5 Vikings Facing Possible Demotions after Draft
The Minnesota Vikings’ depth chart looks quite favorable with the regular season five months away.
5 Vikings Facing Possible Demotions after Draft
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah systematically fulfilled all major roster concerns in free agency, and now, in less than three weeks, he can use the 2025 NFL Draft as gravy.
Depending on his rookie selections, too, a handful of players could be demoted. These are those men ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = most likely to be demoted after the draft).
5. Josh Oliver (TE)
One of the strangest roster oddities for the Vikings right now? They have just two tight ends on the depth chart. In a normal offseason, the club would have four.
It’s unclear what they’re waiting for, perhaps biding their time until after the draft when free-agent signings won’t affect the compensatory draft pick formula.
Or — Minnesota could have its eye on a tight end like Michigan’s Colston Loveland, Harrold Fannin Jr. of Bowling Green, or LSU’s Mason Taylor (just a few examples).
If Adofo-Mensah shocked the masses and chose Loveland in Round 1, well, Oliver would immediately fill a TE3 role, not his current TE2 gig.
4. Jalen Nailor (WR)
Jalen Nailor is a decent football player — much like K.J. Osborn was a decent football player before he departed in 2024 free agency.
The upcoming rookie wide receiver class isn’t necessarily known for depth, like running back, for example, but if Adofo-Mensah felt the urge, he could draft a wide receiver with one of his first few picks.
For instance, if the Vikings trade back once or twice from their No. 24 spot, they could end up with Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins. Then, before too long, Higgins could ascend the depth chart for Nailor’s job.
The men above Higgins on the draftboard — Tetairoa McMillan, Matthew Golden, Luther Burden III, and Emeka Egbuka — could also pique Minnesota’s interest.
3. Theo Jackson (S)
Two rookie safeties are popular mock draft darlings for the purple team: Nick Emmanwori of South Carolina and Georgia’s Malaki Starks.
If Adofo-Mensah wants to reverse his safety-drafting reputation — it didn’t go well with Lewis Cine three years ago — he could onboard Emmanwori or Starks.
Those men’s talent suggests they’d start, maybe even on Day One.
2. Isaiah Rodgers (CB)
For now, Rodgers would be listed as the Vikings’ CB2 behind Byron Murphy Jr. That might work. Stay tuned.
However, if Minnesota drafts Jahdae Barron or Shavon Revel Jr., those two could slip in the backdoor and steal Rodgers’ CB2 assignment this summer.
There are also the Asante Samuel Jr. rumors for Rodgers to worry about.
1. Blake Brandel (LG)
Head coach Kevin O’Connell answered a question this week about who would start at left guard, and he replied that either Blake Brandel or Michael Jurgens would probably be considered.
He seemed to lean toward Brandel, but the endorsement sounded flimsy three weeks before a draft.
If O’Connell’s team selects Grey Zabel, Tyler Booker, or Donovan Jackson on draft night, Brandel could head back to the bench after one season of starter’s duty.
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