Vikings Add Talent in Draft and a Decent QB2, Still Could Use DB Help
I always laugh when I see team draft grades from the media immediately following a draft. I’ve always said it takes three years to truly judge a draft.
A prime example is the Vikings’ two first-rounders last year. If J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner turn into Pro Bowl players and help lead the Vikings to a Super Bowl in the coming years, then the 2024 draft is an A+. If they’re just average players and don’t get a second contract with the Vikings, then it’s a much lower grade in the final analysis.
Vikings Add Talent in Draft and a Decent QB2, Still Could Use DB Help
I reviewed the Donovan Jackson pick last week. As I said, I like the pick at No. 24 of a likely first-year starter with good potential to help solidify the interior offensive line–along with free agent signees Ryan Kelly and Will Fries — to aid in McCarthy’s protection and run game production.
Based on their college performances and pro potential, I am also cautiously optimistic about the chances for the other four players the Vikings drafted to be potential contributors in Year One and down the road.
While I was surprised the team didn’t go defensive back in the third round and picked a wide receiver when it was already a position of strength, it appears Tai Felton is a good value at No. 102. He brings speed as a 4.37 in the 40 player and had a highly productive 2024 season at Maryland (96 catches, 1,124 receiving yards, 9 TDs). He should be in the mix for play time as a third or fourth WR along with Jalen Nailor and Rondale Moore (both potential free agents in 2026) behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Felton should also be of help on special teams.
Fifth-round defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins of Georgia is athletic and versatile enough to play inside or as an edge player. He’s a good run stopper and can be developed as a pass rusher.
Penn State linebacker Kobe King was a strong run stopper in college and should be a good special teamer. He was expected to go earlier than the sixth round.
With the departures of tight ends Johnny Mundt and Nick Muse, sixth-rounder Gavin Bartholomew should be the third tight end this season. He had 38 catches for 322 yards and four TDs for Pitt last season, with 20 of his receptions resulting in first downs.
I understand and appreciate the Vikings’ respecting their draft board and picking the best player available at the time of their picks, regardless of position and pick for need, if he’s the best player at the time of the pick (or in a virtual tie with another position player). That’s how the best teams work the draft, and it always was our strategy on my Vikings and Titans teams. However, I still believe the cornerback and safety positions need some additional free agent attention after not getting any 2025 draft help.
At corner, the re-signing of Pro Bowler Byron Murphy was essential but it’s hard to fully trust Isaiah Rogers who has 13 career starts and three career interceptions in four seasons with the Colts and Eagles, the often-injured Jeff Okudah (41 games missed in his five-year career), 2023 third-rounder Mekhi Blackmon who showed promise at times in his rookie season but is coming off an ACL injury that cost him his second season in 2024) or Tavierre Thomas (on his fourth team and has two career picks in seven seasons).
Dwight McGlothern flashed in training camp and preseason games last season and shows good potential, but he’s still basically unproven.
Stephon Gilmore turns 35 in September, but I think he should be re-signed to an incentive-laden deal so that if he’s the starter at corner as he was last year, he can make the $7 million he earned in 2024 when he was a starter and played well for the most part. Shaq Griffin is another possibility after playing well at times in 2024 for the Purple, but Gilmore is the better corner of the two.
The safety spot was also an expected draft target after Cam Bynum’s departure. Harrison Smith has returned, which is good after he played well in 2024. And Josh Metellus makes a lot of plays as a starting safety who lines up in a lot of spots. Theo Jackson is being counted on to replace Bynum, which could pan out, but some quality competition for Jackson would be helpful.
Sam Howell Trade
After thinking Ryan Tannehill or Carson Wentz would be Vikings-bound as the No. 2 QB behind McCarthy and ahead of Brett Rypien post-draft (so as not to hurt the Vikings’ compensatory pick possibilities in 2026), it was a mild surprise that the Vikings made an interesting trade with Seattle for a swap of fifth round picks to acquire Sam Howell.
Howell had 18 starts in Washington as a 2022 fifth-round pick and while he’s less accomplished than Tannehill, he also is a lot younger at 24 and is more of a running threat if need be (263 rushing yards and five TDs on the ground in 2023 when he threw 21 TD passes but also led the league with 21 interceptions). The Vikings will count on Kevin O’Connell to coach Howell to be more careful with his throws.
The Vikings also save a lot of salary cap room by bringing in Howell with his $1.1 million salary compared to paying Tannehill in the $10 million range that Sam Darnold received last season.
The Howell move makes a lot of sense as long as McCarthy stays healthy and plays well. Otherwise, the addition of Tannehill would have been the wiser option, but perhaps they can sign him during training camp or the regular season if something unforeseen occurs.
Confident McCarthy Meets the Media
Speaking of J.J., he had a media session this week, presented himself as very confident, and said all the right things. “I know I’m ready to start because of all the work I put in and just the confidence in my skills and abilities,” McCarthy said. “I have a tremendous coaching staff, a tremendous group of guys around me that I can lean on and they can lean on me.”
McCarthy said he feels better than before he tore his meniscus last preseason and had to undergo surgery. I also liked his answer on pressure: “I feel the more pressure, the better for me. I’m going to do everything I can to be the best version of myself come game day.”
The development of McCarthy obviously is the biggest storyline surrounding the 2025 Vikings.
Good Move to Extend Van Ginkel
I thought it was a great move by the Vikings organization to extend Pro Bowl linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel for one more year at $23 million after he was signed last year to a two-year, $20 million deal. He’s now under contract through the 2026 season.
The soon-to-be 30-year-old Van Ginkel was a terrific free agent signing last year and had a career year in DC Brian Flores’ defense with 11.5 sacks, 79 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and two Pick 6s. Van Ginkel, along with fellow free agent signees Jonathan Greenard, Blake Cashman, Gilmore, and Griffin, played a huge role in the 14-win season for a defense that tied for the league lead in takeaways with 33.
“The Mangler” Says No Thanks to Vikings
Jeff Diamond is a former Vikings GM, former Tennessee Titans President and was selected NFL Executive of the Year after the Vikings’ 15-1 season in 1998. He now works for the NFL agent group IFA based in Minneapolis and does other sports consulting and media work along with college/corporate speaking. Follow him and direct message him on Twitter– @jeffdiamondnfl
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