Vikings to Meet with Elite Draft Talent
Within the last couple of weeks, a veteran cornerback by the name of Asante Samuel Jr. has gallivanted in the Minnesota Vikings’ rumor mill.
Vikings to Meet with Elite Draft Talent
If the rumors are accurate and Minnesota signs Samuel Jr. after the 2025 NFL Draft, well, the franchise probably doesn’t need a rookie corner from the draft. However, if the Samuel Jr. fodder is totally backward and false, the Vikings ought to snatch a cornerback early in the draft.
Coincidentally, the Vikings will meet with Shavon Revel Jr. this week, an elite draft talent from East Carolina.
CB Shavon Revel Jr. to Meet with Vikings
NFL Network‘s Tom Pelissero tweeted Monday, 17 days before the draft: “Former East Carolina CB Shavon Revel — a projected first-round pick who is recovering from ACL reconstruction — will visit the Bills, Colts and Vikings this week. He’ll also do the combine medical recheck while in Indianapolis.”
Pelissero added a quote from Revel Jr.’s surgeon: “After the NFL draft, he will be cleared for all strength and conditioning activities in the off-season program including strength training, powerlifting, and position-specific running and cutting.”
The tweet is vital for Vikings’ draft purposes because it proves, at the very least, that Minnesota is exploring the cornerback spot with its first draft selection. Revel Jr., because of the ACL tear, would perfectly blend the Vikings’ team need and the best player available in the draft, especially if general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah trades down, as many expect.
Revel Jr.’s Scouting Report
As of April 7th, Revel Jr. is considered the fourth-best cornerback on this year’s draft board, perhaps sunk to the No. 4 hole because of his ACL recovery. The cornerbacks in front of him? Travis Hunter (Colorado), Will Johnson (Michigan), and Maxwell Hairston (Kentucky).
Revel Jr. lives in the 39th spot of the Consensus Big Board through one week of April. The East Carolina alumnus will be 23 by draft time and is 6’2″ and 195 pounds.
He’s known for his length, size, athleticism, physicality, and ball-hawking. Weaknesses? He had just one year of upper-echelon production before the ACL tear, and of course, the injury has driven his draft stock in Round 2.
NFL Draft Buzz describes Revel Jr.’s draft profile: “Pre-injury, we were looking at a potential top-15 selection. The ACL tear likely pushes him into Day 2, but don’t be shocked if a team still pulls the trigger late in Round 1. You simply can’t teach his combination of length, speed, and competitive fire. The medicals will tell the tale, but if he checks out, some defensive coordinator is going to have a field day molding him into a CB1.”
“The NFL projection for Revel is fascinating – you’re betting on traits and character as much as production. His combination of size, speed, and physicality screams starting boundary corner in a press-heavy scheme. The injury complicates his immediate impact, but smart money says he’ll be worth the wait.”
CB a Team Need if No More Free Agent Signings
As mentioned above, Minnesota could be waiting until after the draft to sign Samuel Jr. At that time, adding any free agents won’t ruin the compensatory draft pick formula, which is quite crucial to Adofo-Mensah.
Some expect the Green Bay Packers to release Jaire Alexander, and he, too, could grab the Vikings’ interest.
But if Samuel Jr. and Alexander are not in play for Minnesota, drafting a cornerback seems quite likely, and Revel Jr. would do the trick. The 2025 depth chart would include Revel Jr., Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, Mekhi Blackmon, Jeff Okudah, and Dwight McGlothern. Most fans would approve of the unit if so.
The Trade Back Scenario
The sweetest part about the Revel Jr. meeting is the marriage between Minnesota’s probability of trading down. Adofo-Mensah can likely “do both” with Revel Jr. in the mix — trade down from his No. 24 draft spot, accumulate more picks, and still seize the rookie defensive back.
That’s the benefit of his draft stock tumble due to the ACL tear. If a general manager is willing to gamble on his ACL, that executive will receive a 1st-Round talent early in Round 2.
Not for nothing, Adofo-Mensah has shown no hesitation in adding players with injury concerns to Minnesota’s roster. It might even be called Adofo-Menah’s modus operandi.
Other CBs if Not Revel Jr.
Suppose the Revel Jr. meeting goes poorly, or the Vikings prefer a different corner without muddy injury history. Four other CBs will probably be available when Minnesota is called to the podium: Maxwell Hairston (Kentucky), Azareye’h Thomas (Florida State), Trey Amos (Mississippi), and Benjamin Morrison (Notre Dame).
Texas corner Jahdae Barron could be an option, too, at No. 24, but recent mock drafts suggest he’ll be long gone.
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