2025 NFL Draft is fast approaching and the Minnesota Vikings continue to be one of the more fascinating teams when it comes to how they will go about it.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has only four picks to work with, but it also means a trade down is likely. If they don't trade down, four picks aren't that much to work with.
As we get closer to the NFL Draft, we are seeing more and more mock drafts, including this seven rounder from The Athletic's Dane Brugler. Let's break it down.
Analyzing Dane Brugler's 7 round NFL Mock Draft
24. Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
Scouting Report
Interior offensive or defensive line very easily could be the pick here, but the Vikings might address the secondary if the right player is on the board. It’s fun imagining the ways Brian Flores could use a versatile and athletic weapon like Barron.
Barron is a fascinating player. Personally, I have Barron graded as a safety and the 33rd-ranked player on my big board. Brugler going with Barron is interesting, especially with his writeup being that he's a versatile and athletic weapon. Flores would theoretically love that type of player on his defense, but will Adofo-Mensah make that type of player a priority? I have my doubts.
97. Dylan Fairchild, OG, Georgia
The interior offensive line is one that could use a player or two to fortify the unit. They did bring in center Ryan Kelly and right guard Will Fries to fix the position this year, but they could use a player or two to develop. Fairchild was a really good player this past year for the Bulldogs and has a profile to grow into a starter long-term.
139. Warren Brinson, DT, Georgia
The Vikings brought in three defensive linemen from Georgia for top-30 visits, which is a pretty strong signal they want more information on that Bulldogs program. Brinson has a really good profile to project forward with, especially with the potential to rush the passer.
187. Jaydon Blue, RB, Texas
Running back is an interesting position for the Vikings to target and with this class, they honestly should target one. Is Blue the guy for them to target? The Vikings run more zone concepts than gap and Blue is a better gap scheme runner. However, he never was the guy for Texas due to the sheer depth in the backfield.
What Blue does provide right now is the ability to hit the home run on occasion and is really good catching passes out of the backfield. That could be a really intriguing factor in the sixth round for the Vikings, especially how he rounds out the running back room.
It's a really intriguing path that Brugler took here. Now, he didn't do any trades, which is completely fine process for a mock draft. With the picks, addressing cornerback, offensive line, defensive line, and running back feels pretty chalk.
It's also really interesting with Brugler taking players from just two schools: Texas and Georgia. We know that Adofo-Mensah loves power four schools so this would track based on his history.
I believe the Vikings will end up trying to target a wide receiver in the draft, especially since they need youth and depth behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.
