As a lead-up to the 2025 NFL draft, we've broken down the current depth chart of every NFL team and identified the biggest draft and team needs for the Minnesota Vikings.
You can find additional team-by-team draft needs articles and other draft content on our 2025 NFL Draft Hub.
Who Did the Minnesota Vikings Select in the 2025 NFL Draft?
The Minnesota Vikings selected Donovan Jackson (OL, Ohio State) with the No. 24 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Vikings also selected:
- Tai Felton (WR, Maryland)
- Tyrion Ingram–Dawkins (EDGE, Georgia)
- Kobe King (LB, Penn State)
- Gavin Bartholomew (TE, Pitt)
Minnesota Vikings Needs: Top Positions of Need in 2025
- Safety
- Cornerback
- Edge Rusher
What Picks Do the Minnesota Vikings Have in 2025?
The Minnesota Vikings have 4 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, including:
- Round 1 (24)
- Round 3 (97)
- Round 5 (139)
- Round 6 (187)
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Minnesota Vikings 2025 Draft Capital Stats
The Vikings have the least draft capital according to our Sharp Football Draft Value.
Our Sharp Football Draft Value is a valuation of draft capital based on a combination of average performance delivered and average dollars earned on second contracts.
Minnesota Vikings Draft Value vs. Other Teams:
The Vikings’ draft value is 46% lower than the league average of all 32 teams.
Minnesota Vikings Draft Prediction:
Find out who our top-rated experts expect the Vikings to draft:
- Brendan Donahue's 2025 NFL Mock Draft – Complete first round breakdown from the #2 most accurate mock drafter over the last five seasons.
- Ryan McCrystal's 2025 NFL Mock Draft – Complete first round breakdown from the #8 most accurate mock drafter over the last five seasons.
Minnesota Vikings Strength of Schedule, 2025
The Minnesota Vikings have the 28th-easiest NFL strength of schedule for the 2025 NFL season.
Minnesota Vikings Offense: Depth Chart, Analysis & Draft Needs
Rich Hribar breaks down the offensive depth chart by position for the Minnesota Vikings, identifying areas where the team could improve in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.
Quarterback Depth Chart, Vikings:
- J.J. McCarthy
- Brett Rypien
Minnesota selected J.J. McCarthy 10th overall in last year’s draft, but we never saw him on the field during the regular season.
McCarthy suffered a torn meniscus in the preseason, forcing him to miss the entire season.
We only saw him get 19 dropbacks in the preseason.
He averaged 11.1 yards per attempt with 2 touchdowns in his small exhibition sample.
Minnesota has continuously reinforced that McCarthy is the future of the franchise this offseason.
They let Sam Darnold hit the open market and have yet to add another quarterback.
They lack viable veteran insurance behind McCarthy, and Aaron Rodgers continues to be a possibility.
Still, Minnesota has stood firm to this point in giving McCarthy the keys to the offense this season.
Running Back Depth Chart, Vikings:
- Aaron Jones
- Jordan Mason
- Ty Chandler
- Zavier Scott
Aaron Jones continued to be an effective player in his first season with the Vikings last year.
He handled a career-high 306 touches, turning those into 1,546 total yards and 7 touchdowns.
That performance earned him a two-year extension this offseason.
His 5.1 yards per touch were a career low, but he has never been below 5.0 yards per opportunity in any of his 8 seasons in the league.
Jones likely handled a higher workload than Minnesota intended, and he wore down over the season's back half.
Jones reached 100 total yards in only two of his final 8 games.
He averaged 79.4 yards per game over that stretch after posting 101.2 yards per game before that point of the season.
But Jones was so much better than the backup running backs that he was forced to carry the backfield.
Jones had a 40.4% success rate as a runner, compared to 35.7% for Ty Chandler and 29.8% for Cam Akers.
Chandler took a step back after a solid end to the 2023 season, rushing only 56 times for 182 yards (3.3 YPC).
Akers ended up getting more attempts (64) with Minnesota than Chandler.
Looking to improve the depth and add a proper complement to Jones (who will turn 31 this season), the Vikings traded for Jordan Mason and signed him to a two-year contract.
Minnesota looked at Mason firsthand when he rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown against them in Week 2.
Out of 46 running backs with 100 or more runs last season, Mason ranked:
- 6th in yards per carry (5.2 YPC)
- 3rd in rate of runs for 10 or more yards (15%)
- 14th in rate of runs to result in a first down or touchdown (24.1%)
- 11th in yards after contact per rush (3.35)
He did that while facing 8 or more defenders in the box for 51% of his runs, the second-highest rate among that group.
Minnesota will surely add a body here based on the number of backs on the roster, but they have very few draft picks, so that player will likely come after the draft.
Wide Receiver Depth Chart, Vikings:
- Justin Jefferson
- Jordan Addison
- Jalen Nailor
- Rondale Moore
- Tim Jones
- Lucky Jackson
- Jeshaun Jones
- Thayer Thomas
This unit is still led by one of the best players in the league.
Justin Jefferson had another incredible season in 2024.
He caught 103 passes (WR4) for 1,533 yards (WR4) and 10 touchdowns (WR5).
