2025 NFL Mock Drafts

supafreak84 wrote:

I would not draft a 1st round safety 99% of the time, but now I suffer from PTCS (Post Traumatic Cine Syndrome) on top of all that, so yes that would be fair to say..

Let's be honest though, elite safety play is a luxury and not a prime component when it comes to winning football games. You can literally find safety help anywhere (look at the teams in the conference championship games). If you have a strong front seven on defense and good corners, that's what's going to win you games and those are the positions you use first round picks on because they are most impactful.

I don't fully disagree. I'm a big believer in paying players by positional impact. In other words, I don't think you should invest more in your safeties than your corners, more in your IOLs more than your tackles, etc. I think that's part of the reason we signed Murphy but did not sign Bynum. 

But I think of the draft differently, especially when drafting in the back half of the round. IOLs don't have a big impact compared to other positions, but I'm OK taking a left guard if we need one. Same with safety. I think sometimes people forget that our strong safety is 36 years old, and our free safety has never started an NFL game. There's a real need there.

Unfortunately the only possible outcome is drafting Lewis Cine again. :cool:

MaroonBells wrote:

I don't fully disagree. I'm a big believer in paying players by positional impact. In other words, I don't think you should invest more in your safeties than your corners, more in your IOLs more than your tackles, etc. I think that's part of the reason we signed Murphy but did not sign Bynum. 

But I think of the draft differently, especially when drafting in the back half of the round. IOLs don't have a big impact compared to other positions, but I'm OK taking a left guard if we need one. Same with safety. I think sometimes people forget that our strong safety is 36 years old, and our free safety has never started an NFL game. There's a real need there.

I think the perception of guard play has changed though over the years to where they are now getting paid big contracts, franchise tagged, and drafted higher in droves. Offensive line play hugely impacts team success and you start five of them, so draft the position that equates higher to your team winning football games. 

The only way (IMO) you could justify taking a safety with that top pick is if the plan is to move Mattelus off that rover position he plays so well and start him next to Harrison. I don't really see Jackson playing it like Mattelus does, however, based on the contract we gave Jackson, I'm guessing he'll be the one starting next to Harrison and they keep Mattelus as that "do it all" rover. I also know the team likes Jay Ward. So I don't see the need for a safety this year. Next year, sure, but we really need to get some impact for this season and Kwesi needs that win badly.

supafreak84 wrote:

I think the perception of guard play has changed though over the years to where they are now getting paid big contracts, franchise tagged, and drafted higher in droves. Offensive line play hugely impacts team success and you start five of them, so draft the position that equates higher to your team winning football games. 

The only way (IMO) you could justify taking a safety with that top pick is if the plan is to move Mattelus off that rover position he plays so well and start him next to Harrison. I don't really see Jackson playing it like Mattelus does, however, based on the contract we gave Jackson, I'm guessing he'll be the one starting next to Harrison and they keep Mattelus as that "do it all" rover. I also know the team likes Jay Ward. So I don't see the need for a safety this year. Next year, sure, but we really need to get some impact for this season and Kwesi needs that win badly.

I agree with you that Metellus isn't moving. Our starting safeties are Harrison Smith and Theo Jackson. That's a little scary to me. And I'm not sure which starter is the scariest. So many seem to just be whistling past the graveyard on Harry. Guys, I hate to say it, but he's just not that awesome anymore. 

I also agree that IOL salaries do appear to be rising recently in comparison to tackles, but they're still among the lowest paid in the NFL on average. Money never lies. Still, Super Bowls have been won with league average interior players. Much harder to do with league average wides, corners, tackles and edges, no matter what is said about "the trenches."

MaroonBells wrote:

I agree with you that Metellus isn't moving. Our starting safeties are Harrison Smith and Theo Jackson. That's a little scary to me. And I'm not sure which starter is the scariest. So many seem to just be whistling past the graveyard on Harry. Guys, I hate to say it, but he's just not that awesome anymore. 

From an SI article in January. I think Flores still thinks Harrison is pretty awesome;

The Vikings’ defensive coordinator, who has taken them from 28th in points against two years ago to fifth this season, views Smith as an extension of himself on the field. He sends in the play calls but gives Smith the freedom to make adjustments as he sees fit based on the opponent’s formation and tendencies.

“I put a lot on him as far as, if we're going to be able to get into that defense, I'm not going to be able to do it, you're going to have to do it on the field,” Flores said. “Because I don't know what formation the offense is going to come out in. He's the one that sees it, and he's the one that can get us into a different call. So giving him that freedom, that autonomy, I think he feels trust from me to him.”

The ESPN Analytics draft day predictor is a great NFL draft tool. It takes into account public mock drafts, adds team needs, and assigns the likelihood for various players at each pick. For Vikings at No. 24, it's Nick Emmanwori, followed by Derrick Harmon and Malaki Starks. pic.twitter.com/pAsfD6Jji9

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) April 21, 2025

MaroonBells wrote:

I agree with you that Metellus isn't moving. Our starting safeties are Harrison Smith and Theo Jackson. That's a little scary to me. And I'm not sure which starter is the scariest. So many seem to just be whistling past the graveyard on Harry. Guys, I hate to say it, but he's just not that awesome anymore. 

