3 Dark Horse Scenarios for the Vikings Draft
Most fans expect the Minnesota Vikings to select an interior defensive lineman, a guard, or a cornerback early in the draft, and truth be told, that’ll probably come to fruition.
3 Dark Horse Scenarios for the Vikings Draft
But what if they don’t? What if general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah gets frisky?
Consider these three scenarios as “dark horse” outcomes for the Vikings’ draft in 18 days. They’re ranked in ascending order of likelihood (No. 1 = dark horse scenario most likely to happen).
3. Wide Receiver with First Pick of Event
On paper, the Vikings need zero high-profile wide receivers, as the franchise has invested ample draft capital in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison during the last five years. Those draft picks have paid off.
Still, Minnesota is led by a former quarterback as its head coach, and there’s a back-alley path to Kevin O’Connell saying, “You know what? Let’s get super rich at wide receiver and make sure J.J. McCarthy has all the weapons imaginable.”
Minnesota would then draft Texas wideout Matthew Golden, Luther Burden III of Missouri, or Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka. Tetairoa McMillan could theoretically tumble down the draftboard, but that’s a long shot.
Drafting a wide receiver would mean that Adofo-Mensah believed Egbuka, for example, was the best player available at No. 24.
2. Omarion Hampton, an RB, at Pick No. 24
After the Vikings traded for Jordan Mason three weeks ago, most fans thought, “I guess they won’t be drafting a running back now.”
A fair assessment, there’s always a chance that general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah brushes that forecast to the side by drafting Hampton from North Carolina, considered the second-best running back in this class behind Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty.
An A to Z Sports mock draft from February connected Hampton to Minnesota, and writer Destin Adams opined, “The Vikings went the veteran route at RB last year with Aaron Jones. But finding a long-term answer in the run game is a big need this offseason. Omarion Hampton out of North Carolina is closer to Jeanty for RB 1 than some people realize. He would be a day-one starter, and would elevate the Vikings run game tremendously.”
It could happen.
1. Vikings Draft TE Colston Loveland
Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy won a National Championship with the Michigan Wolverines in 2023, his springboard to Minnesota in the draft three months later.
His tight end in that game and during that season? Colston Loveland.
Loveland could get wiped off the draftboard by the Denver Broncos or Los Angeles Chargers by the time Minnesota is called to the podium, but if he is not, don’t be too shell-shocked if Minnesota says yes to Loveland.
The guaranteed money section of T.J. Hockenson’s contract is winding down, and somehow, Minnesota has just two tight ends on the current depth chart. It generally has four at this point on the calendar.
The Vikings don’t need a tight end in this draft, but they also don’t need too many other positions, either.
Like McMillan or Hampton, if they believe Loveland is the best football player available at No. 24, he might be the choice.
Thankfully, the draft is about 2.5 weeks away, so a verdict for the first pick is coming soon. Real soon.
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