- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 430,241
- Reaction score
- 44
The fact that the Vikings enter the 2025 NFL Draft with fewer picks than any other team isn’t lost on Kevin O’Connell. It also doesn’t appear to be bothering him too much.
Asked this week about only having picks in the first (No. 24), third (No. 97), fifth (No. 139), and sixth (No. 187) rounds, the head coach did his best the change the narrative, instead emphasizing all of the pieces the Vikings have already added to the mix.
“The starting point on all of that would be looking at what we did in free agency,” O’Connell said. “I don’t know if we’re going to be on the clock with any of those picks and think we need to do anything.”
In other words, as the Vikings have done their due diligence leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft, they feel they’re in a position to select the best player available
Will they pull the trigger on somebody they believe can contribute to winning immediately? Will they trade back with hopes of giving themselves more darts to throw? The answers to those questions will come soon.
If the Vikings decide to stick and pick at No. 24, there are a number of different ways they could go. Let’s run through some of the options they might have at their disposal:
Derrick Harmon, Oregon (6-foot-5 inches; 315 pounds): The potential here could be too much to pass on. Harmon does a little bit of everything in the trenches and has shown steady improvement throughout his career. He projects as a disruptor at the next level after leading led all FBS interior defensive linemen with 55 pressures last season.
Kenneth Grant, Michigan (6-4, 330 pounds): It’s not hard to imagine Grant being able to stop the run from the onset of his career. He’s absolutely massive and, frankly, that’s something that can’t be taught. Though the concern with Grant is whether he can rush the passer effectively, he still has a high ceiling there because of his athleticism.
Walter Nolen, Mississippi, (6-4, 300): Not nearly as stout as some of his peers, Nolen fires off the line of scrimmage in a way that allows him to win at the point of attack. As much as his talent speaks for itself on the surface, he could benefit from some seasoning, which makes his landing spot important.
Tyler Booker, Alabama, (6-5, 320): Booker looks as if he were built in a lab to be an interior offensive lineman. He has the ability to anchor in the pass game and move bodies in the run game. The only area that might give teams some pause is a perceived lack of athleticism because of some of his test results at the NFL Combine.
Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas, (6-5, 315): Though there is some debate about where Banks will line up at the next level, he should step in as an immediate starter either way. He has proven to be a sturdy presence up front at tackle or guard, and that versatility could make him even more attractive.
Grey Zabel, North Dakota State, (6-6, 310): It can’t be overstated how much Zabel has raised his stock over the past couple of months. He balled out at the Senior Bowl and has been on a rocket ship ever since. He’s light on his feet and should be an effective blocker in both the pass game and run game largely because of his advanced technique.
Jahdae Barron, Texas, (5-11, 195): It’s probably not fair to pigeonhole Barron to a single position. He’s played a little bit of cornerback, a little bit of safety, and a little bit of linebacker during his rise up the ranks, and has done it all with an aggressiveness that will be attractive to a lot of teams.
Will Johnson, Michigan, (6-2, 195): There was a time not too long ago that Johnson was viewed as a lock to go in the Top 10. Though he has fallen a little since then, the upside can’t be ignored. He has prototypical size and has displayed fluidity on tape. His lack of speed might be the biggest reason he falls into the back half of the first round.
Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky, (5-11, 185): Hairston might seem a little too lean to be a shutdown cornerback, but his blazing speed should make up for that shortcoming. He ran than 40-yard dash in 4.28 seconds at the Combine, which helped him become a potential first round pick.
Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina, (6-3, 220): To say that Emmanwori is a freak athlete would be an understatement. There aren’t many people on the planet blessed with his combination of size and speed. He’s probably best suited to roam rather than drop into coverage, and should contribute from the jump with a clear pathway to grow into his role.
Malaki Starks, Georgia, (6-1, 195 pounds): There is a lot to like about the way Starks plays the game. He has proven capable of playing multiple positions in the secondary because he can do a little bit of everything. He has the speed needed to run in space, and the ball skills needed to make plays downfield.
Continue reading...
