The Minnesota Vikings have been very busy over the last two weeks. Since the NFL free agency negotiating period opened last Monday, the front office and coaching staff has worked together to strengthen just about ever position group on the roster.
But there is still plenty of work to do, and lots of opportunity to do it. Most notably, the NFL Draft will kick off on April 24, which is exactly one month from Monday. While there is still plenty of time for the MN Vikings to sure up their draft board, between now and then, they reportedly already have their sights set on one specific prospect in the first round.
Minnesota Vikings targeting Oregon defensive tackle in 2025 NFL Draft
Yes, they’re open to other positions and players, according to Ben Goessling (Star Tribune), depending on how the first round plays out. But come night one of the draft — if Minnesota decision makers are able to have it their way, Burger King style — then commissioner Roger Goodell will be calling the name of Oregon defensive tackle, Derrick Harmon, when the Vikings are on the clock.
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On Friday’s episode of the Star Tribune’s Access Vikings podcast with his coworkers Emily Leiker and Andrew Krammer, the local insider teased the MN Vikings affinity for Harmon multiple times. Not only do they like the 6’4″, 313 lb defensive tackle from Detroit, MI… but he’s hearing a ton of chatter behind the scenes that Derrick Harmon is “on their priority list”.
Leiker: “Obviously, we’ve mentioned cornerback being a position of need [in the draft], but it feels like it’s fallen more into that sleeper realm, and it feels like they’ll lean more towards defensive tackle, especially if they can get Derrick Harmon.”
Goessling: “That’s one guy on their priority list. I heard that again this week.”
Access Vikings Podcast
How good is Derrick Harmon?
Derrick Harmon actually only played one season at Oregon, where he played in all 14 of their games, scoring 45 tackles (11 TFL), 5 sacks, 4 passes defended and 2 forced fumbles. Prior to his one-and-done season with the Ducks, Harmon spent three seasons with their new Big Ten rival, the Michigan State Spartans, where he also had plenty of success. ESPN draft guru, Mel Kiper, currently has Harmon going No. 21 overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Over the course of his college career, Derrick totalled 116 tackles, 8.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles. PFF loved Harmon’s 2024 season, where his 83.9 defensive grade ranked him 12th among the nation’s interior defensive linemen. He’s well-rounded too, if you believe in PFF, where he earned an 80.5 run defense grade and 86.3 pass rush grade.
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It isn’t just about Derrick Harmon, who they obviously like more than others at his position. But it’s also about defensive tackle, and the future of that group, overall. Yes, they signed two of the best free agent DTs on the market early in free agency, with Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, but both of those guys are in their thirties and on shorter term deals.
MN Vikings have a two-pronged plan at key defensive positions
Obviously, the Minnesota Vikings still see interior defensive line as a top-priority position during the NFL Draft, especially with their first pick. It makes sense that they’d want to approach defensive tackle just like they did EDGE rusher, last offseason, when they signed Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard in free agency, before tripling down with Dallas Turner in the first round of the draft.
Goessling: “I wouldn’t be surprised to see them add another defensive tackle. So, there’s a lot of depth and a lot of variety in this group. But, you have [both new DTs in their 20s and coming off injuries]. So, you’re not talking about these guys being five-year solutions”…”so they will continue to have to refresh this [defensive] group.”
“It’s the reality of this business. You have guys who are going to want to get paid, and [the Vikings] have had a preference for older players. The result of that, sometimes, is that you get guys toward the end of their careers or guys you may not sign to another contract”…”but there are a lot of questions to come with this group.”
Krammer: “So, Derrick Harmon, you are a Minnesota Viking…”
Goessling: “Well, I think that’s a good possibility, yes.”
Access Vikings Podcast
We’ll see if Derrick Harmon ends up with the Minnesota Vikings, come draft night. But after listening to Access Vikings yesterday, we certainly have a better idea of their plan and who they might be targeting, come April 24.
