Dustin Baker’s Draft Endorsement for the Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings will reveal their draft choices in about one week after much deliberation about how the team might proceed.
Dustin Baker’s Draft Endorsement for the Vikings
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah used a rambunctious free agency to fortify the roster with new players like Jonathan Allen (DT), Javon Hargrave (DT), Will Fries (OG), Ryan Kelly (C), and others, so this draft is more mysterious per outcome. All roster holes vanished.
This draft could bend in half a dozen ways, and no one would be too surprised about any path.
VikingsTerritory will publish a website endorsement for the Vikings draft later this week, along with several batches of predictions from our writers.
Left up to Dustin Baker personally, however, here’s the formal endorsement.
Stay Put at No. 24 and Draft RB Omarion Hampton
After careful and tedious analysis, the savviest draft maneuver for this brand of Vikings is selecting a productive running back to once and for all end the mediocrity and doldrums of Kevin O’Connell’s rushing tendencies.
Coming off a year when the Philadelphia Eagles won a Super Bowl with Saquon Barkley embarrassing opposing defenses, now’s the time to shapeshift into a copycat.
Therefore, if North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton is on the board at No. 24, Adofo-Mensah should draft the 22-year-old. Hampton is 6’0″ + 220 pounds, with 4.46 speed, and a history of gridiron violence. Minnesota hasn’t employed a tailback with that modus operandi since Adrian Peterson left in early 2017.
From 2022 to 2023, the Vikings ranked 27th per rushing DVOA — lousy. When Aaron Jones arrived last season, the DVOA mark improved to 20th, a modest improvement.
Now, employing a young passer in J.J. McCarthy who thrived at Michigan with a galvanic running game, Minnesota should reenter the era of running back majesty. Hampton won’t be as legendary as Peterson, but he might check in somewhere near Dalvin Cook’s skill set.
Indeed, the Vikings have Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason on the depth chart. That does not matter. This draft can be about the oft-repeated “best player available,” and Hampton is that if he falls to No. 24.
Minnesota already has the defensive talent for the long term, plus Brian Flores for an undetermined number of seasons. The defense is fine. Hell, it ranked second in the NFL last year in DVOA and EPA/Play. It’s actually a little strange that fans have so universally embraced a defensive player with the first pick. Minnesota’s defense was statistically much better than the offense in 2024.
Get filthy rich on offense, empower McCarthy, and draft Hampton to frolic on Sundays with Fries and Kelly, the new offensive line additions.
If Hampton Is Gone —
Pick CB Jahdae Barron
Of course, there’s a reasonable chance that the Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, or Denver Broncos nab Hampton, rendering the first section of this endorsement useless.
If so, Adofo-Mensah should draft Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron, one of the few CB options available to the Vikings without flaws. For example, Notre Dame’s Benjamin Morrison has a bad hip. Shavon Revel Jr. of East Carolina is already 24 years old — yuck. And men like Trey Amos, Azaraeye’h Thomas, and Maxwell Hairston are probably 2nd-Round commodities.
Barron doesn’t have those warts.
Hampton got the primary over Barron because Minnesota can still sign Asante Samuel Jr. or possibly Jaire Alexander after the draft. It cannot sign a Hampton-esque running back on the open market.
Barron’s versatility, though, would shine in Flores’ system.
If Hampton & Barron Gone —
Choose DT Kenneth Grant
Suppose Hampton and Barron are long gone — it could happen. Our second-to-last installment is the selection of Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant.
He’s 21, and Minnesota hasn’t showcased a big-bodied nose tackle since Linval Joseph. Grant’s pass-rush tendencies will need work, but such is often the case for young defensive tackles.
Flores won’t need Grant right away because he has Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave, Harrison Phillips, and Jalen Redmond hungry for snaps, but Grant could assuredly grow over the duration of his rookie contract.
The draft should be about envisioning the roster in 2027 and 2028 — hence the Hampton, Barron, and Grant recommendations.
The Draft Network describes Grant: “One of Grant’s standout traits is his closing speed. Once he penetrates the backfield, he bursts toward the football with remarkable acceleration for a man of his size. His lateral agility is also notable, as he executes twists and stunts with fluidity, maintaining ground while navigating around blockers. His relentless motor is a testament to his effort, as he consistently pursues quarterbacks and even chases plays 20 yards downfield — an impressive feat for a 340-pound defender.”
Yes, please.
If Hampton, Barron, Grant Gone —
Trade Down
Finally, if Hampton, Barron, and Grant found new teams before the 24th pick, mail in the 1st-Round dream — unless Grey Zabel (iOL, North Dakota State) or Colston Loveland (TE, Michigan) were available — by trading back.
Wheeling and dealing with the Seattle Seahawks might make sense, sending the 24th pick westward for pick Nos. 50 and 52.
With those two 2nd-Rounders, the Vikings could select a running back like Quinshon Judkins (Ohio State) and perhaps safety Xavier Watts (Notre Dame). A corner such as Amos, Thomas, or Morrison would be intriguing as well.
But trading back is a last resort per this endorsement.
Track Record
Last year, the lay of the land wasn’t this tricky. The endorsement was a trade-up the board for Drake Maye, an opinion we stand by in April 2025. The year before? Trading up for C.J. Stroud. Before that in 2022? Kyle Hamilton.
You must be logged in to post a comment.