Vikings’ 2025 NFL Draft Late-Round Sleepers
It’s up for debate until the time comes whether or not the Vikings will stick and pick at 24th overall in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but this time, we’re focusing on some late-round gems the Vikings could look to call the name of on the final two nights of the draft.
Although we aren’t worrying about the 24th overall selection in this piece, a trade-back from the spot could help the Vikings land a few of these guys, as the purple team only currently possesses four selections in the three-day annual extravaganza where dreams come true and the NFL’s future is onboarded.
BGSU TE Harold Fannin Jr.
This is a guy that I will sing the praises of until the day he retires from professional football. Harold Fannin Jr. has the potential to be one of the best tight ends in the NFL if he’s placed in the correct system that emphasizes a passing attack that involves the tight end heavily.
Fannin Jr. was first in the nation last season in receiving yards (1,555) and receptions (117), the first TE in the sport’s history to lead the position in both metrics in the same year. Nine reception TDs were the cherry on top of the iced cake.
Kentucky IDL Deone Walker
Walker might be the prospect with the biggest variance between his highest-possible ceiling and lowest-possible floor. Once projected as a top-10 pick, Walker had a slower 2024 compared to his 2023 ceiling due to the fact that he was playing through a fractured back last season.
Deone Walker is a very polarizing prospect, and it’s much more feasible that he will flame out than work out. Nonetheless, if there is anyone that can get the most out of a prospect with freak athleticism like Walker, who stands at 6’7 and weighs 344lbs but moves like he’s half that size, it’s Brian Flores and the Minnesota Vikings defensive coaching staff.
Ohio State CB Denzel Burke
Denzel Burke and his draft stock are another case of going down in value because of a slower 2024 compared to seasons before. As I stated in my Bane 1.0 mock draft about a month ago, had Burke produced in 2024 like he did in 2021-2023, he would be a first-round pick, or an early second-rounder at worst.
Burke was a four-year starter at Ohio State, and that’s nothing to scoff at. He will be available on Day 2 and even possibly Day 3. In 2023, he gained All-American Second Team honors, but his 2024 was disappointing enough to tank his draft stock significantly enough to have him possibly fall completely out of the first three rounds of the event.
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