Minnesota Vikings Mock Draft Monday

It’s another Monday closer to the real draft. 17 more days. Here’s another Minnesota Vikings mock draft. 

1. Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

2. Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame

3. Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh

3. Logan Jones, C, Iowa

5. Jeff Caldwell, WR, Cincinnati

6. Nick Barrett, DT, South Carolina

7. Kaden Wetjen, WR, Iowa

7. Riley Nowakowski, FB/TE, Indiana

7. Ahmari Harvey, CB, Georgia Tech

After missing all of the 2025 season with an ACL injury, it was easy to imagine Jermod McCoy being available at #18. After an explosive performance at his Pro Day last week, I don’t think he’ll be available when the Vikings are on the clock. He may now challenge Mansoor Delane as the first cornerback to be selected in the draft. If available, McCoy would be an excellent addition to the Vikings secondary.

Day 2 of this mock provides three players that would contribute immediately and soon grab starting roles. The Vikings need a young, difference-maker at running back. Jadarian Price would perfectly fill that role. Kyle Louis has emerged as one of my favorite players in this draft. Brian Flores would have a blast scheming for the versatile defender. Louis is the best cover linebacker in the draft. He may also be considered the best cover safety. He has the size and athletic ability to play both positions. Much like Josh Metellus, Louis can project nearly anywhere on the defense. While Blake Brandel is a solid placeholder at center, I think the Vikings offensive line is at its strongest when he’s backing up as many as five positions. Logan Jones could immediately step in at center and raise the floor of the starting offensive line.

With each of these mocks, I’m always foolishly hoping to address all of the Vikings biggest needs in the first three rounds. With only four picks it’s impossible to address every need. It’s one of the reasons I wouldn’t be surprised if the Vikings trade back in the first round and add a Day 2 pick. This mock is helped by the addition of Kyle Louis. His versatility potentially addresses needs at linebacker and safety. In this mock, it’s defensive tackle and receiver that slip into Day 3. At 6’5” and 4.31 forty, Jeff Caldwell intrigues with his size and speed. The Vikings have no receiver that big or that fast. Day 3 is often for players with particular traits and Caldwell is loaded with particular traits. Nick Barrett is a big, run-stuffer, space-eater. The Vikings could use one of those on the defensive line. As always, the sixth and seventh rounds include some of my late-round favorites. While Myles Price shined as a returner in his rookie season, Kaden Wetjen is a whole other type of returner. He could immediately be one of the league’s best. Riley Nowakowski is a C.J. Ham replacement as a fullback and extra blocker. Ahmari Harvey has become a seventh-round regular in these mock drafts. 

Until this next one. 

Here’s Another Mock Draft

It’s been a couple weeks. It’s time for another mock draft. 

I don’t like mocking trades in mock drafts. Mock drafts are a fairly silly thing to start. There are so many variables and guesses without inserting the variables and guesses that come with trades. Who wants to trade back? Who wants to trade up? How far up? How far back? Who has the assets to make a trade? Who’s willing to use those assets? That being said, if I were to mock a trade in this draft, it would be the Arizona Cardinals trading the third pick in the draft. Without a second or third quarterback worthy of the third pick, the Cardinals are probably looking at an offensive lineman. They can probably get that same offensive lineman a bit later. While I don’t believe that the Cardinals will stay put, I’m projecting that they will in this mock. 

1.   Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

2.   New York Jets: Arvell Reese, Edge, Ohio State

3.   Arizona Cardinals: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami

4.   Tennessee Titans: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

5.   New York Giants: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

6.   Cleveland Browns: David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech

7.   Washington Commanders: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

8.   New Orleans Saints: Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami 

9.   Kansas City Chiefs: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

10. Cincinnati Bengals: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

11. Miami Dolphins: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

12. Dallas Cowboys: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

13. Los Angeles Rams (from Falcons): Makai Lemon, WR, USC

14. Baltimore Ravens: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami

16. New York Jets (from Colts): Jordan Tyson, WR, Arizona State

17. Detroit Lions: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

18. Minnesota Vikings: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

19. Carolina Panthers: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

20. Dallas Cowboys (from Packers): CJ Allen, LB, Georgia

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

22. Los Angeles Chargers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

23. Philadelphia Eagles: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson

24. Cleveland Browns (from Jaguars): Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

25. Chicago Bears: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

26. Buffalo Bills: Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn

27. San Francisco 49ers: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

28. Houston Texans: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

29. Kansas City Chiefs (from Rams): Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

30. Miami Dolphins (from Broncos): Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M

31. New England Patriots: TJ Parker, Edge, Clemson

32. Seattle Seahawks: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame

Until the next one. 

