Kwesi Adofo-Mensah - Minnesota Vikings Training Camp
Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah didn’t have much in the form of draft capital for the 2025 NFL Draft. Nonetheless, he swung a couple deals in the mid/late rounds and finagled a total of five picks (and a backup QB) before the dust settled in Green Bay last month.
Prior to the draft, Minnesota was one of the more active teams in free agency, which put their roster in a great spot entering the draft. The Vikings’ limited number of picks pushed them down a lot of draft rankings, but most agree that what general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and everyone involved in the draft process did what they could with the handful of selections they did have.
Tai Felton, Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images
It’s difficult for a team to improve on a 14-win season, no matter how good they are. That’s just a lot of wins. But no matter their record, the 2025 Minnesota Vikings look like a better team on paper going into summer workouts than what we thought we had this time last year. Part of that confidence was built through the draft.
Donovan Jackson expected to start for Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings’ first round pick, Donovan Jackson, is expected to get every opportunity to beat out incumbent starter, Blake Brandel. Entering the draft, many believed Kwesi would trade back and acquire more assets, given they only owned four picks when night one kicked off.
Instead, they chose to stick and pick the Ohio State guard/tackle at No. 24 overall pick. He’s good. He’s so good in fact, he moved to left tackle to cover for an injury and excelled there as well. Given his skill and versatility, all signs point to Jackson being a Vikings starter in week one.
#OSU OL Donovan Jackson played tackle down the stretch for the Buckeyes but I particularly liked his ability to climb to the 2nd level as a guard and his recovery ability if he initially lost a rep. Holds a firm anchor against interior DL too. I view him as a guard longterm. pic.twitter.com/bQVkqIStB4
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) March 28, 2025
Minnesota drafted Jackson in hope that he will be able to immediately join newly signed veterans Ryan Kelly and Will Fries. Christian Darrisaw is expected back to make the rookie’s life easier on the outside. But if all goes to plan, redshirt rookie J.J. McCarthy should have the best offensive line the Vikings have employed in decades.
Related: MN Vikings Minicamp: KOC Reveals First Impressions of QB Max Brosmer
Biggest competition: Last season, Blake Brandel ranked 99th of 136 guards per Pro Football Focus. That’s a low bar for Jackson to clear, but you just never know about these rookies (especially on the OL), until we start hearing reports out of training camp, when helmets and pads come on.
Can Tai Felton earn snaps at wide receiver?
It’s possible that Tai Felton factors into the Minnesota Vikings special teams plans immediately. But after one weekend of rookie camp, that might be selling his year-one impact short. The Maryland product showed out against the Gophers last fall, then went on to finish 2024 with nine touchdowns on 1,124 yards receiving.
Tai Felton ended up in my top 100. Can stretch the field vertically, run after the catch, and and has suddenness within his routes pic.twitter.com/QLKQ9pFGTv
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) April 24, 2025
Felton is 6’2″ and can operate in the slot or the outside. With Jordan Addison in line for a two or three game suspension (stemming from his DUI arrest last summer) depth receivers like Felton and 2024 WR3 Jalen Nailor will get all sorts of opportunities for more targets over the next few months.
Biggest Competition: Last season, Jalen Nailor scored six touchdowns on 414 yards, in his first year taking over WR3 duties for K.J. Osborn. but he’s been unreliable throughout his three years in purple, recording key drops and an inability to stay healthy.
That’s where Felton could factor into WR2 conversations, especially if he can rise up the depth chart in time for Addison’s likely imminent suspension. You have to wonder how much job security Nailor has, after Felton’s selection in the 3rd round last April. But without a doubt, he’ll make the 53-man roster, barring something unforeseen taking place.
Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins is a freak athlete… but can he get on the field?
Late round picks often draw less fanfare. When adding to a rushing group for the Vikings that includes Andrew Van Ginkel, Jonathan Greenard, and Dallas Turner, you’re already up against it. That doesn’t mean Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins doesn’t stand a chance to make the roster out of Training Camp.
