Vikings Met with Bloodline Rookie
The Minnesota Vikings are conducting some tight end homework before the 2025 NFL Draft, and no one should be too stunned if the club drafts one at the end of the month.
Vikings Met with Bloodline Rookie
Specifically, the club met with Syracuse’s Oronde Gadsden II last week, the son of former NFLer Oronde Gadsden, who played six seasons in the NFL, all with the Miami Dolphins, from 1998 to 2003.
Oronde Gadsden II Met with Vikings
Star Tribune’s Emily Leiker tweeted Tuesday, “Syracuse TE Oronde Gadsden II visited the Vikings at TCO Performance Center in Eagan last week, per source. Of note: Gadsden is good friends with Vikings OLB Dallas Turner. Grew up playing football in South Florida together.”
The Vikings are in the process of Top 30 visits for NFL prospects, meetings that often feature late-round prospects and undrafted free-agent types. The team evidently wanted to forge a preliminary relationship with Gadsden II, who tallied 73 receptions and 934 receiving yards with 12 touchdowns last year at Syracuse.
Fans would welcome the pick, mainly because of Gadsden’s wide receiver-like athleticism and fancy stats at Syracuse.
Gadsden II’s Scouting Report
Gadsden II is 6’5″ and 245 pounds. The 21-year-old might actually look like a large wide receiver at first glance, and his skill set matches the eye test.
NFL Draft Buzz‘s Felix Green describes Gadsden II’s skills: “Gadsden projects as a flex tight end who brings immediate value as a passing game mismatch while requiring significant development as a blocker. His film shows a player with legitimate vertical field-stretching ability, soft hands in traffic, and size to bully smaller defenders. The Syracuse product plays like the converted wide receiver he is – smooth in space, dangerous down the seam, and comfortable working against various coverage looks.”
“The stark contrast between his receiving prowess and blocking limitations defines his early NFL trajectory. When attacking downfield on medium and deep routes, Gadsden displays the body control and ball skills of a boundary receiver. Yet when tasked with traditional inline assignments, he lacks the functional strength and technical proficiency to consistently win at the point of attack.”
He’d basically profile as a nifty weapon in the passing game right away but with serious blocking deficiencies.
Green added, “This disparity creates both an immediate role and a clear development path. What makes Gadsden intriguing is the foundational athleticism to build upon. His outstanding physical tools – elite speed, 33⅝” arms, and natural hands – provide a framework for growth. While he’ll never be confused with a sixth offensive lineman, dedicated coaching could transform him from liability to adequate in the blocking game.”
“For offenses that prioritize 12 personnel and creating matchup advantages, Gadsden offers day-one contributions in the passing attack with the athletic ceiling to develop into a more complete player with time and technical refinement.”
Only 2 TEs on Current Roster
An odd factoid about Vikings football: the purple team has just two tight ends on the roster as of April 15th.
T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver currently hold down the fort on the tight end section of the depth chart. Usually before a draft, Minnesota will have at least four tight ends.
Therefore, it’s reasonable to assume that general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will draft one in nine days or onboard a couple from undrafted free agency.
Where in the Draft for Gadsden II?
Here’s the fun part — Adofo-Mensah won’t have to spend high-round draft capital if he wants Gadsden II. The man projects as a 6th-Rounder and lives at No. 173 on the Consensus Big Board.
In a draft when Minnesota doesn’t have a 2nd- or 4th-Round pick, late-rounder playmakers like Gadsden II can seem pretty alluring.
Other TE Options in Draft
In the neighborhood of Gadsden II (Rounds 5 to 7), Minnesota could explore these tight ends as well:
- Mitchell Evans (Notre Dame)
- Jackson Hawes (Georgia Tech)
- Jalin Conyers (Texas Tech)
- Luke Lachey (Iowa)
- Thomas Fidone II (Nebraska)
- Jake Briningstool (Clemson)
- Benjamin Yurosek (Georgia)
Gadsden will turn 22 this summer.
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