2025 NFL Draft Order (so far)

The Minnesota Vikings playoff run ended about four weeks too soon. Sadly, it’s now the offseason for them. With the Wild Card round of the playoffs now done, 24 picks are set in the 2025 NFL Draft.

2025 NFL Draft Order

1.   Tennessee Titans

2.   Cleveland Browns

3.   New York Giants

4.   New England Patriots

5.   Jacksonville Jaguars

6.   Las Vegas Raiders

7.   New York Jets

8.   Carolina Panthers

9.   New Orleans Saints

10. Chicago Bears

11. San Francisco 49ers

12. Dallas Cowboys

13. Miami Dolphins

14. Indianapolis Colts

15. Atlanta Falcons

16. Arizona Cardinals

17. Cincinnati Bengals 

18. Seattle Seahawks

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

20. Denver Broncos

21. Pittsburgh Steelers

22. Los Angeles Chargers

23. Green Bay Packers

24. Minnesota Vikings 

With the early exit from the playoffs, the Vikings secured the 24th pick in the first round. For anyone that watched the team’s final two games, it’s real clear that the interior of the offensive line is in dire need of improvement. It’s not the only need. Here’s a real early look at the Vikings needs heading into the offseason. 

Interior offensive line

Defensive line

Cornerback

Running back

Safety

I believe that at least one guard will be priority #1 in free agency. Trey Smith of the Kansas City Chiefs is a dream addition. The Vikings simply can not skip through another season with low-budget attempts at filling their interior offensive line. Center Garrett Bradbury has his strengths. Smarts, agility, and quickness are among them. Size and strength aren’t. Perhaps larger and more skilled guards on either side will maximize his strengths and minimize his weaknesses. At least, that’s the hope. Otherwise, all three positions need to be fixed. 

Currently, the Vikings hold only three draft picks (a first and two fifths). That meager number should be helped a bit by a third-round compensatory pick. With limited draft capital and significant salary cap space, I expect the Vikings to be very active in free agency. They have a fairly large number of free agents. Of those, cornerback Byron Murphy Jr, and safety Cam Bynum are the closest to must re-signs. Hopefully, both are back. If they are, cornerback and safety become less of a need. 

A very early hypothetical Vikings free agency:

Re-sign:

Byron Murphy Jr., CB

Camryn Bynum, S

Sign:

Trey Smith, G

Milton Williams, DT

another guard

I’m not sure if that’s financially feasible but something close to this dream free agency would give the Vikings draft flexibility at #24. 

24 is eight spots too early. I was hoping that these offseason thoughts would be necessary for another month.