What Could Impact the Vikings’ First Draft Pick
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - APRIL 25: A general view of the video board on stage with The Pick Is In for the Minnesota Vikings during the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft on April 25, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images) | Getty Images The NFL Draft begins Thursday in Pittsburgh rumors have been swirling about which prospect teams will pick. The Minnesota Vikings have been linked to safety Dillon Thieneman and more recently to tight end Kenyon Sadiq, although not as strongly as Thieneman has been.
However, there is no guarantee either prospect will be available when the Vikings are on the clock at #18. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some likely scenarios for the Vikings for the first night of the draft. The Likely First Prospects Drafted For the Vikings, it doesn’t really matter much which team picks the top ten prospects.
It’s highly unlikely the Vikings are going to trade up into the top ten so if Caleb Downs is picked at #5 or #9 isn’t relevant. What is relevant are which of the top prospects are picked ahead of the Vikings. With that in mind, here are the top prospects that are highly likely to be picked in the top ten and effectively out of reach for the Vikings: QB Fernando Mendoza ED Arvell Reese ED David Bailey RB Jeremiyah Love LB Sonny Styles WR Carnell Tate CB Mansoor Delane S Caleb Downs WR Jordyn Tyson ED Rueban Bain Jr.
Beyond these ten prospects, I would also add the two top offensive line prospects as very likely to be taken ahead of the Vikings. They are: OT Francis Mauigoa OT Spencer Fano All of the above names are -130 (56. 5% implied probability) of being selected in the top ten and even higher therefore that they’d be selected in the top 15.
#12: Where the First Round Gets Interesting Dallas owns the twelfth pick in the draft and there has been rumors that they could trade this pick either up or down. Stephen Jones said its not possible for them to trade up into the top five, presumably ruling that out. But if the Cowboys don’t trade this pick, there is a chance that their preferred prospects for this pick are gone.
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