The Minnesota Vikings entered the 2025 NFL Draft knowing they needed to make the most out of their limited draft capital, so now it’s time to hand out some grades and see how they did. After a strong 14-win season, Minnesota watched as quarterback Sam Darnold left for the Seattle Seahawks, paving the way for second-year pro J.J. McCarthy to make his NFL debut. This team has the talent to compete with the right passer, so did the team do enough to support him?
Note: These draft grades do not include any trades
Minnesota Vikings 2025 NFL Draft Grades: Super Bowl Bound?
First Round (24th Overall): Donovan Jackson – OL
Nobody will accuse the Vikings of not doing enough to support McCarthy. After revamping the interior offensive line with Will Fries and Ryan Kelly, the team added another interior lineman in Ohio State’s Donovan Jackson. Jackson’s presence likely means Dalton Risner will not return as a free agent and Blake Brandel will rest on the bench. Jackson is good, but he probably wasn’t the 24th-best player in this class and probably won’t be an immediate upgrade on what Risner brought to the team last year.
Vikings Draft Grade: B
Donovan Jackson NFL Draft Profile
Third Round (102nd Overall): Tai Felton – WR
The Minnesota Vikings entered the 2025 NFL Draft with just four picks, so it’s strange they used one on another wide receiver. Tai Felton is a fine player who could develop into an adequate slot receiver, but Minnesota already has superstar Justin Jefferson and a solid complementary receiver in Jordan Addison. J.J. McCarthy already has plenty of help, and it would’ve made more sense for the Vikings to target one of the many promising defensive backs on the board.
Vikings Draft Grade: C
Fifth Round (139th Overall): Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins – DT
This point of the NFL Draft is less about filling needs and more about getting the best player available. The Vikings succeeded in this regard, as Ingram-Dawkins offers more upside than you’d usually find in the fifth round. While he’s inconsistent, he has the tools to succeed and could be an intriguing development project for this coaching staff.
Vikings Draft Grade: B
Sixth Round (201st Overall): Kobe King – LB
Kobe King is the type of player you expect to find in the back of the sixth round. While his limited athletic abilities put a clear cap on his ceiling, he could make a living as a situational run player and special teams ace. He lacks the potential to be a true draft steal, but you can’t blame the Vikings for finding the closest thing the back of the sixth round has to a safe bet.
Vikings Draft Grade: B
Sixth Round (202nd Overall): Gavin Bartholomew – TE
The Minnesota Vikings wrapped up their draft with the Gavin Bartholomew selection. As mentioned earlier, the Vikings rightfully stopped looking at team fits and started drafting the best player available. However, was Bartholomew really the best player left? You can’t criticize a pick this late since the expected return is so low, but the Pittsburgh product will struggle to make the roster.
Vikings Draft Grade: C-
Main Photo: Adam Cairns – Imagn Images
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