Jefferson had 29.8% of Minnesota's targets (WR2) with 2.51 yards per route (WR4).
He is amid a massive contract extension he signed last season, keeping him on the books through 2028.
Jefferson still has a great cap number this season ($15.1 million) before things escalate starting next year.
Jordan Addison has delivered two solid seasons in Minnesota to kick off his career.
After averaging 4.1 catches for 53.6 yards per game with 10 touchdowns as a rookie, Addison averaged 4.2 catches for 58.3 yards per game with 10 touchdowns in 2024.
Despite the counting stats being flat in year two compared to his rookie season, Addison did see a bump in usage and efficiency.
He was targeted on 19.6% of his routes after a 17.8% rate as a rookie.
He posted 1.74 yards per route after 1.50 in 2023.
Addison was a shot-play asset in this offense.
He ranked seventh in receiving yards off play-action (441) and tied for the league lead with 5 touchdowns off play action.
Addison is a strong WR2 next to Jefferson, but he is expected to face discipline from the league after a traffic incident last offseason, though it is not expected to be extreme.
Jefferson and Addison are the only wide receivers signed beyond 2025.
Minnesota has limited draft picks, but they could use one to add contractual depth to the position.
If not, they still have enough bodies to get them through 2025, barring major injuries.
Jalen Nailor chipped in with 28 catches for 414 yards and 6 touchdowns in his third season.
The team also added veterans Rondale Moore and Tim Jones on one-year deals.
Moore missed the 2024 season due to an ACL injury, but he still will only be 25 years old this June.
Tight End Depth Chart, Vikings:
- T.J. Hockenson
- Josh Oliver
Returning in Week 9 from an ACL injury, T.J. Hockenson has averaged 4.1 receptions for 45.5 yards per game.
He did not find the end zone until the playoffs, he saw 18.2% of the team's targets (TE7) after returning to the lineup.
Hockenson is locked up through the 2027 season.
The team only has one more year left on Josh Oliver’s contract.
Oliver was once again at the top of the position in the run game.
He had the highest run-blocking grade among tight ends last season, per Pro Football Focus.
Offensive Line Depth Chart, Vikings:
LT: Christian Darrisaw, Walter Rouse, Trevor Reid
LG: Blake Brandel, Henry Byrd
C: Ryan Kelly, Michael Jurgens
RG: Will Fries, Marcellus Johnson
RT: Brian O’Neill, Justin Skule, Leroy Watson
The Minnesota offensive line was a mixed bag last season.
They fared well in ESPN’s pass block win rate (second at 70%) but were 15th in run block win rate (72%).
At Pro Football Focus, they ranked 18th in pass blocking grade and 16th in run blocking grade.
Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill are still one of the better tackle combinations in the league.
Darrisaw only played in 7 games due to injury, but he was 11th among all tackles in overall grade per PFF when he was on the field.
O’Neill was 12th.
O’Neill allowed a 3.7% pressure rate (14th) while Darrisaw was 4.3% (22nd).
Cam Robinson (who the team acquired after Darrisaw’s injury) allowed a 9.3% pressure rate (92nd) with 13 penalties (94th).
Both Darrisaw and O’Neill still have multiple years remaining on their current contracts.
The Vikings did shake things up on the interior this offseason, acquiring two linemen from the Colts.
Adding Will Fries on a five-year contract is a direct upgrade on Dalton Risner and Ed Ingram, who took the snaps at right guard last season.
Fries was third in overall grade among guards last season, per PFF.
The team also replaced Garrett Bradbury with Ryan Kelly, who received a two-year contract.
The Vikings will need to keep these additions on the field.
Fries played only 5 games last season but has played two full seasons in the league over the past four years.
Kelly will be 32 this season, missing multiple games in three of the past four seasons.
Minnesota Vikings Defense: Depth Chart, Analysis & Draft Needs
Raymond Summerlin breaks down the defensive depth chart by position for the Minnesota Vikings, identifying areas where the team could improve in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.
Defensive Line Depth Chart, Vikings:
- Jonathan Allen
- Javon Hargrave
- Harrison Phillips
- Jalen Redmond
- Levi Drake Rodriguez
- Taki Taimani
- Jonathan Harris
- Travis Bell
The Vikings did relatively well against the run in 2024, finishing 10th in yards per carry allowed on running back runs (4.1) and shutting down running backs after contact (2.77 per carry).
Despite that success, this group will look a lot different in 2025 after Minnesota spent big to sign Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave in free agency.
Allen was outstanding for the Commanders in 2022, rightfully earning a Pro Bowl nod, but he has not been at that same level for the last two years and only played eight games last season.
The Vikings will hope some new scenery prompts a return to form.
Hargrave only lasted three games for the 49ers last season, but has consistently gotten pressure from inside over the last several years, including 7 sacks and a 12.3% pressure rate back in 2023.
It is at least somewhat concerning that Allen and Hargrave are two older players returning from injury-shortened seasons, but overall, they have upside based on their demonstrated talent.
Harrison Phillips is back, though he was not as disruptive in the running game last season as he has been in the past.
