Vikings Mock Draft: The 5 Early Darlings

Texas Longhorns defensive again Jahdae Barron (7) celebrates a turnover towards Clemson Tigers within the first half of an NCAA Faculty Soccer Playoffs first spherical recreation at Darrell Ok Royal Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, Texas, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. © Ricardo B. Brazziell/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK through Imagn Photographs.

The 2025 NFL Draft kicks off in 89 days, and the Minnesota Vikings will decide twenty fourth until they commerce up or down the draftboard.

Vikings Mock Draft: The 5 Early Darlings

The twenty fourth decide is an inexpensive spot to discover a cornerback, defensive lineman, or offensive lineman, that are the workforce’s wants getting into the offseason.

And whereas followers will incessantly debate the workforce’s plans for the draft decide, a handful of rookies have emerged as early frontrunners for the Vikings early within the cycle. These are these males listed in alphabetical order.

1. Jahdae BarronCB | Texas

Texas defensive again Jahdae Barron (23) celebrates with Texas defensive lineman Byron Murphy II (90) through the Senior Night time celebration forward the Longhorns’ recreation towards the Texas Tech Pink Raiders, Friday, Nov. 24, 2023 at Darrell Ok Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin. © Sara Diggins/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK.

Barron, 23, is 5’11 and will likely be in prime territory if the Vikings choose a cornerback with the twenty fourth decide. Like all gamers on this listing, he’s change into a mock-draft goal for Minnesota, primarily as a result of the Vikings solely have Mekhi Blackmon and Dwight McGlothern beneath contract in 2025 as playable CBs.

Fantasy Life‘s Thor Nystrom mocked Barron to the purple workforce this week and defined, “Barron has extensive experience at boundary corner, in the slot, and as a box safety. That’s the kind of versatility that DC Brian Flores fetishizes. Barron picked off five balls this year, allowing only 272 yards on 65 targets with no touchdowns.”

2. Benjamin MorrisonCB | Notre Dame

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Photographs.

Morrison is recovering from a hip harm, which curious basic managers will scrutinize for the following three months.

He’s obtained the ability set of a 1st-Rounder, together with a 6’0″ 190-pound body. He’ll flip 21 in March, so he has age on his facet if Minnesota desires excessive youth.

It’s all about whether or not the Vikings belief a defender who missed plenty of the 2024 marketing campaign at Notre Dame.

3. Walter Nolen DT | Ole Miss

Petre Thomas-Imagn Photographs.

Minnesota has an opportunity so as to add a three-technique defensive sort out as soon as and for all, ending the decade-long period of placeholders like Shamar Stephen, Armon Watts, and Jonathan Bullard.

NFL Draft Buzz‘s Wyatt Brooks describes Nolen: “The team that drafts Walter Nolen is getting a day-one impact defender against the run with untapped potential as a pass rusher. His combination of first-step explosion and raw power will translate immediately to disrupting blocking schemes and collapsing pockets from the interior.”

We’ll take it.

4. Shavon Revel Jr. CB | East Carolina

James Guillory-Imagn Photographs

At 6’3,” Revel Jr. has textbook measurement for a shutdown nook and doesn’t have too many weaknesses as a rookie getting into the massive leagues.

The one knock on him is an ACL tear and whether or not he’ll be prepared for the 2025 common season.

If the Vikings commerce down on draft night time, Revel Jr. might be the man they nab, along with including an additional 2nd- or Third-Spherical decide.

5. Tyleik WilliamsDT | Ohio State

Oct. 14, 2023; Lafayette, In., USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive sort out Tyleik Williams (91) celebrates after making a sort out through the first half of Saturday’s NCAA Division I soccer recreation towards the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium in Lafayette. © Barbara J. Perenic/The Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK.

Williams has a nostril sort out’s construct however can rush the passer, too.

He’s one of many bodily freak-type prospects and would signify a critical improve to the inside of Minnesota’s line of defense.

The Buckeye simply must work on consistency, exhibiting flashes of sheer dominance but additionally gaffes.

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the College of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his every day YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The present options company, evaluation, and opinion on all issues associated to the purple workforce, 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 intently because the NFL. 

All statistics supplied by Professional Soccer Reference / Stathead; all contractual info supplied by OverTheCap.com.