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Re-Grading the Minnesota Vikings 2025 Draft

Originally posted on Football Analysis | By Aaron Sauter | Last updated Mar 10, 2026 9:03 PM ET

When an NFL team falls from 14-3 to 9-8 in a year, every team decision receives scrutiny. The Minnesota Vikings’ drop from NFC contender to missing the playoffs is complex, involving a messy quarterback transition from Sam Darnold to J.J. McCarthy. Like many NFL teams, the Vikings have struggled to assess needs and evaluate prospects.

Entering the 2025 NFL draft with limited capital, the Vikings needed each pick to deliver. They started strong by selecting offensive guard Donovan Jackson, who became the starting left guard. However, not all picks matched Jackson’s rookie success.

Minnesota Vikings 2025 Draft Class

Round	Pick	Player	Position	School
1	24	Donovan Jackson	OG	Ohio State
3	102	Tai Felton	WR	Maryland
5	139	Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins	DL	Georgia
6	201	Kobe King	LB	Penn State
6	202	Gavin Bartholomew	TE	Pittsburgh

Jackson suffered ankle and wrist injuries but still played 14 games, allowing only 2 sacks and 26 pressures. Like Jackson on offense, defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins had an immediate impact for Brian Flores as a rotational defender. Ingram-Dawkins recorded 12 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and 1 sack as a run-stuffer for Minnesota.

In contrast, the Vikings got no return from wide receiver Tai Felton, who never settled into a consistent role. Tight end Gavin Bartolomew mainly blocked and played on special teams. The Vikings’ biggest draft miss was linebacker Kobe King, whom Minnesota waived after just five games. Kick returner Myles Price and linebacker Austin Keys impacted special teams and defense more than the Vikings’ Day 3 picks.

Minnesota Vikings 2025 Draft Re-Grade = C+

While the Vikings succeeded with Jackson and Ingram-Dawkins on the lines, they squandered the rest of their draft picks. As the Vikings assess team needs during free agency and the 2026 NFL draft, they must scrutinize how prospects align with their offensive and defensive systems. For Minnesota to regain sustained success, the Vikings must ensure new players can contribute significantly.

Make sure that you check out, Re-Grading the Los Angeles Rams 2025 Draft

This article first appeared on Football Analysis and was syndicated with permission.

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