4 Last-Minute Vikings Draft Rumors
The time is so damn close.
4 Last-Minute Vikings Draft Rumors
The Minnesota Vikings will resolve one of their most mysterious drafts in years this week, on deck in Green Bay, Wisconsin, to reveal four new rookies as the platter stands.
Of course, Minnesota could fire off some draft trades and move that quantity of four higher. Stay tuned.
But to keep you up to speed, these are four Vikings draft rumors to remember, listed in no particular order.
1. Vikings Evidently Like Safety Malaki Starks
Courtesy of KSTP’s Darren Wolfson, an elite Vikings mind, he revealed this week on SKOR North airwaves: “I firmly believe there are Malaki Starks fans over at TCO.”
Although not a mock draft frontrunner, Starks has been a somewhat popular choice for Minnesota, perhaps taking over Harrison Smith’s workload when the legendary veteran retires. Smith will likely ride off into the sunset after the 2025 campaign, and instead of panicking to find a replacement, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could already have Starks ready to go in 2026.
And per Wolfson, the franchise apparently likes Starks. In all likelihood, he’ll be on the board when Adofo-Mensah is on the clock at No. 24.
2. Trading Down or Staying Put = No Consensus
ESPN’s Benjamin Solak wrote this week about Minnesota’s draft trade outlook: “I don’t think there’s a world in which the Vikings get an A without some substantial trading down. Minnesota has no second-, fourth- or seventh-round picks in this draft, and it is missing next year’s fourth and sixth as well. (Sam Darnold should return a nice compensatory selection, though. The good news about the lack of draft capital is the Vikings’ roster is really, really good, so they don’t have any immediate needs to fill.”
“Trade down. Accumulate future capital. Get a safety.”
That sounded like a relatively straightforward marching order — Minnesota will likely trade down.
But the aforementioned Wolfson said on SKOR North this week that it might be difficult for the Vikings to trade back. He said the team could have difficulty finding a dance partner. And Wolfson usually knows what he’s talking about.
Therefore, the easy opinion to formulate is, “Oh, for sure the Vikings are trading down.” But be prepared for a stick-and-pick at No. 24 because it doesn’t sound like other teams are clambering to do business for the 24th pick.
3. Remember the Derrick Harmon Fondness
It’s been a few weeks, but don’t forget the Vikings’ alleged interest in defensive tackle Derrick Harmon. The club used a Top 30 visit on the Oregon Duck, a decent indicator that he could be the team’s first draft choice on Thursday night.
Star Tribune‘s Ben Goessling said about Harmon last month, “I heard that again this week,” when claiming he had heard Harmon was on a Vikings “priority list.”
Goessling added, “I wouldn’t be surprised to see them add another defensive tackle. There’s a lot of depth, there’s a lot of variety in this group, but you have Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen both in their 30s. Jonathan Allen, coming off the pec injury, Hargrave, I think, was a tricep, and Allen also had a left knee in the past that I would keep an eye on as well, so you’re not talking about these guys being five-year solutions.”
Many fans expect a cornerback or safety pick, but a defensive tackle cannot be ruled out.
4. Aidan O’Connell, Sam Howell Trade in Play
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote Friday evening, six days before the draft: “The Seahawks are open to trading Sam Howell and have received inquiries from teams interested in acquiring their backup quarterback, sources have told ESPN.”
“That interest comes on the heels of the Seahawks adding Drew Lock last week, re-signing Geno Smith’s former backup to potentially fill the same role behind new starter Sam Darnold. Jaren Hall is their fourth quarterback, giving Seattle a potential surplus at the position.”
Similar reports have emerged about Las Vegas Raiders QB2 Aidan O’Connell.
Minnesota has no tried-and-true QB2 at the moment, so keep an eye on Howell and O’Connell as trade options, likely for a conditional 6th- or 7th-Round pick.
One Former Viking Is Tearing Up the UFL
You must be logged in to post a comment.