New Analytics Mock Draft Is Pretty Much Ideal for Vikings
In April’s 2025 version of the NFL draft, the Vikings currently hold pick 24, but that can change. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has only four draft picks at his disposal, so swapping the pick for a worse one plus some extras makes sense.
New Analytics Mock Draft Is Pretty Much Ideal for Vikings
In his first three drafts, his first-round strategies varied. Lewis Cine was selected after a trade-back in 2022, Jordan Addison landed in Minnesota at the spot of the organic pick in 2023, and last year, Dallas Turner and J.J. McCarthy were acquired via trade-ups.
This time, a return to the 2022 strategy is reasonable, hopefully with a better outcome.
Mike Band from NFL Next Gen Stats released his analytics mock draft, and the Adofo-Mensah did just that, swapping pick 24 for pick 31 and a pair of fourth-rounders, allowing the Chiefs to select Ohio State’s offensive tackle Josh Simmons.
He wrote about the trade, “With only four picks on Minnesota’s draft docket, GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the Vikings are among the teams most likely to trade down in the first round.”
The Vikings watch the draft unfold a little longer than scheduled and ultimately bring East Carolina’s standout corner, Shavon Revel Jr., to the Twin Cities.
Band explained the pick: “Revel, who is recovering from a September ACL tear, is a 6-foot-2 corner who offers the length and recovery speed Minnesota typically seeks on the boundary. Should his medicals check out, Revel has high-ROI potential as an anchor in Brian Flores’ secondary. For a Vikings team in need of secondary reinforcements, the added picks (via trade) and Revel’s upside make this a calculated gamble for the quant-focused Adofo-Mensah.”
The Vikings have solidified the cornerback room to some extent, but there’s still some room for improvement. Byron Murphy Jr. was re-signed, and he will remain in his CB1 role. Behind him, third-year player Mekhi Blackmon and newcomer Isaiah Rodgers will be the next men in line.
For depth purposes, the Vikings signed Jeff Okudah, formerly a third-overall pick who hasn’t lived up to that status. Dwight McGlothern, last year’s undrafted rookie and preseason star, might earn some extra snaps, and Tavierre Thomas, as well as NaJee Thompson, are primarily special teamers.
There’s room for one more potential starter, and projected first-rounder Revel Jr. could be of immediate help and has the talent to be a long-term solution.
Revel Jr. is coming off a shortened season due to a torn ACL suffered in practice in September. He played three years at East Carolina but only collected meaningful snaps in the last two, producing 70 tackles and three interceptions.
According to PFF, the corner was targeted 65 times in college but allowed only 28 receptions for 479 yards, two touchdowns, and three picks. That resulted in an NFL passer rating allowed of 59.7.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote about the prospect, “Big, long and fast are the physical descriptors that stand out for the East Carolina corner. He has ideal length and good vision from zone, and he should continue to improve in that coverage with more experience. Revel suffered a torn ACL in September, but his measurables, explosiveness and upside give him a good chance to become an early starter.”
Revel Jr. would give Brian Flores an athletic and taller corner than the top three guys in the room. If the injury is fine, he would be a perfect fit for an organization that has tried to acquire some younger cornerbacks after spending all of last year with guys close to or at the end of their careers.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
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Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt