Minnesota Vikings fans likely have mixed emotions about Day 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft. On one hand, tonight’s first round is like a second round of Christmas. On the other hand, fans might stay up late into the night just to watch their team trade out of Round 1 completely.
The buzz around the Vikings feels less centered on the prospects they could pick, and more on the bidding war they could hold at pick No. 24 overall. With an NFL-low four total selections, and a 73-pick gap between their first and second picks, trading back to accumulate much-needed draft capital is the route most draft pundits see the Vikings taking.
If Minnesota does stand pat and makes a selection, they could be eyeing a playmaker for defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ secondary. The team needs a replacement for the snaps and production left over from safety Camryn Bynum, and another boundary cornerback to pair with Bryon Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers has been a hot-button topic of conversation among analysts.
The Vikings could also continue to add force in the trenches, as left guard and defensive tackle both feel like position groups worth adding to. Minnesota signed a pair of stud D-linemen in Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen this offseason, but both of those players are in their 30s and are coming off injury-plagued 2024 seasons. Adding depth there, or some competition for Blake Brandel at left guard, feels like a worthy use of a first-round pick.
While draft capital is an obvious concern, GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah filled enough gaps in free agency to keep his options open on Day 1. As a final primer, here’s where the experts landed with 11th-hour projections for the Vikings at pick No. 24 overall:
