Minnesota Vikings NFL Draft big board: 10 players who make sense in each round

The Minnesota Vikings’ big board will be set in less than a month, so why don’t we take a look at how things are shaping up?

Minnesota’s needs aren’t obvious. The Vikings added interior offensive linemen and defensive linemen via free agency. They also rounded out their running back room with Jordan Mason. This leaves the possibilities for late April very open.

Trading back would make sense, especially considering the Vikings’ lack of draft capital. They have just four picks total — one pick apiece in Rounds 1 (No. 24 overall), 3 (97), 5 (139) and 6 (187).

Here are viable candidates for each round of the draft:

The Vikings aren’t going to draft for need. They know how important it is to infuse their roster with young talent on rookie contracts. Threading an even finer needle by limiting which positions they can take doesn’t make sense.

That said, Minnesota will be mindful of the future. Center Ryan Kelly will turn 32 in May, and the Vikings still have uncertainty at left guard. Defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave are 30 and 32, respectively. While Minnesota has intriguing young talent at the position (Levi Drake Rodriguez), more depth would serve the Vikings well with Hargrave’s and Allen’s injury histories.

This is where prospects like Grey Zabel, Derrick Harmon and Walter Nolen could fit in. Zabel, for example, could play left guard for 2025, then slide inside to center in the coming years. Harmon or Nolen could develop and play in spurts in 2025, then become focal points. Safeties like Nick Emmanwori and Malaki Starks provide similar benefits, but the last time Minnesota tried to find Harrison Smith’s successor (Lewis Cine), the pick didn’t work out.

Jahdae Barron and Azareye’h Thomas are polar opposites as cornerbacks. Barron would thrive in zones, while Thomas’ tall build is a fit for a press-man-heavy style. Luxury selections are also possible in the form of Emeka Egbuka, a trusty route runner in underneath areas, and Mason Taylor, a rock-solid tight end who would give the Minnesota offense more personnel flexibility.

Some of these players will be gone by No. 24, but others might be available if Minnesota trades down for extra picks. The Vikings’ goal should be to create more darts to throw in the next couple of drafts but also to emerge with a couple of key contributors for the future.

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What the Vikings do at No. 24 (or with a potential trade back) will shape the specifics for the third round. Add a pass-rushing defensive tackle up top, and Minnesota will likely focus on the interior of the offensive line or defensive back.

The depth of this class lies with the interior defenders and running backs. For that reason, Minnesota could find itself looking at the position here. T.J. Sanders, Josh Farmer and Omarr Norman-Lott possess the body types and skill sets that defensive coordinator Brian Flores tends to covet. They penetrate and can win in one-on-one situations. In fact, Norman-Lott’s win rate as a pass rusher ranked first in the country among interior defenders.

If the Vikings prefer to go after a cornerback, Trey Amos and Quincy Riley are intriguing. Amos is not explosive, but he has the requisite length and ball skills. Riley is smaller but capable of playing above his size.

Marcus Mbow and Tate Ratledge are possibilities if the Vikings prefer an interior offensive lineman. RJ Harvey is a sneaky running back candidate who is small but comes with a three-down skill set.

Select an interior offensive lineman at the top, then an interior defensive lineman in the third round, and the Vikings could use the rest of their bullets on skill players and depth with upside.

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Because the Vikings paid running back Aaron Jones and acquired Mason, allocating a premium pick on the position is hard to fathom. The presence of Jones and Mason, though, does not preclude Minnesota from taking another running back. That’s why Damien Martinez, Bhayshul Tuten and Trevor Etienne are on this list.

All three come with upside. Martinez is a bruiser who can catch. Tuten is a speedster who can explode through tacklers. Etienne isn’t blazing fast, but his short-area quickness is evident on tape. Leave running back for the sixth round or undrafted free agency, and the Vikings can choose from a hodgepodge of players.

CJ West and JJ Pegues are athletic interior defenders. Andrew Mukuba is an undersized safety with notable ball skills. Xavier Restrepo’s measurables won’t leap out at anyone, but his production at Miami is undeniable. Plucking a potential difference-maker this late, regardless of size or strength, would be a boon for Minnesota.

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It’s a win if you find a special teams contributor this late. In 2022, the Vikings landed Jalen Nailor in the sixth round. He was a speedster who had navigated plenty of injuries. Imperfect, to put it kindly.

That’s a fair way to describe many of these prospects. Woody Marks and Tez Johnson are concerningly slight, but both can be electric in the open field. Rarely is Jared Harrison-Hunte discussed among the elite interior defenders, but his pass-rush win rate hovers near the top of the charts. Clay Webb is a former five-star recruit who transferred from Georgia, and Ollie Gordon II was once a highly touted draft prospect who was arrested on suspicion of DUI last summer.

Minnesota might have more picks in the later rounds if it makes an early-round trade or two. Giving coaches a big say in these picks (as well as the team’s undrafted signings) is a formula that has worked for the Vikings in recent years.

(Photo of Grey Zabel: Sean Arbaut / Getty Images)