Matt Pendleton-Imagn Photos.
If the Minnesota Vikings draft a defensive deal with within the 2025 NFL Draft, most onlookers count on that happen early, maybe even in Spherical 1 with the group’s twenty fourth general choose.
New Rookie Is on Vikings’ Radar
However what in the event that they wait till later within the draft?
Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports activities.
In response to The Draft Community, the Vikings will meet with College of Florida defensive deal with Cam Jackson. TDN’s Ryan Fowler tweeted Monday, just a few days earlier than NFL Mix actions formally start: “Source: The Minnesota Vikings have a formal meeting scheduled with Florida iDL Cam Jackson in Indy. Athletic & powerful DT had an excellent week at the Senior Bowl and is another name to become familiar with in a loaded DL class.”
Needing a brand new inside defensive lineman is nothing new for Minnesota’s offseason. It’s simply that the majority followers have determined the group might use free-agent money on a participant like Milton Williams of the Philadelphia Eagles or the draft’s first couple of rounds, with males like Walter Nolen (Ole Miss), Tyleik Williams (Ohio State), Kenneth Grant (Michigan), or Derrick Harmon (Oregon).
Jackson, then again, is projected to go off the board someday in Spherical 5 or 6. Per the consensus massive board, he ranks 188th as of February twenty fourth.
Matt Pendleton-Imagn Photos.
DTs Harrison Phillips, Jalen Redmond, Taki Taimani, and Levi Drake Rodriguez are underneath contract for the Vikings subsequent season — after which that’s it for playable DTs. Nobody else. The Philadelphia Eagles supplied a blueprint two weeks in the past of learn how to browbeat a dynastic soccer group en path to a Tremendous Bowl. Vikings followers noticed that efficiency and thought, “I’d like some of that.”
From free company or the draft, the Vikings ought to add one other defensive deal with, the spot at the moment manned by Jerry Tillery. Vikings followers request this each offseason and normally find yourself with a Shamar Stephen or Jonathan Bullard. Maybe the purple entrance workplace will lastly splash for an affect inside defensive lineman.
TDN’s Keith Sanchez just lately described Jackson’s draft profile: “Jackson possesses several attractive traits for NFL teams, including his versatility and high motor. With further development as a pass rusher and run defender, Jackson has the potential to become a reliable starting IDL for an NFL franchise.”
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Photos.
Jackson is understood for run-stuffing — he’s 6’6″ and 340 kilos. The late-round draft expectation comes from his pass-rushing ability set. He’s thought-about uncooked at that activity.
It’s additionally value noting that the Vikings might draft Walter Nolen, for instance, in Spherical 1, using him as a three-technique DT and scoop Jackson later as a nostril deal with. The group, in principle, can do each.
Minnesota at the moment owns two Fifth-Spherical picks, which is prime actual property for Jackson.
Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Photos.
The NFL Draft is 59 days away.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the College of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his each day YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The present options friends, evaluation, and opinion on all issues associated to the purple group, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates again to 1996. Listed responsible pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doorways (the band). He follows the NBA as carefully because the NFL.
All statistics supplied by Professional Soccer Reference / Stathead; all contractual info supplied by OverTheCap.com.
