Latest ESPN Mock Draft Has Outlier Pick for Vikings
The 2025 NFL Draft is four weeks away — on the nose.
Latest ESPN Mock Draft Has Outlier Pick for Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings will pick four times, at least per the schedule 28 days out.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will likely end up drafting a cornerback, defensive tackle, offensive guard, or safety based on current roster construction.
And according to ESPN, via Matt Miller’s most recent mock draft, the Vikings will select cornerback Maxwell Hairston of Kentucky, a bit of an outlier selection.
Matt Miller Mocks Maxwell Hairston to Vikings
Miller featured no 1st-Round trade for Minnesota, which many believe is on the table, and selected Hairston for Minnesota.
“The Vikings were aggressive in free agency, so they don’t have many glaring needs. But there is concern at cornerback, where signees Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah project more as temporary fixes than long-term solutions,” Miller explained.
“Hairston can definitely be a long-term building block. Not only is he feisty in coverage but he has elite footwork and ran the fastest 40 out of all prospects at the combine (4.28 seconds). Despite being 5-11, Hairston’s long arms can lock down receivers when combined with his quickness.”
The Vikings haven’t successfully drafted a cornerback in Round 1 or 2 in a decade — Trae Waynes was the last example.
Miller added, “There are size and durability concerns, as he missed five games in 2024 with a shoulder injury, but he has the best movement skills of any corner in this class. The Vikings have to get younger, faster and better at cornerback. Hairston can help them get there and boost their man coverage capabilities.”
The Hairston-to-Minnesota theory is an outlier because, until Miller’s mock draft, most tab Hairston as an early 2nd-Round talent — not the 24th overall pick. Perhaps the draft community has it wrong.
Maxwell Hairston Bio
Hairston’s height is a bit disputed. Some sites list him a 6’1.” Others flag him around 5’11.” He’s 185 pounds and will turn 22 in August. His specialty is zone coverage, and that may have to change in Minnesota with Brian Flores’ scheme.
The rookie defender is known for exhilarating speed, elite ball tracking, fantastic burst, and a gamer personality.
NFL Draft Buzz‘s Wyatt Brooks describes Hairston’s skill set: “His competitiveness at the catch point and ability to match-and-mirror in space will translate immediately to sub-package duties. Hairston is a scheme-specific playmaker who needs to be deployed strategically early in his career.”
“Give him two years in an NFL strength program while letting him cut his teeth in nickel and dime packages, and you’re looking at a potential long-term starter who can change games with his ball skills. Just don’t ask him to play press-man against Mike Evans in week one, and you’ll be happy with what you get.”
The Vikings would evidently play the long game with Hairston’s development.
Vikings CBs As Is
Since losing to the Los Angeles Rams in the Wildcard Round last season, Minnesota has extended Pro Bowl corner Byron Murphy Jr.’s contract, signed Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah, and added a few depth defensive backs who will vie for roster spots at training camp and in the preseason.
This is Minnesota’s new look CB group, with the new men in bold:
CB1: Byron Murphy Jr.
CB2: Mekhi Blackmon
CB3: Isaiah Rodgers
CB4: Jeff Okudah
CB5: Dwight McGlothern
CB6: Tavierre Thomas
CB7: NaJee Thompson
CB8: Nahshon Wright
CB9: Ambry Thomas
CB10: Reddy Steward
CB11: Kahlef Hailassie
Hairston would slide in around CB3 or CB4, in all likelihood, during his maiden voyage season.
Rounds 2 thru 7, per Miller
Miller’s mock draft stood out from most because it outlined seven rounds.
Most mock drafts fired up the 1st-Round and call it good.
Per Miller, Minnesota’s full haul could look like this:
Round 1: Maxwell Hairston (CB, Kentucky)
Round 3: Jalen Rivers (G, Miami)
Round 5: Xavier Restrepo (WR, Miami)
Round 6: Aeneas Peeblers (DT, Virginia Tech)
Miller noted on Rivers: “The Vikings filled immediate needs with Ryan Kelly and Will Fries in free agency, but Rivers has swing tackle potential as a rookie and could develop into a starting left guard.”
The 2025 NFL Draft will occur in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Yep — there.
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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 MIN 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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