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The Minnesota Vikings entered the 2025 off-season with question marks at the interior offensive and defensive lines, secondary, and running back. After one week of free agency, they've aggressively addressed each of these needs.
That gives the Vikings plenty of flexibility heading into next month's draft, even though they only have four picks. The position groups above could still be addressed, but the need to address any one need has dwindled.
So even though the Vikings are slated with the 24th pick, they could be open to trading down when they're on the clock, potentially out of the first round altogether. That would give them additional draft capital, as their only other current picks in the third round (97), fifth round (139), and sixth round (187). Doing so could add young depth to a roster set up for a deep playoff run in 2025.
No one was willing to trade up in this mock draft iteration, but all is not lost. Several interior defensive linemen are on the board, so the Vikings select Harmon, PFF's 22nd-highest rated iDL last year. Standing 6'4 1/2" and 313 pounds, Harmon will be part of a defensive line rotation that added veterans Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave last week.
According to PFF last year, Harmon had 43 pressures on 346 pass-rush snaps in 2024. He can come off the bench in 2025 to provide push in the passing game while learning the Brian Flores defense behind Allen and Hargrave. This can set Harmon up for a full-time role in 2026, as Allen and Hargrave are both on the wrong side of 30.
The Vikings can look to add more depth at cornerback. Strong, a four-year starter, has plenty of experience to go with his size (6'1", 185 pounds). He had five interceptions the past two seasons and only allowed completions on 46% of passes in 2024. Strong can fight for playing time as Mekhi Blackmon returns from an ACL tear suffered in training camp last year.
Aaron Jones is returning for his ninth season, and the Vikings traded for Jordan Mason on Saturday, but Minnesota still looks to take advantage of a deep running back class. Mullings ran 185 times for 948 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2025. He doesn't add much in the passing game, catching only eight passes over the past two seasons, but he adds another option to the running game. Mullings could find more playing time in 2026 with Jones being another year older.
The Vikings played much more 12 personnel in 2024, and Conyers could be a long-term replacement for Josh Oliver. In 2024, Conyers caught 30 passes for 320 yards and five touchdowns, but PFF was a bigger fan of his run-blocking. He received a run-blocking grade of 80.1, showing that he can help add physicality to a run game that has lacked that since 2022.
Majors was PFF's 35th-ranked center in 2024, allowing only two quarterback hits and 13 hurries. PFF hasn't credited him with a sack allowed since 2022, which is part of why he had a pass-block grade of 85.4. The Vikings signed four-time Pro Bowler Ryan Kelly last week, but he battled neck and knee injuries in 2024 and will be 32 in May. Majors could fight for a starting spot in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Vikings add more weapons on defense in latest mock draft
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That gives the Vikings plenty of flexibility heading into next month's draft, even though they only have four picks. The position groups above could still be addressed, but the need to address any one need has dwindled.
So even though the Vikings are slated with the 24th pick, they could be open to trading down when they're on the clock, potentially out of the first round altogether. That would give them additional draft capital, as their only other current picks in the third round (97), fifth round (139), and sixth round (187). Doing so could add young depth to a roster set up for a deep playoff run in 2025.
Round 1, Pick 24: Derrick Harmon, DL, Oregon
No one was willing to trade up in this mock draft iteration, but all is not lost. Several interior defensive linemen are on the board, so the Vikings select Harmon, PFF's 22nd-highest rated iDL last year. Standing 6'4 1/2" and 313 pounds, Harmon will be part of a defensive line rotation that added veterans Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave last week.
According to PFF last year, Harmon had 43 pressures on 346 pass-rush snaps in 2024. He can come off the bench in 2025 to provide push in the passing game while learning the Brian Flores defense behind Allen and Hargrave. This can set Harmon up for a full-time role in 2026, as Allen and Hargrave are both on the wrong side of 30.
Round 3, Pick 97: Dorrian Strong, CB, Virginia Tech
The Vikings can look to add more depth at cornerback. Strong, a four-year starter, has plenty of experience to go with his size (6'1", 185 pounds). He had five interceptions the past two seasons and only allowed completions on 46% of passes in 2024. Strong can fight for playing time as Mekhi Blackmon returns from an ACL tear suffered in training camp last year.
Round 5, Pick 145: Kalel Mullings, RB, Michigan
Trade: Vikings send pick 139 to the Jets for picks 145 and 207
Aaron Jones is returning for his ninth season, and the Vikings traded for Jordan Mason on Saturday, but Minnesota still looks to take advantage of a deep running back class. Mullings ran 185 times for 948 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2025. He doesn't add much in the passing game, catching only eight passes over the past two seasons, but he adds another option to the running game. Mullings could find more playing time in 2026 with Jones being another year older.
Round 6, Pick 187: Jalin Conyers, TE, Texas Tech
The Vikings played much more 12 personnel in 2024, and Conyers could be a long-term replacement for Josh Oliver. In 2024, Conyers caught 30 passes for 320 yards and five touchdowns, but PFF was a bigger fan of his run-blocking. He received a run-blocking grade of 80.1, showing that he can help add physicality to a run game that has lacked that since 2022.
Round 6, Pick 206: Jake Majors, C, Texas
Majors was PFF's 35th-ranked center in 2024, allowing only two quarterback hits and 13 hurries. PFF hasn't credited him with a sack allowed since 2022, which is part of why he had a pass-block grade of 85.4. The Vikings signed four-time Pro Bowler Ryan Kelly last week, but he battled neck and knee injuries in 2024 and will be 32 in May. Majors could fight for a starting spot in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Vikings add more weapons on defense in latest mock draft
Continue reading...
