Analysts are dialing in on Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's strategy three days of the NFL Draft

The Minnesota Vikings are just three days away from impacting the future of the franchise when they enter the NFL Draft. Over the course of the 2025 calendar year, I have collected a whopping 564 unique mock drafts from experts across the industry. From a week-to-week perspective, we have seen a lot of different trends […]

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Nov 29, 2024; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive back KJ Bolden (4) and defensive back Malaki Starks (24) react after a turnover on downs against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the first quarter at Sanford Stadium.
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The Minnesota Vikings are just three days away from impacting the future of the franchise when they enter the NFL Draft.

Over the course of the 2025 calendar year, I have collected a whopping 564 unique mock drafts from experts across the industry. From a week-to-week perspective, we have seen a lot of different trends occur, especially pre and post-free agency.

Now that we are three days from the draft, we have a lot more information about who the industry believes the Vikings will select in the first round of the NFL Draft and it's getting considerably clearer.

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Minnesota Vikings NFL Mock Draft Roundup

Donovan Jackson, OT, Ohio State

The Vikings knew they had to address the interior this offseason and went out and signed guard Will Fries and center Ryan Kelly. But Jackson would represent an upgrade over Blake Brandel at the other guard spot. Jackson has some really strong movement traits.-Kiper and Yates

Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina

Scouting Report

The Vikings have very few picks to work with, so a trade down feels inevitable. In this scenario, the team moves down and lands Shavon Revel, who's capable of immediately starting in the team's secondary. Revel dealt with injury in 2024, but if healthy, Revel is a potential star.-Lazenby

Malaki Starks, S, Georgia

Scouting Report

With Cam Bynum having left in free agency and Harrison Smith getting up there in age, figuring out the safety spot is about to be very important. Starks can hang in Brian Flores' defense.-Dubin

Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina

Scouting Report

The Vikings adding an explosive secondary weapon like Emmanwori to their depth chart has to be an exciting proposition. Minnesota needs a long-term staple at the position amid Harrison Smith's twilight years and Emmanwori feels like the perfect fit with the VIkings' scheme.

He's a dangerous, explosive athlete who can attack from depth or pressure from the line of scrimmage, making him a multi-tool weapon for Minnesota.-Crabbs

Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas

Scouting Report

If there’s one thing that defensive coordinator Brian Flores loves, it’s versatility, and nobody in this draft has more of that than Jahdae Barron. He might not be a star at any one position, but he can give his team quality play at almost any position. Flores will likely be banging the table to add a player like this.-Cola

Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State

Scouting Report

Zabel played left tackle last season for North Dakota State and garnered a 93.1 PFF pass-blocking grade after allowing only one sack, two quarterback hits and four hurries on his 453 pass-blocking snaps as he helped his team win an FCS national championship. Zabel has the ability to play multiple positions along the offensive line but would start at guard initially for the Vikings.-Plocher

Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky

Scouting Report

The analytically-minded Kwesi Adofo-Mensah trades down to recoup capital for a front office that currently holds a league-low four picks. Hairston turned heads at the combine with a 4.28 40 while reaching a top speed of 24.25 mph, both the best marks of any prospect in this year’s class, according to Next Gen Stats. His elite speed and upside make him a strong fit in Brian Flores’ aggressive, man-heavy scheme.-Band

Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina

Scouting Report

Aaron Jones is back in Minnesota in 2025, but he's going to be 31 in December. The Vikings also signed Jordan Mason after something of a breakout year with the 49ers, but he suffered a shoulder sprain and high-ankle sprain last year. Hampton is the second-best running back prospect in the class behind Jeanty and gives the Vikings some extra depth at the position here, late in the first round.-McKessy

James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee

Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon

Scouting Report

If Brian Flores and the Vikings added Derrick Harmon to the defensive line rotation with newly acquired Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, it would be very challenging for opposing offenses.

Last year, Harmon posted 43 hurries and five sacks for the Oregon Ducks.-Weyrauch

Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

The Vikings do not need a wide receiver this high, but Egbuka is what head coach Kevin O'Connell likes at the position: route running savant, good after the catch, and does all the little things. Egbuka has some Cooper Kupp to his game in that sense and we know how O'Connell maximized him in Los Angeles.-Forness

Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan

Scouting Report

The Vikings want to beef up their interior, and they do it here via Grant. He might not be as can’t-miss as Mason Graham, but he’s not that far off as a prospect and would be excellent value for Minnesota. — Gregson

ProspectSelection

S Nick Emmanwori

102

S Malaki Starks

80

CB Jahdae Barron

56

CB Shavon Revel Jr.

41

DT Derrick Harmon

39

DT Walter Nolen

30

CB Benjamin Morrison

24

OG Tyler Booker

23

DT Kenneth Grant

19

CB Maxwell Hairston

19

OL Grey Zabel

15

RB Omarion Hampton

11

LB Jihaad Campbell

10

CB Trey Amos

9

CB Azareye’h Thomas

9

OL Donovan Jackson

9

OT Kelvin Banks Jr.

7

EDGE Shemar Stewart

6

DT Tyleik Williams

6

RB Ashton Jeanty

5

CB Will Johnson

4

CB Darien Porter Jr.

3

OT Josh Conerly Jr.

3

RB TreVeyon Henderson

3

RB Quinshon Judkins

3

OT Armand Membou

2

OT Josh Simmons

2

S Xavier Watts

2

EDGE Jalon Walker

2

EDGE James Pearce Jr.

2

WR Emeka Egbuka

2

CB/WR Travis Hunter

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

RB Kaleb Johnson

1

EDGE Mike Green

1

WR Matthew Golden

1

EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku

1

WR Luther Burden III

1

Total

564

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