Post-Super Bowl Mock Draft Pretty Spiffy for Vikings
Super Bowl LIX is in the books, as the Philadelphia Eagles utterly destroyed the Kansas City Chiefs.
One New Vikings Mock Draft Is Quite Spiffy
The win marked the Eagles’ second Super Bowl triumph in the last seven years — and, in a less important development, kicked off the official beginning of mock draft season.
Accordingly, The Athletic published a post-Super Bowl mock draft on Monday morning, and Minnesota Vikings fans would be elated if it came to fruition.
No. 24 Pick = Walter Nolen (DT)
The Vikings need help in the defensive trenches, especially after watching the Eagles disembowel the Chiefs on Sunday night.
So, The Athletic‘s Nick Baumgardner picked Nolen for Minnesota and explained, “It’s not impossible the Vikings (or the Chargers two spots earlier) go with a running back, as both Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson and North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton would be great fits in either scheme. Same time, the Vikings are in a division with the run-heavy Lions and a Bears team that just hired the Lions’ old OC. More help over the ball is always needed.”
For years, the team’s fans have clamored for an impact defensive tackle, not employing a splashy one at the three-technique DT spot since 2013 when Kevin Williams departed the franchise.
Nolen could be precisely that.
The young defender is much more of a pass-rushing three-technique lineman, not to be confused with a nose tackle type. If Minnesota wants an NT-style defensive tackle, players like Tyleik Williams (also from this draft) will be available.
Pro Football Network wrote highly of Nolen in a recent pre-draft scouting report. “Although only 21 years old, Nolen has shown improvement as a technician over the years, which has helped him make better use of his freakish combination of speed and power. He still has some more development to do, but he has shown that he’s coachable, and that’s an important trait for future success,” PFN’s Jacob Infante opined.
Most Vikings fans would adore Nolen on draft night.
No. 97 Pick = Quinshon Judkins (RB)
But wait, there’s more.
The purple team probably needs a running back from the draft, an RB class considered the deepest in years, if not decades.
Therefore, recognizing that roster need, Baumgardner mocked-drafted Judkins to Minnesota, where he’d likely pair with veteran Aaron Jones or a free-agent tailback to be named in March.
Last weekend, VikingsTerritory‘s Kyle Joudry predicted Minnesota’s 2025 backfield, and Jones + Judkins got the nod. Joudry wrote, “RB1 — Aaron Jones, who functions as the starter but who carries a smaller workload than in 2024. RB2 — Quinshon Judkins, who gets sprinkled into the mix as MIN works toward developing their RB of the future.”
If the Vikings don’t draft Judkins but still want a running back, other candidates like Kaleb Johnson (Iowa), TreVeyon Henderson (Ohio State), Cam Skattebo (Arizona State), and Devin Neal (Kansas) could be available at pick No. 97.
The Vikings’ ground game ranked 20th per DVOA in 2024, up seven spots from 2023.
Spicy Vikings Rumor Picks up Steam
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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