Janik Eckardt’s Only 2025 Vikings Mock Draft
In this mock draft experiment, the PFF Mock Draft Simulator will guide us through the draft. The Vikings will not facilitate any trades and instead stick and pick to prevent what folks often do: take advantage of the simulator and collect a dozen picks and somehow end with three superstar rookies.
Janik Eckardt’s Only 2025 Vikings Mock Draft
The Vikings enter (and leave) this draft with four picks:
- 1st – 24th overall
- 3rd – 97th overall
- 5th – 139th overall
- 6th – 187th overall
24th Overall: Walter Nolen, DI, Ole Miss
The Minnesota Vikings have already addressed the defensive line this offseason by acquiring veterans Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave to pair with Harrison Phillips.
Those guys aren’t getting any younger, and there’s never such a thing as too much depth on the defensive line. The Vikings select Walter Nolen over popular mock draft guys Grey Zabel and Malaki Starks.
Nolen is an explosive defensive lineman with quickness and power to be a problem for offenses. He will be a rotational guy early in his career, but he has the talent to become a long-term difference-maker if he works on some technique issues.
97th Overall: Wyatt Milum, OL, West Virginia
The offensive line has been a disaster for years, but newcomers Will Fries and Ryan Kelly can change that. The one remaining interior lineman from last year, Blake Brandel, needs some competition, and Wyatt Milum is the man for the job.
He started at offensive tackle in college, but is projected to move to the inside in the NFL. Milum didn’t allow a sack in three consecutive years and is a fantastic run blocker, mainly winning with strength.
Interestingly, pricey Vikings guard Fries is his pro comparison provided by PFF. He could challenge Brandel in training camp, but unseating him later in the season or even next offseason is fine, too.
139th Overall: Brashard Smith, RB, SMU
Brashard Smith is a fascinating prospect because he has only one year at running back on his resume. He started his career at the University of Miami (FL) as a wideout and transferred to SMU ahead of the 2024 campaign to play running back. In that lone season, he became the engine of SMU’s offense and registered 1,659 yards from scrimmage and 18 touchdowns.
Smith possesses 4.39 speed and has the ability to create big plays as a pass-catcher, runner, and returner.
The Vikings have Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason under contract, but upgrading the RB3 position with an explosive dual-threat running back who has some special teams experience is worth a fifth-rounder.
He recently stated that he loved his pre-draft meeting with the Vikings.
187th Overall: Korie Black, CB, Oklahoma State
Another guy the Vikings hosted in the pre-draft process, cornerback Korie Black, is coming off a season with three interceptions.
He possesses the requisite speed to match up against NFL receivers, proven by his 4.35-second 40-yard dash. A three-year starter, he has experience in zone and man coverage and could be an intriguing day-three pick for the Vikings.
Minnesota employs Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, and Mekhi Blackmon for the top three jobs, and possibly Jeff Okudah or Dwight McGlothern can showcase some talent. Adding some more youth to the room, especially one with starter potential, isn’t the worst idea.
Bottom Line
PFF gave us an A for the draft.
The Vikings leave with Nolen, one of the best defenders in the class, with the explosiveness to be a true difference-maker down the line. There’s a chance he’s long gone by pick 24, but, as every year, the draft is unpredictable.
In addition to that, Milum can compete for the starting guard job immediately and possibly take over at some point.
On day three, the club acquired a speed running back with playmaking ability and a cornerback who makes it pretty easy to see a path for him to contribute. The fact that both visited with the team makes their selections even more realistic.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference CFB helped with this article.
Making Room for the Draft? Vikings Say Goodbye to 2 Players.