson Tigers cornerback Avieon Terrell as the top prospect with 53 total selections. Mock drafts in February aren’t necessarily meant to be predictive, but rather to explore situations.

Instead of putting one together based on my opinion, like I’ve done multiple times already this offseason, I let the Pro Football Focus Simulator do the work. This is what they came up with.

Minnesota Vikings simulated 7-round NFL mock draft

18. KC Concepcion, WR Texas A&M

The simulator starts off with a bang, doing something that Dennis Green would have done in the 1990s. We have two elite wide receivers on the outside, but this dude can be a game-changer, so let’s take him anyway. Now, Concepcion isn’t Randy Moss, but he’s a talented player in his own right.

He possesses everything that head coach Kevin O’Connell wans in a wide receiver: twitchy movements with his route running, explosive speed to take the top off the defense, and has plenty of ability to earn yards after the catch.

It’s quite an interesting selection by the simulator to put Concepcion to the Vikings in round one, but he’s that good a player.

49. Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern

Offensive line isn’t a dire need for the Vikings, but they could use some depth. They get Tiernan in the second round, who has the versatility to play either tackle or guard. It’s a valuable piece to have for the Vikings, but is that worth a second-round pick when the secondary is a much more dire position of need? The first two picks feel like luxury picks.

82. Jack Endries, TE, Texas

The selection of Endries doesn’t change the luxury picks, especially if T.J. Hockenson ends up staying in Minnesota, which is the current expectation. As things stand, Endries is a versatile tight end who can play all three downs and is a vertical weapon up the seam. He isn’t too dissimilar from Hockenson, and will be the developmental TE3 in 2026.

97. Seth McGowan, RB, Kentucky

The first pick that addresses a real need for the Vikings, but it’s not exactly the profile that they need to pair with Jordan Mason. He’s a very physical one-gap runner who doesn’t have great high-end speed. That doesn’t fit what O’Connell likes to do on offense, nor is it what they need in the building. A puzzling fit from the simulator, even though he’s a talented player.

161. J’Mari Taylor, RB, Virginia

If you want to replace Aaron Jones, Taylor fits the bill. He’s built very similarly to Jones and has a similar skill set. The top-end speed is lacking, but that’s not much of a surprise with a fifth-round pick. He’s a much better fit for what the Vikings need than McGowan is, but back-to-back running backs is a really tough sell.

195. Robert Spears-Jennings, S, Oklahoma

Considering how many holes the Vikings’ secondary has, it’s wild not to see a single defensive back until 195th overall. Spears-Jennings is a stout player who plays the run really well and triggers downhill with aggression and explosiveness, but can struggle in man coverage, plus his aggressiveness can be a negative for him. Perfectly fine for a sixth-round pick.

234. T.J. Hall, CB, Iowa

The first cornerback off the board in round seven is a wild choice by the simulator. Even though they chose to wait, Hall is a very interesting player. He is solid in both man and zone coverage with good size and athleticism. He lacks a bit in the ball skills department, but there is enough there to find a role for him on this team.

235. Domani Jackson, CB, Alabama

Jackson is a fascinating player. He was a top recruit for the USC Trojans before transferring to the Alabama Crimson Tide, and had stretches of success. He’s got a lot of size, and is at his best in press-man coverage. He doesn’t play as well in zone coverage and has struggled with playing consistently. He’s more than worth a shot in the seventh round.

244. Josh Moten, CB, Southern Miss

Moten offers a fascinating profile. He is listed at 6-0 and 185 pounds, and might be smaller than that. His length and ball tracking stand out, but there is a major strength deficiency that shows up against the run.

Overview

This mock draft is a fascinating one. The biggest needs on the Vikings either weren’t addressed with defensive tackle and linebacker, or defensive back not being selected until 195th overall. What this mock draft looked like was one designed to appease O’Connell. The only contributor in year one is Concepcion, and he might not be more than a WR3. Considering the multitude of players on defense that need to be replaced, this feels like a major wasted opportunity.

Grade: D+

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