Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's ideal NFL Draft strategy is coming into focus with media coming to a near consensus

The Minnesota Vikings are just 17 days away from improving their team in the NFL Draft. How will they do that? We still have no sure direction on what the Vikings will do. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has a bevy of options at his disposal thanks to the great work he put in during free […]

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Feb 28, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori (DB40) runs in the 40 yard dash during the 2025 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings are just 17 days away from improving their team in the NFL Draft. How will they do that? We still have no sure direction on what the Vikings will do.

General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has a bevy of options at his disposal thanks to the great work he put in during free agency. The Vikings don't have a dire need going into the NFL Draft and they can let the board fall to them.

NFL Draft analysts do believe as a collective what their direction will be: taking a safety. The last four weeks have shown a massive trend toward taking a safety, specifically South Carolina's Nick Emmanwori and Georgia's Malaki Starks. That trend continues for the Vikings over the past week, with a heavy focus on one player specifically.

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Vikings NFL Mock Draft Roundup

Kelvin Banks, OT, Texas

A former five-star recruit, Banks won the Outland and Lombardi Trophies and was a unanimous All-American.-Erby

Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss

Scouting Report

Despite the Vikings' significant investments at defensive tackle in free agency, the fans want more and pick Nolen, one of the most physically gifted defensive tackles in this draft class. If he can develop a better pass-rush plan, Nolen should be a force in the NFL.-Kosko

Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina

Scouting Report

Over the last three weeks, Nick Emmanwori has been mocked to the Vikings 34 times out of 124 mock drafts. It makes a lot of sense as the Vikings have a need for youth and upside in the secondary. Emmanwori's elite athleticism would translate for the Vikings and defensive coordinator Brian Flores.-Forness

Malaki Starks, S, Georgia

Scouting Report

He might not be a freaky athlete, but Malaki Starks does everything else at a rather elite level. He’ll be a great presence in this secondary with Brian Flores coaching him up.-Janvrin

Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky

Scouting Report

Minnesota's aggressive defensive scheme puts a lot on the cornerbacks at times.

They must be comfortable triggering and attacking spots as pressure comes, and Hairston just so happens to have one of the quickest transitions in the class and offers great ball skills.-Crabbs

Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College

"Ezeiruaku is a smaller outside linebacker-type edge rusher who can struggle with the power aspects of the game. However, his quick, smooth style paired with high football IQ and some very nice bend make him an ideal 3-4 pass rush type of defender to draft on Day 2."-Barbieri

Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas

Scouting Report

The Vikings have done an excellent job of filling team needs like defensive tackle in free agency. This leaves cornerback as a need early on still though. And looking at Byron Murphy and Mekhi Blackmon, the Vikings do not seem to mind slender cornerbacks as long as they are twitchy and will get downhill quickly.

Jahdae Barron fits the bill. He’s explosive, can line up in a variety of looks, and addresses a need on the roster despite the signing of Isaiah Rodgers in free agency. He is known as a leader and high-quality guy as well, so Brian Flores gets a playmaker for his defense here.-Kinnan

Donovan Jackson, OL, Ohio State

Minnesota gets a versatile and athletic offensive lineman in Jackson who could play either tackle or guard in the NFL.-Landis

Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss

Scouting Report

After obtaining a fourth-round pick from Washington, along with a 2026 third-round pick in the trade back, the Vikings get a high-floor outside cornerback for Brian Flores' defense.-Trapasso

Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

Azareye'h Thomas, CB, Florida State

Scouting Report

While Thomas' lackluster 40-yard dash (4.6 range) at Florida State's pro day might scare off some teams, the Vikings could really use his size on the outside to complement returning starter Byron Murphy Jr. and newly acquired Isaiah Rodgers.-Reuter

Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M

Scouting Report

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

PlayerSelections

S Nick Emmanwori

70

S Malaki Starks

51

CB Jahdae Marron

47

DT Derrick Harmon

37

CB Shavon Revel Jr.

33

DT Walter Nolen

27

CB Benhamin Morrison

23

OG Tyler Booker

20

DT Kenneth Grant

18

CB Maxwell Hairston

14

RB Omarion Hampton

10

LB Jihaad Campbell

9

OL Grey Zabel

9

CB Trey Amos

9

OT Kelvin Banks Jr.

7

CB Azareye’h Thomas

7

OL Donovan Jackson

6

EDGE Shemar Stewart

6

DT Tyleik Williams

5

RB Ashton Jeanty

5

CB Darien Porter Jr.

3

OT Josh Conerly Jr.

3

RB TreVeyon Henderson

3

CB Will Johnson

3

RB Quinshon Judkins

3

OT Armand Membou

2

OT Josh Simmons

2

S Xavier Watts

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 James Pearce Jr.

1

EDGE Landon Jackson

1

EDGE Mykel Williams

1

OT Tate Ratledge

1

OL Marcus Mbow

1

OT Emery Jones Jr.

1

OT Jonah Savaiinaea

1

RB Kaleb Johnson

1

EDGE Jalon Walker

1

EDGE Mike Green

1

WR Matthew Golden

1

EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku

1

WR Emeka Egbuka

1

Total

452

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