Vikings NFL Mock Draft Roundup sees two edge prospects join list of 43 unique players, proving GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah can go in any direction

The Minnesota Vikings have been fascinating to keep track of when it comes to the NFL Draft and how general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will approach it. Through 10 weeks, the Vikings have been sent 41 unique prospects over 321 mock drafts. The intriguing part about those numbers is how many have been defensive backs. 12 players167 […]

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Feb 28, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori (DB40) and Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron (DB04) look on during the 2025 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings have been fascinating to keep track of when it comes to the NFL Draft and how general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will approach it.

Through 10 weeks, the Vikings have been sent 41 unique prospects over 321 mock drafts. The intriguing part about those numbers is how many have been defensive backs.

  • 12 players
  • 167 selections 
  • 52%

We are now in week 11 of our tracking with the Vikings having been sent 46 players, including two new ones. That's relatively rare at this point, especially with the sheer number they have been sent prior. A real trend is forming: draft media believes the Vikings will take a safety.

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Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas

Scouting Report

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.-Kiper Jr.

Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina

Scouting Report

With Harrison Smith entering Year 14, the Vikings go get a young safety with the ability to impact the game in a variety of ways.-Jeremiah

Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas

The Vikings bolster their offensive line by grabbing Banks here, adding an easy-moving blocker who offers potential to play at either tackle or guard. J.J. McCarthy would benefit greatly from solid protection up front and an effective ground game at his back. Banks could help the team in both areas-Lee

Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon

Scouting Report

I actually like this board quite a bit for Minnesota. Could go with some offensive line help or a defensive back. Ultimately, Harmon's potential as a game-wrecker inside for Brian Flores spoke too strongly to me.-Holt 

Jalon Walker, EDGE/LB, Georgia

Scouting Report

One of my favorite fits in the first round is giving Brian Flores a dynamic playmaker at LB in Jalon Walker out of Georgia. Walker has the ability to drop back in coverage and is disruptive in the run game. His most exciting trait is how talented of a pass rusher he is at the position. Flores is one of the most aggressive play callers in terms of utilizing the blitz in the NFL, and a player like Walker would allow him to get creative with how he deploys him.-Adams 

Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State

Zabel brings positional versatility and fits well with Kevin O'Connell’s zone-blocking scheme. With the Vikings retooling their interior offensive line, Zabel has the movement skills and power to play inside.-Kosko

Malaki Starks, S, Georgia

Scouting Report

Minnesota shored up interior offensive line and defensive line in free agency. The Vikings brought back Byron Murphy Jr. and brought in Isaiah Rodgers as well at cornerback. Starks is a versatile piece on the back end with impressive flashes from his time with the Bulldogs and could be an eventual successor to Harrison Smith on the back end.-Starks

Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama

Scouting Report

The Minnesota Vikings are a well-oiled Machine under Kevin O'Connell. There is a chance that they add a veteran quarterback like Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson but they could go with J.J. McCarthy, who's coming off an injury. Regardless, adding Tyler Booker to protect whoever's under center would go a long way.-Parise

Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall

Scouting Report

Minnesota has quietly built one of the most complete rosters in the NFL. The question right now is do they turn it over to JJ McCarthy or cave to the idea of Aaron Rodgers? They have struggled to find true impact players in recent drafts, but Green has a chance to be just that, despite off field concerns.-Mulhern

Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina

Scouting Report

With only four picks on Minnesota's draft docket, GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the Vikings are among the teams most likely to trade down in the first round. Revel, who is recovering from a September ACL tear, is a 6-foot-2 corner who offers the length and recovery speed Minnesota typically seeks on the boundary. Should his medicals check out, Revel has high-ROI potential as an anchor in Brian Flores' secondary. For a Vikings team in need of secondary reinforcements, the added picks (via trade) and Revel's upside make this a calculated gamble for the quant-focused Adofo-Mensah.-Band

Jihaad Campbell, ILB, Alabama

Scouting Report

With the Vikings currently possessing an NFL-low four draft picks, expect GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to be actively searching for trade-down opportunities. In this scenario, he'd be a big winner, adding another pick or two and Campbell, a superb athlete whose speed to the sidelines and in coverage would give the Vikings' defense another dimension of playmaking potential.-Rang

Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

After giving up the fourth-most passing yards in the NFL, tightening up their coverage is an easy choice.-Maiocco

Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame

The Vikings lost Cam Bynum in free agency and will need to find a young starter on the back end who can spend a year learning next to Harrison Smith, the veteran returning to Minnesota on a one-year deal. Watts can play in single-high looks, in the box, and in the slot as a bonafide playmaker for a secondary.-Peterson

Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss

Scouting Report

Amos has good instincts around the ball and the press coverage skills needed to fit Brian Flores’ defensive scheme, which places cornerbacks on an island.-Kelly

PlayerSelections

CB Jahdae Barron

41

S Nick Emmanwori

37

S Malaki Starks

36

DT Derrick Harmon

35

CB Shavon Revel Jr.

32

DT Walter Nolen

23

CB Benjamin Morrison

22

DT Kenneth Grant

18

OG Tyler Booker

18

RB Omarion Hampton

9

CB Maxwell Hairston

8

CB Trey Amos

8

LB Jihaad Campbell

7

OL Grey Zabel

7

OT Kelvin Banks Jr.

6

DT Tyleik Williams

5

OL Donovan Jackson

5

RB Ashton Jeanty

5

EDGE Shemar Stewart

5

CB Azareye’h thomas

5

OT Josh Conerly Jr.

3

CB Darien Porter Jr.

3

RB TreVeyon Henderson

3

CB Will Johnson

3

RB Quinshon Judkins

2

OT Armand Membou

2

OT Josh Simmons

2

S Xavier Watts

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 T.J. Sanders

1

DT Deone Walker

1

DT Darius Alexander

1

EDGE James Pearce Jr.

1

EDGE Mike Green

1

EDGE Jalon Walker

1

Total

367

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