Vikings’ 2025 Breakout Player Predictions Are In
The Minnesota Vikings will uncork the 2025 regular season in four weeks, traveling to Chicago for a meeting with the rival Chicago Bears.
Vikings fans share their predictions for the Minnesota Vikings’ 2025 breakout player. See which rising stars could take a big leap this season and make a major impact.
Oddsmakers peg Minnesota for eight or nine wins this season, a sizable slide from last year’s fancy and unforeseen 14-3 mark.
And with training camp complete, along with a preseason win in the books, we asked Vikings fans to predict the team’s breakout player in 2025. Some past examples include:
2024: Jalen Redmond
2023: Ivan Pace Jr.
2022: Duke Shelley
2021: K.J. Osborn
Here’s how our fan panel replied.
Vikings Breakout Player Predictions | 2025
We asked hardcore purple fans to predict the main breakout player for 2025.
1. Jeff Okudah | CB
From: Tadd | @st7cub
When Brian Flores is excited about a player, I trust it. Jeff Okudah was a top-three pick for a reason, and now he’s paired with the right coach to have his best season yet.
2. Gabriel Murphy | OLB
From: Skol Tom | @SkolfromWI
This is honestly a tough one; the roster for the Vikings is strong and has a lot of well-known players. That being said, I’ll predict a breakout season for Gabriel Murphy this year. The other option for me, if I twist the question just a bit, is JJ McCarthy.
I think he has a good chance to play his way into the MVP conversation this season. While it wouldn’t necessarily be an “undercover” breakout, I don’t think there are too many people who would say he’ll play at that level, but with this roster and this coaching staff, I think he can make it there in his first full healthy year.
t3. Lucky Jackson | WR
From: Bruce Johnson | @sachikojohnson
The first preseason game was huge with regard to this question. At this point, I will say Lucky Jackson. I learned yesterday that he is 28. What a story of perseverance and determination. I wish him well.
RotoWire noted on Jackson this weekend: “Jackson caught three of four targets for 30 yards in Saturday’s 20-10 preseason win over the Texans. With Jordan Addison (suspension) set to miss the first three games of the regular season, Jalen Nailor will line up as the Vikings’ No. 2 receiver opposite Justin Jefferson (hamstring), creating a camp competition for the No. 3 job between Jackson and 2025 third-round pick Tai Felton.”
“Felton has the draft pedigree in his favor, but Jackson may be emerging as the frontrunner nonetheless, and his performance Saturday was a notch better than Felton’s 2-14-0 line on two targets. Jackson’s only NFL experience to date consists of three games for Minnesota in 2023, when he mainly played special teams.”
t3. Lucky Jackson | WR
From: Chris | @skol227
Undercover breakout is Lucky Jackson. Everything is set up for him to showcase his talent
t4. Levi Drake Rodriguez | DT
From: Jens from Norway | @rednpurple77
Levi Drake Rodriguez is going to blow us all off our couch. His positive attitude and enthusiasm are driving him all the way to the top.
t4. Levi Drake Rodriguez | DT
From: Steve Berglund | @Vikesin18
I think his quickness and energy are going to show out. With Javon Hargrove and Jonathan Allen aging, the reserves will get some run. LDR will be okay, and one of the guys will really step up.
t4. Levi Drake Rodriguez | DT
From: Ivan, Czar of Bohunks | @up4discussion_7
I think he’s got an uphill battle with veterans ahead of him, but his motor cannot be denied, and when he gets his shot, I know he will make the best of it.
t4. Levi Drake Rodriguez | DT
From: Eric Horstman | @ehorstman23
I’m going to roll with LDR this year. Although he may not get as much playing time this year with Allen and Hargrave here, I think he has a similar breakout situation to Jalen Redmond. Everything I have heard from camp is that he’s taken giant steps forward, and I think this will earn him some rotation time this year.
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