Grading every Vikings 2025 draft pick (with 1 bold prediction for each pick)

The Minnesota Vikings accomplished what they needed to during the draft by finding future talent while adding an extra draft pick to make it five total selections in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Minnesota entered the draft with just four picks, but was able to make some trades to raise it to five. The most significant trade was the Vikings receiving an extra pick in the Sam Howell trade with the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday.

Minnesota Vikings guard Donovan Jackson

How did the team do with their five picks, though? Let's look at each player selected and their grades, along with one bold prediction.

Final grades and bold predictions for 2025 Minnesota Vikings NFL Draft picks

First-Round Pick (24th Overall)

Donovan Jackson - G (Ohio State)

Grade

: B

This offseason, the offensive line experienced turnover, and they needed to get younger and add talent. Donovan Jackson gives them the guard they required after the position took a beating in the Wild Card game against the Los Angeles Rams.

Jackson was on the All-Big Ten team for three straight years and was a second-team All-American selection last year. The 2024 season was his most impressive, as he showed off his versatility by starting at left guard for five games and left tackle for nine games, helping the Buckeyes win the national title.

Minnesota will step in as the Vikings' starting left guard and develop in that role over the next four to five years. Jackson comforts the team by knowing that he can play guard and tackle if injuries occur. There might have been other needs, but Jackson gave the Vikings the best available player for a position need.

Bold Prediction

: Jackson will make the Pro Bowl as the starting left guard within three years.

Third-Round Pick (102nd Overall)

Tai Felton - WR (Maryland)

Grade

: B

We all know that Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are the top two receivers, but Minnesota needs someone to fill that number-three spot. Tai Felton brings a different dynamic to the top portion of the wide receiver depth chart that the Vikings needed.

Felton played a significant role in the Terrapins' passing game as he caught a school-record 96 passes for 1,124 yards and nine touchdowns last year, leading to first-team All-Big Ten and third-team All-American honors. His 4.37 40-yard dash made him one of the fastest receivers at the NFL Combine.

The Vikings found their slot receiver, Felton, who can be a deep threat for J.J. McCarthy. Felton could replace Jalen Nailor on the depth chart and play a key role in the offense. He's not the strongest in one-on-one press coverages, but get him even, and he will be leaving.

Bold Prediction

: Felton steps in as the long-term second wide receiver behind Jefferson if Addison departs in the next two to three seasons.

Fifth-Round Pick (139th Overall)

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins - DL (Georgia)

Grade

: C+

Minnesota beefed up the defensive line with the addition of Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins. The Vikings selected him as their first defensive player in the draft.

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins played 14 games for the Bulldogs last year. He made 17 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and three sacks. NFL Next Gen stats graded him as the second most athletic defensive tackle in the NFL Combine with an 83 score.

Defensive coordinator Brian Flores loves athletic defenders, and Ingram-Dawkins has great speed to get off the line for a tackle. While he may be slow to recognize a play, he can fly around from the line once he identifies where the ball is.

Bold Prediction

: Ingram-Dawkins takes over as the full-time starter at tackle for Harrison Phillips by 2026.

Sixth-Round Pick No. 1 (201st Overall)

Kobe King - LB (Penn State)

Grade

: B-

The Vikings retained all their starters at linebacker and even added a familiar face in Eric Wilson. They added another linebacker to bring in youth, along with Penn State linebacker Kobe King.

Each season, King improved, posting career numbers in 2024 with 97 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, one pass deflection, and a forced fumble in 16 games.

Penn State linebackers are typically instinctive and great tacklers, as King lives up to those expectations. King's coverage skills leave much to be desired, but Minnesota's linebackers are deeper with him and can give him the time needed to develop.

Bold Prediction

: King leads the Vikings in special teams tackles in year one to create more playing time for him on defense.

Sixth-Round Pick No. 2 (202nd Overall)

Gavin Bartholomew - TE (Pittsburgh)

Grade

: C+

Some more depth behind T.J. Hockenson has arrived in Minnesota, with Gavin Bartholomew joining the roster. Bartholomew is the first tight end selected by the Vikings since 2022.

Last season with the Panthers, Bartholomew caught 38 passes for 322 yards and four touchdowns, earning an honorable mention selection on the All-ACC team. He ran a good 40-time at the NFL Combine with a 4.7-second run and graded as the seventh most athletic tight end with a score of 76.

Josh Oliver is maintaining the backup job at tight end, with more receiving options needed for the position. Batholomew, a good blocker and strong finisher on catches, can challenge Oliver for the job.

He's a work in progress on all levels with blocking and receiving, but at least has the building blocks to become a reliable backup in the NFL.

Bold Prediction

: Bartholomew beats out Oliver for the backup tight end job in his rookie season.