Jalen Redmond did flash on limited snaps last year, posting 7 run stuffs despite jumping back and forth between the practice squad and active roster.
It will be interesting to see if the 2023 undrafted rookie earns a role this offseason.
Minnesota has made their moves in this unit, and while there are some questions here, they also have the talent to be one of the better defensive fronts in the league if Allen and Hargrave can stay on the field.
EDGE Depth Chart, Vikings:
- Jonathan Greenard
- Andrew Van Ginkel
- Dallas Turner
- Gabriel Murphy
- Bo Richter
The Vikings finished 10th in pressure rate (35.7%) and fourth with 49 sacks.
That sack total was aided by a league-leading 38.6% blitz rate, an unsurprising number given DC Brian Flores’ tendencies.
That is not to diminish this position group.
Jonathan Greenard was exactly what the Vikings hoped in his first season with the team, logging 12 sacks and finishing with a 15.9% pressure rate.
That ranked eighth among qualified pass rushers.
Andrew Van Ginkel was not that far behind with 11.5 sacks of his own on a 12.6% pressure rate.
Patrick Jones left in free agency, but the Vikings will hope for more from 2024 first-round pick Dallas Turner, who was on the field for just 300 snaps as a rookie.
Turner did get 3 sacks on that limited work, but his 8.8% pressure rate left a lot to be desired.
There is no depth behind those three, and Van Ginkel is scheduled to be a free agent after this season.
That should prompt the Vikings to add here, whether that is a veteran or later round draft pick.
Given their lack of draft picks, a veteran might be the way they go.
Linebacker Depth Chart, Vikings:
- Blake Cashman
- Ivan Pace Jr.
- Eric Wilson
- Brian Asamoah II
- Max Tooley
The two primary options from a season ago at linebacker are back.
Blake Cashman once again missed some time in his first season with the Vikings, but he started 14 games and had an overall solid season.
While he took a step back in coverage, he did set a career high with 4.5 sacks and 8 passes defensed.
Ivan Pace was the other primary option, though he only played 11 games thanks to two different injuries.
He was impactful against the run on those limited snaps, logging 10 run stuffs and getting a tackle on 26.6% of his run defense snaps.
Pace ranked second among qualified linebackers in that tackle rate metric.
After starting his career with the Vikings way back in 2017, Eric Wilson returned to the team in free agency to play the No. 3 role and help out on special teams.
Perhaps they could use a little more depth here given the injury questions at the top, but overall, the Vikings are in a decent spot at linebacker.
Cornerback Depth Chart, Vikings:
- Byron Murphy Jr.
- Isaiah Rodgers
- Mekhi Blackmon
- Jeff Okudah
- Dwight McGlothern
- Tavierre Thomas
- Reddy Steward
- NaJee Thompson
- Ambry Thomas
- Kahlef Hailassie
The Vikings gave up a lot of passing yards in 2024, but game script played a big role in those numbers.
On a per pass basis, they were 12th in yards per attempt allowed (7.0), seventh in touchdown rate allowed (3.8%), second in passer rating allowed (82.4), and seventh in big play rate allowed (7.4%).
They also made big plays, leading the league with 24 interceptions.
Two key members of that secondary, Stephon Gilmore and Shaq Griffin, remain free agents, so this unit may be shaken up by a veteran addition after the draft.
As it stands, Byron Murphy returns after leading the charge last season.
His yardage numbers in coverage were nothing to write home about, but he made plays (6 interceptions, 14 passes defensed) and allowed just a 76.7 quarterback rating in his coverage.
Minnesota brought in both Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah in free agency.
Rodgers has never played more than 525 defensive snaps in a season and was only a part-time player for the Eagles last year, but he ranked 18th among qualified corners in yards allowed per coverage snap.
He could end up being a shrewd signing.
The Vikings will also get back Mekhi Blackmon after he missed all of his sophomore season with a torn ACL suffered during the first practice of training camp.
He had good moments as a rookie and could establish himself as a starter once he is healthy.
There is some upside here behind Murphy, but there are also question marks, making it a position the Vikings could target either in the draft or with one of their outstanding free agents.
Safety Depth Chart, Vikings:
- Harrison Smith
- Josh Metellus
- Theo Jackson
- Jay Ward
- Bubba Bolden
Unlike at corner, the Vikings’ big loss at safety has already found another team, with Cam Bynum signing with the Colts early in the free agency window.
Harrison Smith will be back after once again deciding against retirement, and he is coming off a solid enough season in which he logged 3 interceptions.
Even so, the Vikings are going to have to find a replacement sooner rather than later, especially since Josh Metellus is headed into a contract year.
With Bynum gone, it will be interesting to see if Metellus continues to be used as a do-it-all defensive back or is forced to play a more traditional safety role.
The Vikings almost certainly want to keep him making plays all over the field – Metellus was sixth among qualified safeties with a tackle on 16.4% of his run defense snaps – but that would require an addition or Theo Jackson to step up in an expanded role.
Perhaps Jackson can do it, but he has played 222 career snaps on defense.
There are both long and short-term questions with this unit, making it an area the Vikings could target early.
2025 Depth Chart Analysis & Team Needs for All 32 NFL Teams
