5 Outside the Box Ideas for the Vikings in the 2025 NFL Draft
Here are some alternatives to the commonly-mentioned prospects tied to the Vikings.
The 2025 NFL Draft commences on Thursday evening in Green Bay, Wisc. Over the past several months, the NFL world has been focused on the draft as analysts, newsmakers and fans alike scour for information and constantly offer predictions.
By this point in time, in most cases there are a few prospects who get mentioned more than others with certain teams. For the Vikings, it’s been Oregon’s Derrick Harmon, Ole Miss’ Walter Nolen and Georgia’s Malaki Starks among those who get the most attention.
Each of those three would be quality selections for the Vikings.
But there are alternatives that represent, arguably, better outcomes even though the consensus hasn’t zeroed in on them.
I’ll make a case for five of those outside-the-box ideas.
WR Luther Burden III
Not many, if any, would say wide receiver is a need for the Vikings. But the draft is about farming, not hunting. In other words, a sound strategy is to prioritize quality of player over satisfaction of current need. From that standpoint, Burden III would be a fantastic addition for the Vikings at No. 24, where the Vikings are slated to select in the first round. He’s a complete player at the position. A prospect with speed, good hands, toughness and scheme versatility. He would immediately be an upgrade at WR3 and, I would say, will eventually supplant Jordan Addison as WR2.
OT Josh Simmons
Again, a selection which would not address an immediate need because the Vikings have two elite offensive tackles in Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neil. Simmons, however, would be an outstanding primary backup / swing offensive tackle in his first and possibly second seasons. He would then be ready to step in for either Darrisaw or O’Neil as a starter once a need arises.
There is great value in Simmons’ prospects, as well, because he’s an elite player at his position and would ordinarily be projected to be selected in the Top 10, but he tore his ACL last season so some teams may shy away. This is a great opportunity for the Vikings to realize value in selecting Simmons later in the first round knowing he’ll one day be an anchor along the line.
OLB Shemar Stewart or OLB Mykel Williams
The same case can be made for both of these prospects. They play positions at which the Vikings have incumbent starters - Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel. But no one plays forever. And either of these pass rushers paired with Dallas Turner, selected No. 17 overall by Minnesota last year, would provide the Vikings with a dynamite tandem of pass rushers for years to come.
Stewart measures in at 6-6, 290 pounds, so he’s a physical specimen with a high ceiling. Get him some quality coachin and a good strength training staff, and you could have a Hall of Famer.
Williams reminds me of Danielle Hunter - a sensational athlete with raw pass rushing ability but demonstrated run-stopping prowess.
ILB Jalen Walker
Walker is one of my favorite traditional off ball / stacked / inside linebackers in this class. Granted, this is not a position of need for Minnesota because Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace, Jr. are back in 2025. But Walker has such a high ceiling that I can see him coming in and developing as a rookie and then assuming a starting role in his second season. Walker has the kind of high-end potential that neither Cashman nor Pace, Jr. provide.
S Xavier Watts
When you think Notre Dame safety, you think Harrison Smith. That’s not Watts. While Smith is a total package at the position, Watts majors more as a ballhawk in the secondary. But the dynamic of Smith being there to mentor Watts is intriguing. Plus, once Watts is in the rotation, there’s a lot there for defensive coordinator Brian Flores with the versatility of Theo Jackson and Josh Metellus, not to mention Smith.