Vikings Safeties

Finally, this pre-draft run through the position groups of the Minnesota Vikings concludes with the safeties. 

Minnesota Vikings Safeties

Harrison Smith

Josh Metellus

Jay Ward

Theo Jackson

Tavierre Thomas

Kahlef Hailassie

Technically, Harrison Smith is no longer on the roster. The Vikings released him earlier this offseason as a procedural move. Personally, Smith isn’t off the roster until he officially retires. He’s yet to do that. I believe the longer it takes to make the decision the more likely it is that he returns for another season. He’s only 37. 

With Harrison Smith in the lineup, the safety position is in decent shape. Josh Metellus isn’t a traditional safety. His strength is his versatility. He can play all over the defensive formation. Finding him and figuring out his role on a given snap can be a chore for the offense. Jay Ward was primarily a special teams staple for his first two seasons in Minnesota. Last season, he was getting some run with the defense. He likely played his way into an expanded role this season. Theo Jackson was penciled in last season as the replacement for Cam Bynum. Jackson started the first several games while Smith was sidelined with a health issue. Upon Smith’s return, Jackson assumed more of a rotational role. Tavierre Thomas is on the roster for his special teams play. Kahlef Hailassie started last season on the Vikings practice squad. The Jacksonville Jaguars signed him to their active roster on September 17 and was waived on November 17. The Vikings signed him to the practice squad a week later. So, the season ended where it started for Hailassie. He was signed to a reserve/future contract after the season.

Whether Harrison Smith returns or retires, safety is a draft need for the Vikings. Even at 37, Smith will be difficult to keep off the field. One would imagine that his snaps might be reduced. I’m not so sure it plays out that way. As recently as a couple years ago, safety was arguably the Vikings strongest position group. With Cam Bynum’s departure in free agency last year and Smith inching toward retirement, cracks are appearing in the position. Josh Metellus has his unique role and can hardly be considered a traditional safety. Among the players currently on the roster, Jay Ward is the wildcard. Despite not earning a significant defensive role in his first three seasons, he intrigues me. He always has. He played slot and safety at LSU. He can cover and play in the box. He can blitz and make plays against the run. He’s a candidate for a breakout season. With Smith nearing retirement, Metellus’s nebulous role, and a bunch of questions, I expect the Vikings to address safety early in the draft. 

Vikings Cornerbacks

The pre-draft run through the position groups of the Minnesota Vikings continues with the cornerbacks. 

Minnesota Vikings Cornerbacks

Byron Murphy Jr.

Isaiah Rodgers

James Pierre

Dwight McGlothern

Zemaiah Vaughn

Like Isaiah Rodgers last year, the free agency signing this year of James Pierre feels like a strong, under-the-radar signing. The addition gives the Vikings a solid top trio. At 6’2”, Pierre also gives the defense some size at corner. Youngsters Dwight McGlothern and Zemaiah Vaughn provide depth and have intriguing potential. Both are also over 6’2” so they bring some size as well. 

There was some free agency hope that the Vikings would make a big-time corner signing like Jamel Dean or Jaylon Watson. There wasn’t really the salary cap capacity for that sort of free agency addition. I don’t know if many had James Pierre as a target. I do know that there was significant relief when the signing was announced. Everybody loved his sterling PFF grades. Many liked his size and overall solid play. I know that I liked that Vikings new secondary coach Gerald Alexander coached Pierre with the Pittsburgh Steelers. I’ve been a fan of Alexander’s coaching and ability to develop players since his days at Cal nearly a decade ago. If he likes James Pierre, I like James Pierre. 

Cornerback is often a draft need for the Vikings. From first round to seventh round, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see corner be the pick at just about any round of the upcoming draft. A top-notch rookie corner making the trio of Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, and James Pierre a quartet is an exciting prospect. 

Up next: Safeties

Vikings Linebackers

The linebackers are next in this pre-draft run through the position groups of the Minnesota Vikings. 

