Minnesota Vikings Draft Dreams

The Athletic’s draft expert, Dane Brugler, recently released his ranking of the Top 100 Prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. As one of the best evaluators on the media side of things, it’s always an interesting list. It’s also easy to get dreamy about the draft possibilities of the Minnesota Vikings. This is the time for that. As things stand now, the Vikings have significant needs at a few positions.

Interior Offensive Line

Interior Defensive Line

Cornerback

Running Back

What the Vikings do in free agency will alter those needs. Until then, I’m stuck prioritizing the above four positional needs. Plucking players from Brugler’s Top 100 that play the above positions give us this.

1.   Travis Hunter, CB, Colorado

4.   Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

5.   Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

9.   Shemar Stewart, DL, Texas A&M

12. Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

18. Tyler Booker, G, Alabama

19. Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon

26. Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan

29. Walter Nolen, DT, Mississippi

32. Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina

35. Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa

36. Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina

38. Grey Zabel, IOL, North Dakota State

40. Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas

42. Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State

47. Alfred Collins, DT, Texas

49. TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State

52. Jonah Savaiinea, G, Arizona

54. Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky

55. Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame

56. Shemar Turner, DT, Texas A&M

60. T.J. Sanders, DT, South Carolina

62. Jordan James, RB, Oregon

66. Marcus Mbow, G, Purdue

67. Darius Alexander, DT, Toledo

69. Tate Ratledge, G, Georgia

70. Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State

73. Jordan Phillips, DT, Maryland

76. Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky

77. Quincy Riley, CB, Louisville

78. Omar Norman-Lott, DT, Tennessee

80. Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee

83. Jared Wilson, C, Georgia

86. Jacob Parrish, CB, Kansas State

88. Joshua Farmer, DT, Florida State

91. Nohl Williams, CB, Cal

93. Trey Amos, CB, Mississippi

95. R.J. Harvey, RB, Central Florida

96. Cobee Bryant, CB, Kansas

99. Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State

It’d sure be nice to just grab Travis Hunter, Mason Graham, Ashton Jeanty, Tyler Booker and insert them in the Vikings starting lineup. The NFL Draft doesn’t work like that. An unfortunate thing about this draft is that the Vikings are only scheduled to have four draft picks. That number includes an expected Compensatory third-round pick that they have yet to be awarded. With that Compensatory assumption, only two of the four picks (#24 and #97) are expected to be swings at players in Brugler’s Top 100. 

Perhaps:

24. Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan

97. Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State

Adding Kenneth Grant to the Vikings defensive line would be brilliant. Darien Porter is a nice cornerback addition. His length reminds me of what the Vikings were targeting in Khyree Jackson last year. 

If the Vikings could trade back a bit and add another swing at Brugler’s Top 100, perhaps they have this improved three-round draft haul.

35. Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa

67. Darius Alexander, DT, Toledo

97. Darrien Porter, CB, Iowa State

Kaleb Johnson would be an outstanding addition. Darius Alexander isn’t quite the immense interior presence that Kenneth Grant is but he’s an active, versatile player that should boost interior pressure. Alexander is a player that intrigues me more each time I look at him. 

It’s a good year to need defensive tackles and running backs. There will be talent at both positions into Day 3 of the draft. If they can fill their offensive line needs in free agency, the Vikings should be able to address their remaining needs with their very limited number of draft picks.