Dustin Baker’s Vikings Mock Draft 1.0 | 2025
The Minnesota Vikings tentatively own four picks heading into the 2025 NFL Draft. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah spent a lot of this year’s capital on acquiring outside linebacker Dallas Turner nine months ago.
Dustin Baker’s Vikings Mock Draft 1.0 | 2025
Minnesota needs cornerbacks, interior offensive linemen, interior defensive linemen, and perhaps a running back.
So, here’s the best stab at a predictive mock draft out of the offseason gate for the 2025 Vikings. No trades were conducted in this edition.
Round 1 | Pick 24
Benjamin Morrison (CB)
College = Notre Dame
As it stands, these are Minnesota’s corners under contract for 2025:
- Mekhi Blackmon
- Dwight McGlothern
- NaJee Thompson
- Reddy Steward
- Kahlef Hailassie
- Nahshon Wright
- Ambry Thomas
That won’t cut it. Of course, re-signing Byron Murphy, a Pro Bowler, will help, but even then, Minnesota needs CB beef.
Morrison is the CB beef.
The Draft Network’s Ryan Fowler describes Morrison: “Benjamin Morrison is a technically elite corner who projects as a long-term core contributor for an NFL defense. He aligns both as a field and boundary corner, wherever the top wideout for the opposition aligns before the snap.”
That’ll work.
Round 3 | Pick 97
Devin Neal (RB)
College = Kansas
If Neal can improve his pass protection — which is damn near mandatory in Kevin O’Connell’s offense — he can bridge the gap between a veteran tailback like Aaron Jones and the future.
Neal is 5’11” and 215 pounds, a halfback with dual-threat tendencies, which the Vikings love. He can break tackles and accelerate with the best of them.
Once and for all, the Vikings must draft a young running back. The last notable example was Alexander Mattison — six years ago.
It’s worth noting that this draft pick is courtesy of Kirk Cousins’ departure to the Atlanta Falcons last March.
Round 5 | Pick 138
Jared Wilson (C)
College = Georgia
Late-round draft selections are lottery tickets, but if Minnesota is serious about improving the interior offensive line, why not Wilson from Georgia?
Garrett Bradbury may or may not be back in 2025, and if Minnesota loses out or doesn’t enter the Drew Dalman free-agent sweepstakes, Wilson can join the purple team’s roster and perhaps become a late-round offensive line steal that other teams always seem to discover.
Round 5 | Pick 159
Kyren Lacy (WR)
College = LSU
The Jalen Nailor experiment at WR3 worked at times but not consistently.
Lacy features the route-running and release that can last in the NFL, though he’s not a speedster. Minnesota tried a speedster in Nailor.
If general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah doesn’t sign a veteran WR3 like Amari Cooper or Stefon Diggs, using a 5th-Rounder on a player like Lacy checks out.
Lacy is also taller than most Vikings WRs lately at 6’2″.
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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