The Minnesota Vikings invested heavily into their pass rusher room last offseason, signing Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel. They then traded up to select Dallas Turner with their second first-round pick. Although Greenard and Van Ginkel made the Pro Bowl, Minnesota didn’t get the same production from its interior defensive line.
PFF’s Trevor Sikkema and Connor Rogers of The NFL Stock Exchange podcast addressed the Vikings’ need in their latest mock draft. They had the Vikings select Michigan defensive lineman Kenneth Grant.
The selection would give Minnesota a young nucleus on the defensive front, as Greenard will be 28 and Dallas Turner will be 22 when the 2025 season begins. Grant has the size (6’3″, 339 pounds) and production (6.5 sacks and 39 stops in 2023 and 2024) that the Vikings would love to have.
Andrew Harbaugh of Vikings Wire gave a scouting report on Grant in August, highlighting his strength, motor, and play recognition skills.
On Grant’s strength:
Regardless of position, Kenneth Grant is one of the strongest players in college football. He uses it to gain leverage on a player at a moments notice and win reps or disrupt plays. A prime example is that he can push a player back while keeping his head on a swivel to ensure he doesn’t misread any play.
The Vikings have been forced to be creative with how they’ve utilized their defensive line since Brian Flores arrived in 2023. Although their scheme is built on giving different looks to opponents, having a true three-technique who can contribute in the run-and-pass game could elevate the defense to new heights in 2025.