The Minnesota Vikings are just 17 days away from improving their team in the NFL Draft. How will they do that? We still have no sure direction on what the Vikings will do.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has a bevy of options at his disposal thanks to the great work he put in during free agency. The Vikings don't have a dire need going into the NFL Draft and they can let the board fall to them.
NFL Draft analysts do believe as a collective what their direction will be: taking a safety. The last four weeks have shown a massive trend toward taking a safety, specifically South Carolina's Nick Emmanwori and Georgia's Malaki Starks. That trend continues for the Vikings over the past week, with a heavy focus on one player specifically.
Vikings NFL Mock Draft Roundup
Kelvin Banks, OT, Texas
- Eagles Wire's Glenn Erby
A former five-star recruit, Banks won the Outland and Lombardi Trophies and was a unanimous All-American.-Erby
Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
Scouting Report
- Draft Wire's Curt Popejoy
- Pro Football Focus' John Kosko
Despite the Vikings' significant investments at defensive tackle in free agency, the fans want more and pick Nolen, one of the most physically gifted defensive tackles in this draft class. If he can develop a better pass-rush plan, Nolen should be a force in the NFL.-Kosko
Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
Scouting Report
- The Dallas Morning News' Calvin Watkins
- For The Win's Christian D'Andrea
- SB Nation's James Dator
- Pewter Report's Scott Reynolds
- Bears Wire's Vincent Parise
- Pro Football Network's Jacob Infante
- NBC Sports' Kyle Dvorchak
- NFL.com's Maurice Jones-Drew
- Sports Illustrated's Gilbert Manzano
- The 33rd Team's James Foster
- CBS Sports' Josh Edwards
- The Athletic's Bruce Feldman
- Fantasy Life's Matthew Freedman
- Fantasy Pros' Matthew Jones
- Fox News' Staff
- A to Z Sports' Tyler Forness
- A to Z Sports' Ryan Roberts
Over the last three weeks, Nick Emmanwori has been mocked to the Vikings 34 times out of 124 mock drafts. It makes a lot of sense as the Vikings have a need for youth and upside in the secondary. Emmanwori's elite athleticism would translate for the Vikings and defensive coordinator Brian Flores.-Forness
Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
Scouting Report
- Fantasy Pros' Richard Janvrin
- CBS Sports' Garrett Podell
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Ayrton Ostly
- Pro Football Network's Justin Lewis
- Pro Football Network's Cameron Sheath
- Pro Football Network's Reese Decker
- CBS Sports' Tom Fornelli
He might not be a freaky athlete, but Malaki Starks does everything else at a rather elite level. He’ll be a great presence in this secondary with Brian Flores coaching him up.-Janvrin
Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
Scouting Report
- The 33rd Team's Kyle Crabbs
- Fantasy Points' Brett Whitefield
- USA Today's Jacob Cameker
Minnesota's aggressive defensive scheme puts a lot on the cornerbacks at times.
They must be comfortable triggering and attacking spots as pressure comes, and Hairston just so happens to have one of the quickest transitions in the class and offers great ball skills.-Crabbs
Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College
- Bears Wire's Alyssa Barbieri
"Ezeiruaku is a smaller outside linebacker-type edge rusher who can struggle with the power aspects of the game. However, his quick, smooth style paired with high football IQ and some very nice bend make him an ideal 3-4 pass rush type of defender to draft on Day 2."-Barbieri
Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
Scouting Report
- Daft on Draft's Cory Kinnan
- ESPN's Field Yates
- A to Z Sports' Destin Adams
The Vikings have done an excellent job of filling team needs like defensive tackle in free agency. This leaves cornerback as a need early on still though. And looking at Byron Murphy and Mekhi Blackmon, the Vikings do not seem to mind slender cornerbacks as long as they are twitchy and will get downhill quickly.
Jahdae Barron fits the bill. He’s explosive, can line up in a variety of looks, and addresses a need on the roster despite the signing of Isaiah Rodgers in free agency. He is known as a leader and high-quality guy as well, so Brian Flores gets a playmaker for his defense here.-Kinnan
Donovan Jackson, OL, Ohio State
- Sports Illustrated's Carter Landis
Minnesota gets a versatile and athletic offensive lineman in Jackson who could play either tackle or guard in the NFL.-Landis
Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss
Scouting Report
- CBS Sports' Chris Trapasso
After obtaining a fourth-round pick from Washington, along with a 2026 third-round pick in the trade back, the Vikings get a high-floor outside cornerback for Brian Flores' defense.-Trapasso
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Azareye'h Thomas, CB, Florida State
Scouting Report
- NFL.com's Chad Reuter
- The Draft Network's Keith Sanchez
While Thomas' lackluster 40-yard dash (4.6 range) at Florida State's pro day might scare off some teams, the Vikings could really use his size on the outside to complement returning starter Byron Murphy Jr. and newly acquired Isaiah Rodgers.-Reuter
Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
Stewart doesn't have a ton of production (4.5 total sacks in three seasons), but a 6'5" 267 lbs. (rumors are he played closer to 290 lbs.) he is a massive EDGE rusher. He can help shore up their run defense, which is a big point of emphasis playing in a division with Detroit and Green Bay. But developing more of a pass rush plan he has sky high potential if he can put it all together.-Cheah
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