Jakobe Thomas ~ S ~ Miami

From Vikings.com

Over 16 games for the Canes in 2025, Thomas totaled 76 tackles, five interceptions (one returned for a TD), 3.5 sacks, four tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and six pass breakups.

The five interceptions tied for seventh in FBS in 2025 and helped him garner Second-Team All-ACC honors.

Just watched film - Nice pick IMO

#Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell just said “in a year where Harrison Smith has moved on” when talking about their recent draft picks, per @WillRagatz. Seems like it’s the end for 22.

— VikingzFanPage @vikingzfanpage Apr 25, 2026

𝕏 X / Twitter — VikingzFanPage @vikingzfanpage

#Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell just said “in a year where Harrison Smith has moved on” when talking about their recent draft picks, per @WillRagatz. Seems like it’s the end for 22.

View on X

Moved on?

JustInTime wrote:

https://twitter.com/vikingzfanpage/status/2047883972441419792Moved on?

HC Kevin O’Connell just said “in a year where Harrison Smith has moved on”......

This kid looks tough, but thought there were much better safeties at that spot - Kilgore, Wheatley, Ramsey.

Gotta be honest. Of all the safeties I looked at predraft, I did not look at this guy one single time. What a mistake. Ball skills, a hammer and tone setter. Took snaps in the box, at the slot, and deep.

BFlo has his fingerprints all over this draft. Kinda interesting how our size parameters on iDL drastically changed. It’s almost as if the preferences of the coaching staff were flat out ignored.

JustInTime wrote:

Gotta be honest. Of all the safeties I looked at predraft, I did not look at this guy one single time. What a mistake. Ball skills, a hammer and tone setter. Took snaps in the box, at the slot, and deep.
BFlo has his fingerprints all over this draft. Kinda interesting how our size parameters on iDL drastically changed. It’s almost as if the preferences of the coaching staff were flat out ignored.

This is the problem when instead of having a legit GM you have a point guard who dishes out the picks to the coaches. Flores is a terrible talent evaluator. Coaches should have input, but not the ones making the picks. This draft overall has been a huge miss and it includes the ridiculous poor value we got for Greenard.

Thomas is a dawg, straight up.

Jakobe Thomas

Safety

6'1" 211 lbs, Miami

Pre-Draft Analysis

Thomas is a very physical box safety who plays with fearlessness around the line of scrimmage. When blitzing, he plays with good timing and triggers quickly. He takes good pursuit angles with very good closing speed. Thomas is a physical, downhill tackler but struggles more in space than when in the box, where he is very active and makes his presence felt. Thomas will overpursue at times but usually disrupts plays upon contact. He plays with active hands and is good at punching or ripping out the ball. He shows the ability to flip his hips to turn and run with receivers in man coverage but has trouble with shiftier receivers in space. -- Scouts Inc.

Post-Draft Analysis

We've been waiting two days for the Vikings to address their safety need, and they finally did. The Fiesta Bowl MVP is an attacking defender who also excels on special teams. So much has been said about Minnesota needing to find a long-term replacement for Harrison Smith. Though a player selected 98th really shouldn't have those expectations, Thomas will factor into the team's plans as it figures out what the safety position looks like in 2027 and beyond. -- Matt Miller