Asked this week about only having picks in the first (No. 24), third (No. 97), fifth (No. 139), and sixth (No. 187) rounds, the head coach did his best the change the narrative, instead emphasizing all of the pieces the Vikings have already added to the mix.
“The starting point on all of that would be looking at what we did in free agency,” O’Connell said. “I don’t know if we’re going to be on the clock with any of those picks and think we need to do anything.”
In other words, as the Vikings have done their due diligence leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft, they feel they’re in a position to select the best player available
Will they pull the trigger on somebody they believe can contribute to winning immediately? Will they trade back with hopes of giving themselves more darts to throw? The answers to those questions will come soon.
If the Vikings decide to stick and pick at No. 24, there are a number of different ways they could go. Let’s run through some of the options they might have at their disposal:
If they want a defensive lineman …
Derrick Harmon, Oregon (6-foot-5 inches; 315 pounds): The potential here could be too much to pass on. Harmon does a little bit of everything in the trenches and has shown steady improvement throughout his career. He projects as a disruptor at the next level after leading led all FBS interior defensive linemen with 55 pressures last season.
Kenneth Grant, Michigan (6-4, 330 pounds): It’s not hard to imagine Grant being able to stop the run from the onset of his career. He’s absolutely massive and, frankly, that’s something that can’t be taught. Though the concern with Grant is whether he can rush the passer effectively, he still has a high ceiling there because of his athleticism.
Walter Nolen, Mississippi, (6-4, 300): Not nearly as stout as some of his peers, Nolen fires off the line of scrimmage in a way that allows him to win at the point of attack. As much as his talent speaks for itself on the surface, he could benefit from some seasoning, which makes his landing spot important.
If they want an offensive lineman …
Tyler Booker, Alabama, (6-5, 320): Booker looks as if he were built in a lab to be an interior offensive lineman. He has the ability to anchor in the pass game and move bodies in the run game. The only area that might give teams some pause is a perceived lack of athleticism because of some of his test results at the NFL Combine.
Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas, (6-5, 315): Though there is some debate about where Banks will line up at the next level, he should step in as an immediate starter either way. He has proven to be a sturdy presence up front at tackle or guard, and that versatility could make him even more attractive.
Grey Zabel, North Dakota State, (6-6, 310): It can’t be overstated how much Zabel has raised his stock over the past couple of months. He balled out at the Senior Bowl and has been on a rocket ship ever since. He’s light on his feet and should be an effective blocker in both the pass game and run game largely because of his advanced technique.
If they want a cornerback …
Jahdae Barron, Texas, (5-11, 195): It’s probably not fair to pigeonhole Barron to a single position. He’s played a little bit of cornerback, a little bit of safety, and a little bit of linebacker during his rise up the ranks, and has done it all with an aggressiveness that will be attractive to a lot of teams.
Will Johnson, Michigan, (6-2, 195): There was a time not too long ago that Johnson was viewed as a lock to go in the Top 10. Though he has fallen a little since then, the upside can’t be ignored. He has prototypical size and has displayed fluidity on tape. His lack of speed might be the biggest reason he falls into the back half of the first round.
Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky, (5-11, 185): Hairston might seem a little too lean to be a shutdown cornerback, but his blazing speed should make up for that shortcoming. He ran than 40-yard dash in 4.28 seconds at the Combine, which helped him become a potential first round pick.
If they want a safety …
Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina, (6-3, 220): To say that Emmanwori is a freak athlete would be an understatement. There aren’t many people on the planet blessed with his combination of size and speed. He’s probably best suited to roam rather than drop into coverage, and should contribute from the jump with a clear pathway to grow into his role.
Malaki Starks, Georgia, (6-1, 195 pounds): There is a lot to like about the way Starks plays the game. He has proven capable of playing multiple positions in the secondary because he can do a little bit of everything. He has the speed needed to run in space, and the ball skills needed to make plays downfield.
Related Articles
- Aaron Jones returns to Vikings feeling like he has something to prove
- Why returning to the Vikings was an easy decision for Harrison Smith
- J.J. McCarthy has no limitations as Vikings begin offseason program
- Vikings mock draft: Will they trade back or take best player available?
- How will the Vikings approach the 2025 NFL Draft?
Continue reading...
