Three picks… plus a potential third-round compensatory pick. That’s the extent of the Minnesota Vikings’ limited draft capital this offseason.
Of those four picks, two are fifth-rounders. So, the question becomes, how do the Vikings maximize those two picks?
Let’s start by looking at fifth-round picks who have become stars. Eight Hall of Famers, including Lester Hayes, Kevin Greene, and Zach Thomas, have come out of the fifth round. So have Herschel Walker, Richard Sherman, George Kittle, and Stefon Diggs, the latter of whom the Vikings selected in 2015.
Still, there’s a reason these talents slipped into the fifth round. Whether it’s injury concerns, off-the-field troubles, poor play, or something else entirely, teams try to find value in the fifth round by focusing on position needs and depth.
Although some fifth-rounders become impact players, not all players drafted that late get meaningful playing time. Looking back at draft classes from 2010 to 2017, under 30% of fifth-rounders sign a second deal.
Given the reasonable set of outcomes for fifth-rounders, what can the Vikings do to maximize their two fifth-round picks?
Free agency starts on March 12, and who the Vikings sign will indicate what they do with their limited draft options. They can franchise tag a player, but it’s best to use the tag on someone they feel they can sign to a longer-term deal. Cam Bynum and Josh Metellus are the first to come to mind.
The Vikings will lose players at positions they want to upgrade, like along the offensive line. Therefore, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the front office will have to constantly adapt their plan depending on who signs where.
This year’s draft could impact Adofo-Mensah’s future with the Vikings because of misses in the 2022 draft. However, he only has three draft classes, and those players haven’t fully developed. Still, it’s hard not to look at the first draft as arguably the worst in franchise history, with only four of those seven players still on the team, and in limited roles to boot.
Adofo-Mensah has had success making trades and in free agency. However, the Vikings re-signed Kevin O’Connell after he won Coach of the Year. Therefore, it looks like Minnesota is evaluating Adofo-Mensah’s draft before re-signing him.
When it comes to drafting players, KOC has alluded to the accountability organizations have towards these young athletes and getting the most out of their potential. These young players show organizations that potential through their on-the-field play, interviews and conversations with front offices, and how they perform at the combine in Indianapolis.
With their four picks, the Vikings also need to rely heavily on free agency, It also helps when you have a coaching staff that has fostered growth and brotherhood between the players and the staff around them. It makes a player want to play with that team more if the organization is known to care for them, support them, and believe in them when the outside world might not.
Maximizing the late-round picks in the 2025 draft will all come down the holes they need to fill after free agency. How much the front office can execute on maximizing a player’s potential will determine whether the Vikings maximize their late-round picks.
