5 Freaky — But Possible — Draft Outcomes for the Vikings
Eleven weeks of the Minnesota Vikings’ offseason are in the rearview, and the 2025 NFL Draft arrives in less than four weeks.
5 Freaky — But Possible — Draft Outcomes for the Vikings
The club has added about a dozen new players this offseason, including Ryan Kelly (C), Will Fries (G), Jonathan Allen (DT), Javon Hargrave (DT), Jordan Mason (RB, trade), Isaiah Rodgers (CB), Jeff Okudah (CB), and Rondale Moore (WR) from free agency in addition to extending the contracts of Aaron Jones (RB), Byron Murphy Jr. (CB), Theo Jackson (S), and Harrison Smith (S).
This particular draft, for the Vikings’ sake, is quite unpredictable, as it could bend in any direction. The franchise has no single dire roster need.
But these are the outlandish — really freaky — possible outcomes, ranked in ascending order of likelihood (No. 1 = outlandish but most likely to occur of the five).
5. Tetairoa McMillan (WR) Slides to Vikings
The Scenario:
Arizona wide receiver experiences a draft night tumble, all the way to the Vikings spot at No. 24, and valuing the “best player available” mantra, Minnesota has no choice but to select him.
Minnesota would immediately become incredibly deep at wide receiver and on offense, while J.J. McCarthy utilized a weapon stable so dazzling that he could not fail.
In a lesser degree of freaky outcome, one could swap McMillan with Matthew Golden, Emeka Egbuka, or Luther Burden II here.
4. The Best Player Available … Is an EDGE Rusher
The Scenario:
Although it doesn’t need an EDGE rusher — at all — Minnesota takes one anyway because, like McMillan above, the guy is too good to ignore.
The theory would apply to one of these men:
- Jalon Walker (Georgia)
- Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M)
- Mykel Williams (Georgia)
- Mike Green (Marshall)
Fans might groan initially, but they’d get over it.
3. Jihaad Campbell, an Off-Ball LB, Is the Pick
The Scenario:
Minnesota does not need an off-ball linebacker for the long haul but drafts Jihadd Campbell anyway because he’s a baller.
Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace Jr. are the Vikings’ starting linebackers, but to get deep-deep on defense and because Campbell is a sure-thing draft commodity, Adofo-Mensah picks Campbell at No. 24.
Virtually no mock drafter has connected Campbell to Minnesota.
2. It’s Omarion Hampton (RB) at No. 24
The Scenario:
Ashton Jeanty flies off the draftboard to the Las Vegas Raiders or Chicago Bears. Hampton is the next RB — to the Vikings at No. 24.
When Adofo-Mensah traded from Jordan Mason two weeks ago, most observers thought, “Oh, well. Looks like they’re not drafting a running back early.”
Here, that take is wrong, and Minnesota swipes Hampton any damn way.
1. Vikings Draft Colston Loveland (TE)
The Scenario:
Colston Loveland falls past his former college coach in the draft, Jim Harbaugh of the Los Angeles Chargers, and reunites with his former college quarterback, J.J. McCarthy.
Minnesota has just two tight ends on the depth chart — T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver — and Loveland is just too irresistible at No. 24. He and McCarthy translate Michigan majesty to Minnesota.
The Newest Viking … with the Most Upside
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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