Dreams are made when players’ names are announced on draft weekend. They are hoped to be the missing pieces to a championship team, pushing the roster over the top.
However, their additions to the roster mean someone else is on the hot seat. That can mean a short leash in training camp, or getting cut or traded to make room for the new guy.
Below, we’ll examine three winners and losers from the Vikings‘ 2025 draft class.
Winner: J.J. McCarthy
The Vikings gave their 2024 first-round pick additional help in the draft. After adding center Ryan Kelly and guard Will Fries in free agency, the Vikings drafted Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson in the first round. With the final pick of the third round, they selected speedy Maryland wideout Tai Felton, who will fight for the WR3 job.
Loser: Blake Brandel
Jackson will be expected to take over the starting left guard spot, demoting Brandel to the bench. Brandel still brings position flexibility and can make the team while providing solid depth. Still, his disappointing play down the stretch in 2024 felt like a wasted opportunity for him to cement himself as a long-term starter.
Winner: Theo Jackson
The Vikings gave Jackson a two-year extension this offseason, showing they expect big things from him this year. Georgia safety Malaki Starks was available at pick 24, but the Vikings decided to take Jackson, seemingly signaling their faith in Jackson.
Loser: Brian Asamoah
The last of the Vikings’ first four selections from the 2022 draft may be fighting for a roster spot in 2025. Minnesota took Penn State linebacker Kobe King in the sixth round. King brings special teams ability right away and can play downhill, a more requisite play style to that of Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace, Jr. than Asamoah provides.
Winner: Kwesi Adofo-Mensah
This was a crucial draft for the fourth-year general manager, who has yet to see adequate results from his draft classes. The Vikings entered the draft with only four picks, but walked away with five and even acquired Howell in a trade-swap with the Seahawks in round five. It’s not the world’s sexiest draft, but Adofo-Mensah didn’t overthink it, addressing the team’s most pressing needs with limited resources.
Loser: Aaron Rodgers
No one is arguing that Sam Howell is better than Aaron Rodgers. However, the trade seems to signal the Vikings have found and are comfortable with J.J. McCarthy to the point they can acquire and develop Howell while also getting McCarthy up to speed to be the starter when the season arrives. Rodgers will likely go to Pittsburgh, and his fans will have to deal with a younger, better option for quarterback in Minnesota.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Who are the Winners and Losers from the Vikings picks in the draft?
Dreams are made when players’ names are announced on draft weekend. They are hoped to be the missing pieces to a championship team, pushing the roster over the top.
However, their additions to the roster mean someone else is on the hot seat. That can mean a short leash in training camp, or getting cut or traded to make room for the new guy.
Below, we’ll examine three winners and losers from the Vikings‘ 2025 draft class.
Winner: J.J. McCarthy
The Vikings gave their 2024 first-round pick additional help in the draft. After adding center Ryan Kelly and guard Will Fries in free agency, the Vikings drafted Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson in the first round. With the final pick of the third round, they selected speedy Maryland wideout Tai Felton, who will fight for the WR3 job.
Loser: Blake Brandel
Jackson will be expected to take over the starting left guard spot, demoting Brandel to the bench. Brandel still brings position flexibility and can make the team while providing solid depth. Still, his disappointing play down the stretch in 2024 felt like a wasted opportunity for him to cement himself as a long-term starter.
Winner: Theo Jackson
The Vikings gave Jackson a two-year extension this offseason, showing they expect big things from him this year. Georgia safety Malaki Starks was available at pick 24, but the Vikings decided to take Jackson, seemingly signaling their faith in Jackson.
Loser: Brian Asamoah
The last of the Vikings’ first four selections from the 2022 draft may be fighting for a roster spot in 2025. Minnesota took Penn State linebacker Kobe King in the sixth round. King brings special teams ability right away and can play downhill, a more requisite play style to that of Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace, Jr. than Asamoah provides.
Winner: Kwesi Adofo-Mensah
This was a crucial draft for the fourth-year general manager, who has yet to see adequate results from his draft classes. The Vikings entered the draft with only four picks, but walked away with five and even acquired Howell in a trade-swap with the Seahawks in round five. It’s not the world’s sexiest draft, but Adofo-Mensah didn’t overthink it, addressing the team’s most pressing needs with limited resources.
Loser: Aaron Rodgers
No one is arguing that Sam Howell is better than Aaron Rodgers. However, the trade seems to signal the Vikings have found and are comfortable with J.J. McCarthy to the point they can acquire and develop Howell while also getting McCarthy up to speed to be the starter when the season arrives. Rodgers will likely go to Pittsburgh, and his fans will have to deal with a younger, better option for quarterback in Minnesota.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Who are the Winners and Losers from the Vikings picks in the draft?
