Last season, the Minnesota Vikings mixed the good with the bad in the secondary. Adding a defensive back in the 2025 NFL Draft could help them identify more with the former.
Kevin O'Connell's crew led the NFL in interceptions (24) but allowed the fourth-most yards through the air in the league. The Vikings are limited with draft choices this April, meaning they'll have to use them wisely.
ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid believes Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron could help strengthen Minnesota's back half. In Reid's latest mock draft, posted Tuesday, the Vikings select Barron with the No. 24 pick.
"The Vikings are expected to be active in free agency, especially at defensive tackle," Reid wrote. "With a league-low three draft picks, circle Minnesota as a team that could trade back to recoup more draft capital. If the Vikings add an interior defender in free agency, guard and cornerback immediately become their biggest needs.
"With all three of their starting corners (Byron Murphy Jr., Stephon Gilmore and Shaquill Griffin) pending free agents, Barron would project as an immediate starter. There isn't a secondary position that Barron hasn't played, too."
Barron played five seasons at Texas, taking part in 56 games and starting 38. Last season, he won the Jim Thorpe Award as the best defensive back in college football and was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy.
Gilmore, a two-time first-team Associated Press All-Pro while in New England had one pick in 15 starts for Minnesota. He could be playing for his sixth team in as many seasons next fall.
Murphy, an Arizona Cardinals retread, had six interceptions last season and earned a Pro Bowl nod. He tied Baltimore's Marlon Humphrey and Philadelphia's C.J. Gardner-Johnson for the third-most picks in the NFL. Detroit's Kerby Joseph led the pack with nine, while Green Bay's Xavier McKinney notched eight.