Minnesota Vikings Linebackers

Outside

Jonathan Greenard

Andrew Van Ginkel

Dallas Turner

Bo Richter

Tyler Batty

Chaz Chambliss

Inside

Blake Cashman

Eric Wilson

Ivan Pace Jr.

Jacob Roberts

Josh Ross

The outside and inside linebackers are very different position groups. It’s best to separate them.

With Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Dallas Turner at the top of the depth chart, outside linebacker is a Vikings strength. The biggest problem with the three is finding enough snaps for all of them. It’s a luxury for defensive coordinator Brian Flores and his coaches. Bo Richter, Tyler Batty, and Chaz Chambliss were all undrafted and provide some rotational snaps.

As for the inside linebackers, Blake Cashman has been brilliant, when healthy, both of his seasons in Minnesota. The fact that he’s missed some time each season is the only concern. Eric Wilson was signed last season for his special teams play. He earned a contract extension this offseason for his excellent play on defense. In Cashman and Wilson, the Vikings have a strong inside linebacker duo. Ivan Pace Jr. has had an up-and-down three years with the Vikings. In his high moments, he looked like a future franchise fixture. In his down moments, he looked like a solid special teams player. His contributions last season were mostly on special teams. If he rebounds this season, the Vikings have a strong interior trio. Jacob Roberts and Josh Ross signed reserve/future contracts in January. Roberts was signed out of the Canadian Football League.

The biggest question about the Vikings linebacker group is probably the age of Andrew Van Ginkel, Blake Cashman, and Eric Wilson. While each will be over 30 at the start of the season, I believe that all have at least two more strong seasons in them. Is that enough to not see either linebacker group as a need in the upcoming draft? Not at all. I can easily see the Vikings using a high pick on an inside or outside linebacker. Especially outside linebacker. An NFL team can never have enough pass rushers. 

Up next: Cornerbacks

Vikings Defensive Line

It’s on to the defense. The defensive line is next in this pre-draft run through the position groups of the Minnesota Vikings. 

Minnesota Vikings Defensive Line

Jalen Redmond

Levi Drake Rodriguez

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins

Taki Taimani

Elijah Williams

Jaylon Hutchings

A year ago, the Vikings defensive line was topped by somewhat big free agent additions in Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. Seeing as both have moved to different teams, it’s safe to say that things didn’t work as hoped. Instead of impact plays consistently coming from Allen and Hargrave, Jalen Redmond emerged as one of the better interior defensive linemen in the league. He now tops this plucky group. All six of the above defensive linemen were either late-round picks or undrafted.

Jalen Redmond - undrafted

Levi Drake Rodriguez - seventh-round

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins - fifth-round

Taki Taimani - undrafted

Elijah Williams - undrafted

Jaylon Hutchings - undrafted

This unheralded and mostly undrafted group of football players have become one of my favorite position groups on the Vikings. Playing in the shadow of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave last season, Jalen Redmond, Levi Drake Rodriguez, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins emerged, especially Redmond. People outside of Minnesota might look at the group and exclaim “Who the hell are they?” I kinda like that in a “chip on the shoulder” sort of way. Now, that doesn’t mean that this unheralded group is headed to Canton. Far from it. It definitely looks like the Vikings have found a gem in Redmond. His is an unusual case. If not for a battle with blood clots in college, he might’ve been an early-round pick rather than being ignored in the 2023 NFL Draft. After being released by the Carolina Panthers, he kept his football dream alive playing a few games with the Arlington Renegades of the XFL. That’s where the Vikings found him in 2024. He played a bit that year and earned a starting role last summer. Rodriguez could be the next defensive lineman to step from his unheralded beginnings. He earned a rotational role as a rookie in 2024. That role increased last season. It remains to be seen if he can handle a starting role. Perhaps his ceiling is as a rotational player. His dedication and work ethic seems to make anything possible. Whatever his role, I love his energy and I love having him on the team. Ingram-Dawkins might be the biggest wildcard of the group. It was generally thought that he would’ve been better off staying at Georgia another season rather than entering the 2025 NFL Draft. If he’d stayed in college, he might’ve been an early-round pick this year. Who knows? What is known is that the Vikings might’ve gotten a steal in the fifth round. Now, it’s on Ingram-Dawkins to play to his potential. Elijah Williams might be another 2025 steal. There’s a too long history of players from HBCUs being under-valued and often ignored completely. Williams should’ve been drafted. He didn’t play a lot last season but he did show that he belonged. Taki Taimani is the only defensive lineman on the roster with nose tackle size. He’s bounced between the practice squad and active roster in his two years with the team. The Vikings signed Jaylon Hutchings in January. He was undrafted in 2024, signed by the Chicago Bears, released by the Bears, and signed by the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. His path to Minnesota resembles that of Redmond. He’s yet to take a regular season NFL snap but it’s easy to dream of Hutchings turning into another defensive lineman gem.

