Vikings NFL Mock Draft Roundup after first wave of free agency show a major shift in selections
The Minnesota Vikings are now fully loaded after the first wave of free agency. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah found a way to maximize the over $60 million in salary cap space to get the roster in prime shape for a Super Bowl run. It also opens things up for the NFL Draft, as the best […]
The Minnesota Vikings are now fully loaded after the first wave of free agency.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah found a way to maximize the over $60 million in salary cap space to get the roster in prime shape for a Super Bowl run. It also opens things up for the NFL Draft, as the best player available is on the table.
We saw a sizable shift in how NFL Draft analysts have sent the Vikings picks and it could manifest come April's draft.
Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
- The Draft Network's Mason Johnstone
- For The Win's Christian D'Andrea
- Sports Illustrated's Alan Goldsher
- College Football Network's Owain Jones
- Pro Football Network's Marco Enriquez
- Fox Sports' David Helman
- College Football Network's Cam Mellor
Brian Flores’ defense thrives on versatility at safety and linebacker with players who can sit in coverage or match up in man. Malaki Starks is a seamless fit, capable of handling deep middle-of-the-field responsibilities while also buzzing down to fit the run or cover tight ends and backs in man coverage. His all-around ability gives Flores another dynamic chess piece to elevate one of the league’s best defensive minds.-Johnstone
Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
- Pro Football Focus' Max Chadwick
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Ayrton Ostly
- Bears Wire's Vincent Parise
- Fantasy Points' Brett Whitefield
Minnesota’s four interior defenders with the most snaps in 2024 each earned a sub-60.0 PFF overall grade, so improving at defensive tackle should be one of the team's top priorities. Harmon led all FBS interior defensive linemen in quarterback pressures (55) last year and would provide much-needed juice to the Vikings' interior.-Chadwick
Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
Had Simmons (and, for that matter, center Seth McLaughlin) been healthy all year, Ohio State wouldn’t have lost a game. Simmons also would be all but locked in as a top-10 pick. A lot now depends on his medicals, but this would be an absolute steal. Don’t be surprised to see someone trade up for him.-Baumgardner
Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina
- NBC Sports Philadelphia's Reuben Frank
- Fantasy Pros' Russell Brown
- Yahoo! Sports' Nate Tice and Charles McDonald
- Sports Illustrated's Carter Landis
The Vikings could potentially lose their top three outside corners – Byron Murphy Jr., Stephon Gilmore and Shaquill Griffin – and even if they don’t lose all of them they’re going to need to infuse the secondary with some young talent, and Revel is the best guy on the board at 24. He only played three games last year because of a torn ACL and yeah he only played 24 games in his entire college career and had just one career interception and 15 pass deflections. But based on his level of play when he’s been healthy, there’s no reason to question whether Revel can be a very good NFL corner. He’s got terrific speed and make-up ability, he’s tough in bump-and-run, and he's a willing run defender and you have to love his size at 6-2, 200. There’s an element of risk there simply because he didn’t play much college football, but he’s got a shot at being a very good corner for a long time.-Frank
Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
Minnesota's defense is among the league's most unique and best. Cornerbacks who are confident playing on islands and have quick transitions will do well attacking the football for Brian Flores' scheme. Hairston's stock is way up after a great showing at the NFL Combine, and he appears to have pushed himself up to the top of the second tier of eligible corners. With both Stephon Gilmore and Byron Murphy set to test free agency, this is a primary need for the Vikings.-Crabbs
Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
- CBS Sports' Garrett Podell
- USA Today's Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz
- CBS Sports' Kyle Stackpole
- The Palm Beach Post's Hal Habib
- Athlon Sports' Luke Easterling
- Pro Football Network's Jacob Infante
Harrison Smith is 36, and Cam Bynum is set to become a free agent. The Vikings need an injection of youth at the position, so why not the 2025 class' combine standout? South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori hit a perfect 10.0 out of 10.0 after he ran a 4.38 in the 40 while recording 43 inches in the vertical jump and 11-foot-6 in the broad jump with a stature of 6-foot-3, 220 pounds. He can be a fine successor to Smith.-Podell
Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
Walter Nolen is great against the run and will bring a physical presence to the middle of the Vikings’ defensive line.
I also think he could eventually become a solid pass rusher.-Janvrin
Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
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
Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
There’s plenty of speculation that Minnesota moves down since it traded away their 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 7th round selections. If Dart is on the board, this pick is a perfect spot for a QB-needy team at the top half of the first round to trade up. In this mock, the Vikes take a run-stopping big man to fortify their defensive front.-Froton
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Even though the Vikings re-signed Byron Murphy and added Isaiah Rodgers, this would be too talented of a prospect for Minnesota to pass on.-Trapasso
Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
Minnesota has a pretty clear need at corner and they land one of the two best in this class with Barron. The Longhorn product had a terrific 2024 with five picks and provides the kind of positional versatility that defensive coordinators love in the secondary having played inside and outside.-Kalland
Azareye'h Thomas, CB, Florida State
| Player | Selections |
|---|---|
CB Jahdae Barron | 37 |
DT Derrick Harmon | 32 |
CB Shavon Revel Jr. | 31 |
S Nick Emmanwori | 25 |
S Malaki Starks | 25 |
DT Walter Nolen | 23 |
CB Benjamin Morrison | 22 |
DT Kenneth Grant | 18 |
OG Tyler Booker | 16 |
RB Omarion Hampton | 9 |
CB Maxwell Hairston | 8 |
CB Trey Amos | 7 |
LB Jihaad Campbell | 6 |
DT Tyleik Williams | 5 |
OL Donovan Jackson | 5 |
RB Ashton Jeanty | 5 |
OL Grey Zabel | 5 |
EDGE Shemar Stewart | 5 |
CB Azareye’h Thomas | 5 |
OT Josh Conerly Jr. | 3 |
CB Darien Porter | 3 |
RB TreVeyon Henderson | 3 |
RB Quinshon Judkins | 2 |
OT Armand Membou | 2 |
OT Josh Simmons | 2 |
CB Will Johnson | 2 |
OT Emery Jones Jr. | 1 |
OG Tate Ratledge | 1 |
EDGE Landon Jackson | 1 |
OL Marcus Mbow | 1 |
EDGE Mykel Williams | 1 |
OT Jonah Savaiinaea | 1 |
RB Kaleb Johnson | 1 |
CB/WR Travis Hunter | 1 |
DT Omarr Norman-Lott | 1 |
DT TJ Sanders | 1 |
DT Deone Walker | 1 |
DT Darius Alexander | 1 |
S Xavier Watts | 1 |
EDGE James Pearce Jr. | 1 |
OT Kelvin Banks Jr. | 1 |
Total | 321 |
Vikings salary cap update after first wave of free agency proves Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is all-in for the Super Bowl
The Vikings are primed to go win a Super Bowl
