If the Minnesota Vikings draft a defensive tackle in the 2025 NFL Draft, most onlookers expect that occur early, perhaps even in Round 1 with the team’s 24th overall pick.
New Rookie Is on Vikings’ Radar
But what if they wait until later in the draft?
According to The Draft Network, the Vikings will meet with University of Florida defensive tackle Cam Jackson. TDN’s Ryan Fowler tweeted Monday, a few days before NFL Combine activities formally begin: “Source: The Minnesota Vikings have a formal meeting scheduled with Florida iDL Cam Jackson in Indy. Athletic & powerful DT had an excellent week at the Senior Bowl and is another name to become familiar with in a loaded DL class.”
Needing a new interior defensive lineman is nothing new for Minnesota’s offseason. It’s just that most fans have decided the team could use free-agent cash on a player like Milton Williams of the Philadelphia Eagles or the draft’s first couple of rounds, with men like Walter Nolen (Ole Miss), Tyleik Williams (Ohio State), Kenneth Grant (Michigan), or Derrick Harmon (Oregon).
Jackson, on the other hand, is projected to go off the board sometime in Round 5 or 6. Per the consensus big board, he ranks 188th as of February 24th.
DTs Harrison Phillips, Jalen Redmond, Taki Taimani, and Levi Drake Rodriguez are under contract for the Vikings next season — and then that’s it for playable DTs. No one else. The Philadelphia Eagles provided a blueprint two weeks ago of how to browbeat a dynastic football team en route to a Super Bowl. Vikings fans saw that performance and thought, “I’d like some of that.”
From free agency or the draft, the Vikings should add another defensive tackle, the spot currently manned by Jerry Tillery. Vikings fans request this every offseason and usually end up with a Shamar Stephen or Jonathan Bullard. Perhaps the purple front office will finally splash for an impact interior defensive lineman.
TDN’s Keith Sanchez recently described Jackson’s draft profile: “Jackson possesses several attractive traits for NFL teams, including his versatility and high motor. With further development as a pass rusher and run defender, Jackson has the potential to become a reliable starting IDL for an NFL franchise.”
Jackson is known for run-stuffing — he’s 6’6″ and 340 pounds. The late-round draft expectation comes from his pass-rushing skill set. He’s considered raw at that task.
It’s also worth noting that the Vikings could draft Walter Nolen, for example, in Round 1, utilizing him as a three-technique DT and scoop Jackson later as a nose tackle. The team, in theory, can do both.
Minnesota currently owns two 5th-Round picks, which is prime real estate for Jackson.
The NFL Draft is 59 days away.
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.