I also agree that IOL salaries do appear to be rising recently in comparison to tackles, but they're still among the lowest paid in the NFL on average. Money never lies. Still, Super Bowls have been won with league average interior players. Much harder to do with league average wides, corners, tackles and edges, no matter what is said about "the trenches."

I still dont think they'll go S with 24, maybe in a trade-down. 

There's got to be a S prospect we can pick-up later who has some upside? 

Someone who can curate behind Harry for a year.

purplefaithful wrote:

I still dont think they'll go S with 24, maybe in a trade-down. 

There's got to be a S prospect we can pick-up later who has some upside? 

Someone who can curate behind Harry for a year.

I think if Derrick Harmon is on the board at #24, he's a Viking. The question is though.. will he make it that far?

supafreak84 wrote:

I think if Derrick Harmon is on the board at #24, he's a Viking. The question is though.. will he make it that far?

I think so too...Alsmost as sure on that as Colts will draft a TE.

Harmon is most probably 1 of their stick/pick's. 

BUT! I also think they'll try like hell to move down and pick-up a few more day 2/ day 3 slots. 

Very tricky to peg how this will all go down.

purplefaithful wrote:

I think so too...Alsmost as sure on that as Colts will draft a TE.

Harmon is most probably 1 of their stick/pick's. 

BUT! I also think they'll try like hell to move down and pick-up a few more day 2/ day 3 slots. 

Very tricky to peg how this will all go down.

I just hope they don't trade themselves out of taking a really good player simply because they lack draft picks and feel they "have to" trade down. Like I said, I'd be good coming out of this draft with only four picks as long as we make the most of those picks.

supafreak84 wrote:

I just hope they don't trade themselves out of taking a really good player simply because they lack draft picks and feel they "have to" trade down. Like I said, I'd be good coming out of this draft with only four picks as long as we make the most of those picks.

Which are the "really good players"?

StickierBuns wrote:

lol, touché.....that's the rub, isn't it? Because we sure as hell don't know now, its only conjecture. And we know from past history that a decent portion of these mocks, rankings, etc. will be proven wrong in time. 

Personally, I want Minnesota to stick and pick. Pick a winner please. Any position.

Exactly. If we trade down, I guarantee that someone somewhere is going to be upset about leaving their draft crush on the board.

MaroonBells wrote:

Which are the "really good players"?

Anybody that can come in and be a difference maker. I think we've all identified some of who we think those guys are. Don't bypass one because you want to make more picks in the 3rd and 4th rounds..

MaroonBells wrote:


Which are the "really good players"?

lol, touché.....that's the rub, isn't it? Because we sure as hell don't know now, its only conjecture. And we know from past history that a decent portion of these mocks, rankings, etc. will be proven wrong in time. 

Personally, I want Minnesota to stick and pick. Pick a winner please. Any position.

Here's our full @espn NFL Nation mock draft, from our 32 team reporters based on what we think the teams will do. https://t.co/nlyYtB1UCJ

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) April 22, 2025

I have no problem with this scenario

JustInTime wrote:
https://x.com/seifertespn/status/1914775566936314224?s=46&t=TjjB9Q4BmOwmN74RrrMjoQ

I have no problem with this scenario

You like Emmanwori way more than I do for this D. 

I know there are questions, but I would take Nolan over either of the S's...

purplefaithful wrote:

You like Emmanwori way more than I do for this D. 

I know there are questions, but I would take Nolan over either of the S's...

We’ve got a pretty big hole in the secondary next year and an unproven new starter this year. No such issues on the iDL. Would be great to have Smith’s understudy in the fold or Mettelus’ taking Harry’s spot and Emmanwori taking over for Josh. Roster continuity.

In his final mock draft, @RobRang has players at the skill positions flying off the board in the first round 👀

Read more: https://t.co/xwuQ4V2m7Z pic.twitter.com/M73hE7lb0d

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) April 22, 2025

Wow...Must be near draft time. We're getting to the bottom of the what if's left out there.

I think this would shock the world, at least Viking nation.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2025/story/_/id/44790164/2025-nfl-mock-draft-peter-schrager-first-round-predictions-32-picks-trades-buzz-qbs-sanders-ward-dart#min

Daniel Jeremiah reveals his final 2025 mock draft! @MoveTheSticks

🔗: https://t.co/k294gLbGpG pic.twitter.com/JGfxjooJZA

— NFL (@NFL) April 24, 2025

JustInTime wrote:
https://x.com/nfl/status/1915195464397267358?s=46&t=TjjB9Q4BmOwmN74RrrMjoQ

I'd be pretty damn happy if it played out like that