Vikings’ Draft Class Ranks Dead Last
The Minnesota Vikings finished their 2025 effort to improve the team in the draft. Sam Howell was a trade acquisition as part of a pick swap, and he will fill the QB2 void. That spot had been vacant since Daniel Jones and Nick Mullens both said goodbye in free agency.
Vikings’ Draft Class Ranks Dead Last
The Howell sweepstakes aside, Minnesota welcomed five new rookies in this year’s class, tied for the smallest in franchise history.
No wonder analysts look at the finalized haul and remain unimpressed. One guy in particular isn’t a fan of Minnesota’s group of newcomers.
Dane Brugler, The Athletic, ranked the purple franchise 32nd, dead last, in his draft class rankings. He introduced the article, “This is my spin on draft grades — after the draft ends each year, I rank the classes, 1 to 32. I don’t use any special formula or analytical metric to come up with my rankings. I simply go with the vibes of which draft class got me the most excited. Your list probably looks different than mine.”
One could or should make the argument that ranking draft classes a day or two after the draft doesn’t really accomplish anything. Remember when the Cardinals once won a draft because they landed Josh Rosen?
Vikings Territory’s Dustin Baker wrote about that: “A class cannot be adjudicated until years down the road. For example, onlookers will determine if purple rookies Donovan Jackson and Tai Felton are any good around 2027 or 2028. Ranking a class two days after the event is a bit futile. It’s like having a baby on April 24th, and telling the parents, ‘Yeah, that kid gets a D at life,’ on April 28th.”
Brugler added, “There wasn’t a class that I truly disliked this year, though. All 32 teams got better in different ways during the 2025 NFL Draft, including those that ended up low on this list.”
A good way to wiggle out of any backlash.
So now let’s check what Brugler actually had to say about Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s new guys.
“With just five draft picks (one in the top 100), the Vikings were destined to appear low on this list,” Brugler noted. “I saw Jackson as more of a second-round player than a first-rounder, but he will become a long-term starter if he can improve some of his sustain-and-recovery issues. Minnesota made a commitment to improving the interior of its offensive line, and Jackson definitely can help do that.”
The number of draft picks was so low because the Vikings spent draft capital from 2025 to acquire Dallas Turner last year. Shipping Za’Darius Smith to Cleveland, a move performed in 2023, also cost a pair of 2025 picks (a 2025 draft selection did get added in that trade, but the overall quantity in ’25 dropped by a pick).
Indeed, many analysts think Jackson could’ve been there a few picks later after trading down a little, but it’s also fair to suggest that the Texans, with massive offensive line needs, were slotted right behind the Vikings and could’ve just snatched him. We will never know, that’s part of what makes the draft such a spectacle.
The Ohio State prospect is expected to be a quick contributor, completing Minnesota’s overhaul of the interior offensive line after they had already signed Ryan Kelly and Will Fries in free agency.
It’s clear as day that the Vikings have emphasized the blocking unit this offseason to fully protect J.J. McCarthy and help the rushing attack.
There was one pick Brugler liked, however: Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins. A day three pick that “could surprise.”
“Ingram-Dawkins was more of a flash player than consistent force in Kirby Smart’s front seven. But he is a good-sized athlete and brings enough inside-outside versatility on the defensive line to eventually develop from a rotational player into someone who pushes for starting reps.”
Ingram-Dawkins is an excellent athlete who lacks flashy college production, mainly because the competition on the defensive line was outstanding. Brian Flores undoubtedly has a plan for how he wants to use the rookie.
Brugler didn’t mention the other three picks. Tai Felton was selected with the 102nd pick, the last one in the third round. He also features some intriguing athleticism and could turn into a solid player in the long haul. Tight end Gavin Bartholomew fills the big need for a new TE3 behind T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver, and GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has already shown his excitement about new linebacker Kobe King.
All we can do is accept that, when a GM enters a draft with limited draft capital, the result will also be viewed as limited. This draft can be evaluated in a few years.