The Minnesota Vikings came away from the 2025 NFL Draft with five key selections aimed at strengthening their roster depth. Although they couldn’t trade back their first-round pick, they did manage to pick up an extra sixth-round selection by moving back slightly. The Vikings ended the draft with three offensive and two defensive players. While the talent is evident, there are questions about whether Minnesota missed the mark with some of their choices.
CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco graded each NFL team’s draft and offered his thoughts on the picks he liked, the ones he didn’t, and an overall evaluation. Prisco awarded the Vikings a modest C+ grade. His favorite pick was Maryland wide receiver Tai Felton, taken in the third round. “I like third-round receiver Tai Felton. He has great speed. With Vikings receivers coach Keenan McCardell helping refine his route running, he could become a strong third option,” Prisco noted. Felton, who earned third-team All-American honors, set a Maryland school record with 96 catches while racking up 1,124 yards and nine touchdowns last season.
While Prisco appreciated most of the Vikings’ selections, he questioned their decision not to draft a safety. “I liked their picks, but I’m puzzled why they didn’t target a safety earlier, especially with aging issues at the position and after losing Cam Bynum in free agency,” he said. In response to Bynum’s departure, Minnesota signed Theo Jackson and Bubba Bolden in free agency and re-signed veteran Harrison Smith to help stabilize the secondary. Smith and Jackson are currently projected to start at safety.
Prisco acknowledged that the Vikings’ draft options were limited, with only two picks inside the top 102. First-round guard Donovan Jackson should help bolster the offensive line, Felton could be a hidden gem at receiver, but overall, the draft didn’t yield much additional impact. Sixth-round linebacker Kobe King might eventually become a contributor, but the overall haul left something to be desired.
With only five picks—their fewest since 2009—the Vikings have made just 11 draft selections over the past two years. Given that, it’s fair to question why a safety wasn’t prioritized, especially when secondary depth is a growing concern. While Donovan Jackson addresses a major need on the offensive line, and Felton offers promise as a future third receiver, bypassing the safety position raises some eyebrows. Minnesota may need to overhaul its safety group next season, but for now, they’ll move forward with the players currently on the roster.