Despite their mega spending spree in free agency this year, the Minnesota Vikings have yet to adequately replace starting safety Cam Bynum.
GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the Vikings now have a monster decision on their hands, with the top safeties of this year’s class still on the board at pick No. 24 overall of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Georgia’s Malaki Starks? South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori? If the Vikings have a first-round grade on a safety in this class, they can draft him here and deal with their poor overall draft capital for Days 2 and 3 later.
The Vikings hold just four total selections in this draft, and their next pick isn’t until the compensatory portion of the third round, a 73-pick gap in total. Their only other two selections for this year are in the fifth and sixth rounds.
Minnesota could, of course, solve that draft capital issue by trading back, though trades have been scarce since the blockbuster deal at the top between the Jaguars and Browns for Colorado’s Travis Hunter. With quarterback Shedeur Sanders still on the board, the Vikings could hop on the phone with QB-needy teams like the Browns and Giants, or look to sell their pick to contenders like the Bills or Eagles who are looking to move up.
The Vikings are in win-now mode, though, and the chance to have their choice between Starks and Emmanwori is a dream scenario at a huge position of need for Brian Flores’ defense.