Look, this dude is a freak athlete and RAS darling. And especially in 2025, ceiling talent matters more than one’s ability to contribute on the field for an NFL roster now. At Georgia, Ingram Dawkins was used as a weapon all across the Bulldogs’ defensive front, both along the edges and in the interior
Related: Every Player at 2025 Minnesota Vikings Rookie Camp, Including Top Ranked UDFA Class
As a senior at Georgia, Ingram Dawkins played 14 games on a talented Georgia DL rotation, totalling just 536 total snaps and recording three sacks and eight tackles for loss. PFF gave him a 69.8 defense grade, which included a much higher run stop grade (70.8) than it did pass rush (60.2).
Will be curious to see where Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins finds a role. Super athletic and can play big end or kick inside in sub packages pic.twitter.com/ZrU26VBBCj
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) April 17, 2025
Dane Brugler from The Athletic called 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.”
Minnesota has plenty of mouths to feed when it comes to rushing the passer. If Ingram-Dawkins can have a good summer/camp, he’ll have a chance to make the roster. If not, he’s practice squad material for sure.
Kobe King has clear path to MN Vikings 53-man
Last season, former Gopher out of Eden Prairie Blake Cashman came home and immediately shined for the Minnesota Vikings. Health has been an issue his entire career, a trend we saw continue in 2024-25. Former UDFA-turned starter Ivan Pace also dealt with his own injury issues last season.
To alleviate some of that depth stress in the insider linebacker room, Minnesota recently brought back veteran Eric Wilson, after he left for a stint with NFC North rival Green Bay. But during they draft, the Vikings doubled down on what could be a late-round steal in Penn State ILB, Kobe King.
Working on a 2025 LB superlatives article and by far the easiest choice was Kobe King → Best Block Shedder. Most linebackers into today’s CFB don't have a reel half this long pic.twitter.com/Wm0je3xRhK
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) February 18, 2025
A three-year starter for Penn State, King is an immediate threat to take Brian Asamoah’s job. He may not get defensive snaps out of the gate, but he could be a special teams asset now and a defensive contributor in the very near future. Last season with the Nittany Lions, King racked up three sacks tallied 97 total tackles.
Related: Minnesota Vikings Expected to Play Multiple Games Overseas in 2025
Many people also like UDFA linebacker signee, Austin Keys. FantasyLife.com draft expert, Thor Nystrom believes both King and Asamoah should be watching over their shoulders for Keys, who one NFL coach told him would have been a fifth rounder, had it not been for injuries.
Same with the other 6th Rd Pick – Gavin Bartholomew
Maybe tight end wasn’t the most obviousl position for the Minnesota Vikings to target in the 2025 NFL Draft. But a closer look reveals a team that relies a lot on their tight ends to do a variety of different jobs.
So, after losing both Johnny Mundt and Nick Muse in free agency, only T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver remained on the depth chart, entering the draft. That was never going to be enough. The Vikings love to keep three or four tight ends active, and that almost ensures Gavin Bartholomew makes the roster.
Last season, at Pittsburgh, Bartholomew recorded a career-high 38 receptions for 322 yards and four touchdowns. He’s somewhat raw but he can catch the football and has shown he can block too.
A tight end I have come on late to is Pitt Gavin Bartholomew
He strikes me as a guy who’s best ball is in front of him — solid blocker, YAC guy, fights for every yard, solid athletic profile, makings of an all-around TE at the next level pic.twitter.com/0dUv6nGMP8
— Brad (@Graham_SFN) April 10, 2025
If Gavin can pick things up on offense somewhat quickly, at the NFL level, there’s nothing standing in between him and the MN Vikings week one 53-man roster… which uncoincidentally seems to be the case for much of this year’s draft class.
Mentioned in this article: 53-man roster Donovan Jackson Gavin Bartholomew Kobe King NFL Draft Tai Felton Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins More About:Minnesota Vikings