Mel Kiper Jr.'s NFL Mock Draft sends the Vikings a prospect who profiles closely to All-Pro Minkah Fitzpatrick
The Minnesota Vikings have done a great job in the first wave of free agency. They have bolstered the trenches on both sides of the football. The additions of center Ryan Kelly and right guard Will Fries are going to elevate the Vikings' offense to another level. Their presence is one that the fanbase has […]
The Minnesota Vikings have done a great job in the first wave of free agency. They have bolstered the trenches on both sides of the football.
The additions of center Ryan Kelly and right guard Will Fries are going to elevate the Vikings' offense to another level. Their presence is one that the fanbase has begged for over the last decade. J.J. McCarthy will have a fortress in front of him going into the 2025 season.
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Outside of the offensive line, the Vikings have done a multitude of things to elevate Brian Flores' defense from fifth in the National Football League to potentially the best unit. Defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave will do wonders to fix the lack of interior pass rush.
While the defense does have a lot of assets to it, they could use some help on the back seven to fortify the unit and make it a great one.
ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. sends Vikings talented defender in latest mock draft
The most famous draft analyst of them all is ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. He released his latest mock draft on Tuesday and sent the Vikings an intriguing defensive back in Jahdae Barron from Texas.
Minnesota made some big splashes in free agency as it tries to take the NFC North from the Lions. Among them were deals to re-sign Byron Murphy Jr. and bring in Isaiah Rodgers, but I'm not sure the Vikings should — or will — be done adding to the cornerback room.
Barron, meanwhile, picked off five passes last season, showing his ball skills. He ran a 4.39 at the combine, showing his speed. And he played more than 600 snaps at both slot corner and outside corner over the past two seasons, showing his versatility. I really like this fit.
Barron is an interesting player. He's played everywhere for Texas, spending the majority of his time in the slot in 2023 before playing mostly outside in 2024. He thrived in that role for the Longhorns and tested very well at the combine.
Personally, I don't see his best position in the NFL as being outside cornerback, but rather as a nickel/safety.
Barron is going to be graded by some as a cornerback while others view him as a safety. I have him graded as a safety because of the versatility element and how well he will play nickel at the next level. Whoever gets Barron should play him like the Pittsburgh Steelers use Minkah Fitzpatrick.
The Vikings already have Josh Metellus who plays nickel, but the way Brian Flores uses his defensive backs, there would be a place for Barron as well as Metellus and (hopefully) Camryn Bynum.
Get Barron in a versatile role and you'll have quite the weapon on the back end, something that Flores knows how to use exceptionally well.
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