One Rookie Could Be the Hinge of Vikings Draft
The Minnesota Vikings will embark on the 2025 NFL Draft in precisely four weeks, scheduled to pick 24th on that Thursday night.
One Rookie Could Be the Hinge of Vikings Draft
Because general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah fortressed the depth chart so wonderfully in free agency, no one is too sure how the Vikings might pick in Round 1. They could reasonably select a cornerback, defensive tackle, offensive guard, running back, safety — or get rich-rich at spots like wide receiver or tight end.
And with the draft just around the bend, one man might the Vikings’ draft hinge: Jahdae Barron, a cornerback from Texas.
If Jahdae Barron Is There at 24, It Might Be a No-Brainer
Barron lives on the Consensus Big Board at No. 16 as of March 27th. The CBB isn’t infallible, but it does provide a reasonable indicator of pecking order. It’s unclear if Barron will be on the board for Minnesota, as the Green Bay Packers, for example, could swipe Barron at No. 23, especially if Jaire Alexander gets traded or released.
There’s something special or unsavory about every other noteworthy CB not named Barron.
- Travis Hunter will leave the board in the Top 5.
- Will Johnson won’t surpass the San Francisco 49ers at pick No. 11.
- Shavon Revel Jr. has 1st-Round talent but is recovering from a mangled ACL.
- Benjamin Morrison has a bad hip.
- Trey Amos, Maxwell Hairston, and Azareye’h Thomas are 2nd-Rounders.
Barron has no such demons and would perfectly blend the Vikings’ team need and “best player available” — if he tumbles to No. 24.
A Trade Back if Not
However, if Barron flies off the board before No. 24, well, Minnesota could decide to trade back. The team has just four draft picks on the menu in April, and swapping assets down the board would whisk more rookies onto the 2025 roster.
In this regard, Barron might offer a faux litmus test: if Barron is there, the Vikings should strike. If another cornerback-needy franchise chooses him, then trade down.
Barron’s Scouting Report
Barron is 23, so he should be more game-ready than most rookie corners. NFL Draft Buzz‘s Eli Cooper describes his skill set: “Any pattern-match heavy scheme would maximize Barron’s skill set perfectly. His ability to process quickly and play physically at intermediate depths shows up consistently on tape, particularly against high-level competition. The spatial awareness and route recognition skills translate perfectly to complex coverage schemes at the next level.”
“His snap-to-snap consistency and special teams background mean he’ll contribute from day one, but his ceiling is even higher. This is a defensive back who could be making All-Pro teams by year three in a system that leverages his football IQ and allows him to be aggressive in underneath zones.”
Barron’s only weakness may be perceived as aggression, a trait that feels tailor-made for Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
He’s a Mock Draft Favorite
Barron-to-Vikings isn’t a fringe theory or outcome. The mock draft community is already all over it. Mike Tannenbaum, formerly a general manager of the New York Jets, published a post-free agency mock draft on Tuesday, and for Minnesota, Barron was the selection.
“Getting Barron at this point in the first round would be outstanding value for Minnesota. He could excel in Brian Flores’ defense after posting 20 pass breakups and eight interceptions over the past three seasons. Barron’s versatility would be key for the Vikings, who signed Jeff Okudah and Isaiah Rodgers and re-signed Byron Murphy Jr. this month,” Tannenbaum wrote.
“He played as both a slot and outside corner last season, which means Minnesota could move him to fit what it needs.”
Too, ESPN’s Mel Kiper connected Minnesota to Barron at pick No. 24 last week and noted, “Minnesota made some big splashes in free agency as it tries to take the NFC North from the Lions. Among them were deals to re-sign Byron Murphy Jr. and bring in Isaiah Rodgers, but I’m not sure the Vikings should — or will — be done adding to the cornerback room.”
“Barron, meanwhile, picked off five passes last season, showing his ball skills. He ran a 4.39 at the combine, showing his speed. And he played more than 600 snaps at both slot corner and outside corner over the past two seasons, showing his versatility. I really like this fit.”
Three weeks ago, another ESPN personality, Jordan Reid, also mock-drafted Barron to the Vikings. It’s a theme from that network and this team.
It’s a popular fit overall.
But Will He Fall to 24?
The kicker? Whether Barron slides from his CBB 16th spot.
He could be long gone by the time Adofo-Mensah calls in the pick or trade. And never forget, players ranked highly before the draft always tumble on draft night. There’s habitually at least one.
In that vein, depending on Barron’s fate, he could be Minnesota’s 2025 draft hinge, an if-this-then-that jumping-off point.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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