Despite my fondness for this plucky group of football players, it’s easy to see the Vikings spending an early-round draft pick on the position. My biggest defensive line question is whether Brian Flores wants a big, space-eating, block-taking nose tackle-type of player in his defense. I think of his Vince Wilfork days with the New England Patriots and believe that he might. This draft has a few of those players. 

Next up: Linebackers 

Minnesota Vikings Mock Draft Monday on Tuesday

With the double-whammy passings of Minnesota Vikings legends Jeff Siemon and Joey Browner, it was a rough, sad weekend. I wasn’t ready to dabble with a mock draft on Monday. The draft is inevitable and Monday’s Minnesota Vikings Mock Draft falls on Tuesday. 

1. Makai Lemon, WR, USC

2. Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State

3. Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh

3. Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington

5. DeMonte Capehart, DL, Clemson

6. Tanner Koziol, TE, Houston

7. Parker Brailsford, C, Alabama

7. Kaden Wetjen, WR, Iowa

7. Max Bredeson, TE/FB, Michigan

This draft started different than most with USC receiver Makai Lemon dropping to the Vikings at #18. I’ve often resisted the receiver temptation when Jordan Tyson’s been available but I couldn’t resist when Lemon dropped. It feels weird to select a position other than safety, corner, defensive line. A Vikings receiving trio of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Makai Lemon would be a beautiful thing. 

The surprises continued with the Vikings next two picks. Chris Johnson had been a second-round regular in early mock draft exercises. He hasn’t been recently as he seems to have risen closer to a first round pick rather than a mid-second round pick. He’s an easy pick here. I believe that Johnson would be an immediate contributor at outside corner for the Vikings. 

Simply put, Kyle Louis is one of my favorite players in the draft. I feel that Brian Flores would love working with this skilled and versatile defender. I know that I would love seeing Louis play in Flores’ defense. I’d be stunned and thrilled if Louis is still available in the third round.

I’m convinced that the Vikings will draft a running back on Day 2 of the draft. I like all of the running backs that should be available and Jonah Coleman is one of my favorites. 

The Vikings need to supplement the defensive front. DeMonte Capehart in the fifth feels like a steal. All of the Vikings picks in this mock feel like steals. Capehart would be a nice addition to the defensive line rotation. 

The Vikings don’t need a tight end this year. They will need one next year as T.J. Hockenson’s re-worked contract currently has him walking next offseason. Tanner Kozoil would be a nice contributor as a rookie and starter in 2027. 

I like just about everything about this mock draft. I don’t like that center isn’t addressed until the seventh round. I believe that finding an immediate starting center in this draft is one of the Vikings biggest needs. However, having Blake Brandel as a place-holder at center takes off some of the pressure of finding one. Perhaps that’s a reason I passed on Connor Lew, Jake Slaughter, and Logan Jones earlier. At least Parker Brailsford was found in the seventh round of this mock. At 6’2” and 290lbs, he’s even smaller than Garrett Bradbury. That thought likely sends chills down the spine of Vikings fans everywhere. While Brailsford might be a decent center project, I doubt that he bumps Brandel from the starting lineup and into a versatile reserve role this season. 

It’s easy to have favorites at the top of the draft. You do enough of these mocks and favorites are found at the bottom of the draft. Kaden Wetjen and Max Bredeson have become two of my favorites. I thought that Myles Price did a nice job as the Vikings kick and punt returner as a rookie last season. Wetjen could take the return game to a whole other level. Bredeson would immediately be penciled in as the heir to C.J. Ham’s fullback/extra blocker role. 

Until the next one.