5 Draft Crushes for the Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings went 14-3 in a season that everyone expected to be a transition year between the Kirk Cousins era and the future with J.J. McCarthy. A strong defense coordinated by Brian Flores and a revived Sam Darnold mentored by Kevin O’Connell and supported by an excellent arsenal of weapons helped the franchise reach the playoffs.

5 Draft Prospects for the Minnesota Vikings

GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah had an outstanding free agency, giving him a ton of flexibility in the draft. He holds the 24th overall pick. Here are five players Vikings fans should be familiar with heading in the final month before the draft.

DL Derrick Harmon

The Vikings added Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen in free agency, but no team has ever complained about having too-man interior defenders. Oregon’s Derrick Harmon is a versatile defensive lineman who can line up in different spots; he is a force against the run and provides some value as a pass rusher.

For a player at the age of 21, he is surprisingly refined, but a year of learning from a trio of excellent interior defenders (Harrison Phillips is also employed) would benefit him. He would provide much-needed youth on an aging defensive line and could form a future duo of foundational pieces with last year’s pick, Dallas Turner, for years to come.

CB Jahdae Barron

Jahdae Barron is a perfect player for Vikings defensive coordinator Flores, who LOVES coaching versatile defenders. He used Joshua Metellus in a versatile Swiss Army-type role in countless spots, and Barron is the cornerback version of that. Barron can line up on the outside, as a slot defender, and at safety.

He checked the speed box at the combine with a 4.38 40-yard dash and would be a perfect addition to a secondary that still feels one piece short.

OL Grey Zabel

The interior line has been a problem in the Twin Cities for years, but the Vikings have made an effort to fix it by adding Will Fries and Ryan Kelly from the Colts. Because the franchise has the edges solidified with Brian O’Neill and Christian Darrisaw, there’s only one remaining spot. Blake Brandel returns from last season at the left guard position, but Zabel could be the final piece of a dominant offensive line.

His skill set and experience allow him to play all five spots on the line with proper training. He’s a fantastic athlete and would be a day-one starter.

CB Shavon Revel Jr.

Cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. is an intriguing prospect. He was one of the best players in college football before a torn ACL ended his final college season early in the year. Revel Jr. possesses size and speed. His tall build would especially change Minnesota’s cornerback room, which has primarily smaller corners.

He has the talent to be a long-term solution at the important outside cornerback spot in a pass-first league, but the drafting team needs to get over his knee injury.

S Nick Emmanwori

A freak of nature, Nick Emmanwori was the superstar of this year’s scouting combine. He’s a safety with a 43-inch vertical jump, a 4.38 40-yard dash, and an 11’6″ broad jump. Oh, he’s also 6’3″. In addition to that, his resume shows First-team All-American honors, 88 tackles, and 4 picks (2 touchdowns) in his final season at South Carolina.

The Vikings whiffed on the Lewis Cine pick in 2022, and Cam Bynum just left in free agency. Finding Harrison Smith’s successor is a tall task, but he is likely in his final season (for the third time), so grabbing Emmanwori this year to get a full year of Smith’s mentorship makes sense.