2025 NFL Combine and Misc Draft Material

MaroonBells wrote:

If Ivan Pace Jr goes undrafted, hard to see Lampkin getting drafted. I don't know if this is true or not, but I read at 5-10 he's 3 inches shorter than any offensive line prospect EVER. 

But I'd take a flyer on him in the 7th and definitely after the draft. Guy's a bulldog. He went to Mobile and played against NFL size and talent and looked damn good doing it. He deserves a shot.

I keep picturing him not just stoning Deone Walker but driving him backwards. Priority UDFA. LS/FB/6th OL? Huge mits decent wingspan. Find a way

.@NFLonCBS' Charles Davis joined @tatumeverett to talk about what the #Vikings can do with their 1st-round pick in this month's draft.

📺: https://t.co/CWsPfEzfR4 pic.twitter.com/sBKrcpfzYR

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 12, 2025

Best player available according to position hierarchy.

BPAATPH

StickierBuns wrote:

Just applied for my new vanity plate on the car.

Bill the cat approves this message.

JustInTime wrote:



BPAATPH

.@Eric_Edholm updates his ranking of the top 100 prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft class, with nine new players making the list. How does his final quarterback pecking order shake out?https://t.co/St8wtr8CZF pic.twitter.com/wwRaiCWXW9

— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) April 14, 2025

The Eagles used a Top 30 visit on Georgia safety Malaki Starks, per league source

Eagles would likely need to trade up but they have a ton of interest in Starks @SportsRadioWIP @AfternoonsWIP pic.twitter.com/6tvfptcNNq

— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) April 14, 2025

Potential trade partner.

Vikings Mock Drafts All Starting to Say One Thing https://t.co/7flYjdQXFD #Vikings #NFL #Skol

— Vikings Territory (@vikingterritory) April 15, 2025

Yeah, you’re a couple weeks picking up this trend.

JustInTime wrote:
https://x.com/vikingterritory/status/1912156247476048362?s=46&t=TjjB9Q4BmOwmN74RrrMjoQ

Yeah, you’re a couple weeks picking up this trend.

@"supafreak84", what say you?

MaroonBells wrote:

@"supafreak84", what say you?

I say it would be a pick for 2026 because you aren't going to get much from them this year (unless there are injuries), and I don't think we have a GM who has the luxury of taking a safety and waiting on them to start in 2026. I was just listening to Bill Polian this morning on NFL radio talking about Emmanwori and Starks. He doesn't think either of them are ready to be starters and when you are talking about a complex scheme with a lot of layers like Flores runs, I think that's a pretty safe bet. You better draft a guy this year that can make some sort of meaningful impact as a rookie.

What do you think of @RobRang's Draft Big Board Top 10? 🏈

See his Top 50 below ⬇️https://t.co/vgRUscRtYa pic.twitter.com/UNJlfJEQxN

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) April 15, 2025

@"MaroonBells" I thought Rang was your boy? I didn’t know he was on Fox.

My highest-ranked non-Combine prospects on offense:

QB: Cam Miller, NDSU
RB: Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Arizona
WR: Efton Chism III, EWU
TE: Caden Prieskorn, Ole Miss
OT: Esa Pole, Washington St.
OG: Bryce Cabeldue, Kansas
C: Willie Lampkin, UNC

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) April 16, 2025

JustInTime wrote:
https://x.com/nflonfox/status/1912260315624210676?s=46&t=TjjB9Q4BmOwmN74RrrMjoQ

@"MaroonBells" I thought Rang was your boy? I didn’t know he was on Fox.

Oh wow, didn't even know Rang was still around. He was OK, but that was probably 20 years ago when he was one of the few draft writers around. I think he was at CBS back then.

A final look at career production vs. athleticism for the 2025 S class.

All scores are relative to the 2015-2024 classes.

Targets:
🎯 Kevin Winston Jr.
🎯 Hunter Wohler
🎯 Xavier Watts

Sleepers:
💤 RJ Mickens
💤 Nate Valcarcel

Lower on:
🚩 Malaki Starks
🚩 Andrew Mukuba pic.twitter.com/pqqmyBarGN

— Gridiron Grading (@GridironGrading) April 17, 2025

JustInTime wrote:
https://x.com/gridirongrading/status/1912658710893068425?s=46&t=TjjB9Q4BmOwmN74RrrMjoQ

Salt in my large Hamilton wound...

purplefaithful wrote:

Salt in my large Hamilton wound...

Same, brother, same.

