Vikings receive absurd NFL Draft class ranking from elite analyst and they couldn't be more wrong

With just five picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings were bound to not have the highest grades out there.  They just didn't have the draft capital to be up at the top, especially in the top 100, as this was the third consecutive year that they picked two or fewer times in […]

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Apr 25, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; Former Minnesota Vikings tight end Stu Voigt announces the team’s selection with the 102nd overall pick during the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field.
Tork Mason/USA Today Network via Imagn Images

With just five picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings were bound to not have the highest grades out there. 

They just didn't have the draft capital to be up at the top, especially in the top 100, as this was the third consecutive year that they picked two or fewer times in the top 100. In fact, the Vikings have had just two second-day picks in that time, with both at 102nd overall.

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Vikings ranked last in Dane Brugler's NFL Draft rankings

Even with the Vikings' limited draft capital this year, seeing them rank last feels wild on many levels. That's exactly what happened with Dane Brugler's NFL Draft class rankings, placing them at last in the league at 32nd overall. The biggest factor seemed to be Brugler's perceived reach on the Vikings' first-round pick Donovan Jackson.

Favorite pick: Donovan Jackson, G, Ohio State

With just five draft picks (one in the top 100), the Vikings were destined to appear low on this list. I saw Jackson as more of a second-round player than a first-rounder, but he will become a long-term starter if he can improve some of his sustain-and-recovery issues. Minnesota made a commitment to improving the interior of its offensive line, and Jackson definitely can help do that.

Without a lot of extra capital to make up for the selection of Jackson in terms of value, it makes sense to rank low. However, let's look at the selection in different ways. The Vikings got a starter at left guard and are set to maximize what J.J. McCarthy can be. Jackson is the final piece of the Vikings' complete offensive line rebuild and provides the final fix of the biggest weakness on the team.

Brugler named an intriguing player who could surprise in Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, someone we identified who could play an important role on the defensive line.

Day 3 pick who could surprise: Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, DT, Georgia

Ingram-Dawkins was more of a flash player than consistent force in Kirby Smart’s front seven. But he is a good-sized athlete and brings enough inside-outside versatility on the defensive line to eventually develop from a rotational player into someone who pushes for starting reps.

Post NFL Draft rankings usually end up changing once players end up getting a chance to play and that should bolster the Vikings up quite a bit. It's also frustrating that the Vikings' acquisition of Sam Howell wasn't mentioned, as it was an important element in the Vikings' haul on draft weekend.

Draft grades aren't the biggest deal in the world, but they deserved better.

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