We are one week away from Football Christmas, and I come with gifts

Presenting the 2025 Thor500, my annual 500 player big board with 500 player compshttps://t.co/P1uAkAnLIY pic.twitter.com/EAeBulSdqC

— Thor Nystrom (@thorku) April 17, 2025

I think there's a little wishful thinking going on here with Wobby. In a class with so little difference between pick 24 and 64, the Vikings are going to find it hard to find a team willing to trade to the top of that tier. I think they want to and I think they'll try. I just don't think they're going to get typical value for it. 

You should because that's a steal. Vikings should get more than that for moving back to No. 33. Offers for No. 24 need to be strong, otherwise Vikings will just stick and pick a really good player. https://t.co/cjzf5zzNKF pic.twitter.com/ww6lhhP6ov

— Mike Wobschall (@wobby) April 18, 2025

MaroonBells wrote:
I think there's a little wishful thinking going on here with Wobby. In a class with so little difference between pick 24 and 64, the Vikings are going to find it hard to find a team willing to trade to the top of that tier. I think they want to and I think they'll try. I just don't think they're going to get typical value for it. 

You should because that's a steal. Vikings should get more than that for moving back to No. 33. Offers for No. 24 need to be strong, otherwise Vikings will just stick and pick a really good player. https://t.co/cjzf5zzNKF pic.twitter.com/ww6lhhP6ov

— Mike Wobschall (@wobby) April 18, 2025

Might be right. I'm just at the point where if we only come out of this draft with four draft picks...so be it. We cleaned house in free agency and we know the Vikings will continue to be aggressive signing undrafted free agents. The most important thing is coming away with an impact player with our first pick. If we get a couple other contributors with the other picks frok this draft, great. Don't get into the "we have to have more picks" game and trade yourself out of taking a really good player for the chance to throw more darts later.

This was written a couple weeks ago, but I just saw it. Just Dustin Baker's opinion on some Viking players who might get traded. The first three are pretty silly, but these two caught my eye. If we have a buyer for Harrison Phillips, Kenneth Grant's stock goes way up in my eyes, as does Harmon's. Same with the OLs if we can get a pick for Brandel. 

2. Harrison Phillips (DT)
In March, Pro Football Focus identified Phillips as Minnesota’s best trade asset, and to an extent, the theory checked out. Why? Well, all of a sudden, the purple team has a litany of defensive tackles on the roster. Factor in the possibility of Adofo-Mensah drafting an interior defensive lineman like Walter Nolen, Derrick Harmon, Kenneth Grant, or Tyleik Williams, and Phillips could become an odd-man out. Minnesota would probably get a 5th-Rounder or so for Phillips.

1. Blake Brandel (G)
Brandel played decently in 2024, especially when Christian Darrisaw played beside him. But Brandel’s efficiency dipped when Darrisaw tore his ACL, and the Vikings vowed offensive guard improvement after an embarrassing playoff loss against the Los Angeles Rams. Therefore, if Adofo-Mensah drafted Grey Zabel or Tyler Booker in Round 1, for instance, Brandel could be dealt to a guard-needy team for a 5th- or 6th-Rounder.

https://vikingsterritory.com/2025/draft/2025_draft/5-vikings-traded-draft

MaroonBells wrote:
1. Blake Brandel (G) Brandel played decently in 2024, especially when Christian Darrisaw played beside him. But Brandel’s efficiency dipped when Darrisaw tore his ACL, and the Vikings vowed offensive guard improvement after an embarrassing playoff loss against the Los Angeles Rams. Therefore, if Adofo-Mensah drafted Grey Zabel or Tyler Booker in Round 1, for instance, Brandel could be dealt to a guard-needy team for a 5th- or 6th-Rounder.

https://vikingsterritory.com/2025/draft/2025_draft/5-vikings-traded-draft

"Played decently" by what standard? He was one of the lower rated guards in the league in most categories according to PFF, and who wants a guard who's standard of play is based on the health of the left tackle next to him? Do your job and do it well regardless of anything. Depending on how they feel about the backup tackle position, if some team is offering me a 5th for Brandel...done deal!

supafreak84 wrote:

"Played decently" by what standard? He was one of the lower rated guards in the league in most categories according to PFF, and who wants a guard who's standard of play is based on the health of the left tackle next to him? Do your job and do it well regardless of anything. Depending on how they feel about the backup tackle position, if some team is offering me a 5th for Brandel...done deal!

Brandel had the highest PFF grade on the team week one. After that he was terribly inconsistent, but still his pass blocking grade through the 7 games with Darrisaw next to him averaged about 70, which is above average. 

When Darrisaw went down in week 8, Brandel's PB grade tanked to 32, then 49 the following week. The rest of the year was marked by more inconsistency. Against Jax, 85. Following week against Tenn, 47. Following week against the Bears, 82. Three weeks later against the Bears, 45. 

If we can get something Brandel, go for it, but it has to be tied to a pick. We can't leave the draft with no left guard at all.