Given their lack of draft capital and lingering roster needs on defense, especially in Brian Flores’ secondary, the Minnesota Vikings’ decision in Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft could end up having massive ramifications, both for this season and beyond.
The good news for Minnesota? One NFL coordinator praised the team’s approach to stand pat at pick No. 24 overall — rather than trade back for more capital — and select stud Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson.
The unnamed coordinator sees a future multi-time Pro Bowler in Jackson, per a recent report for ESPN by insider Jeremy Fowler.
"You know why I really like this pick?” Fowler quoted the coordinator. “He's going to be a solid 10-year starter. Not sure he's elite, but he will make a few Pro Bowls and be a really good player for a long time."
While widely viewed as a safe pick, given the need to protect first-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy and Jackson’s prowess playing both guard and tackle for the Buckeyes during their 2024 run to the national title, Minnesota’s selection still comes with some risk.
The New York Giants, for example, traded two additional picks, including a 2026 third-rounder, to move up and select quarterback Jaxson Dart at No. 25 overall, the pick directly after Minnesota. The Atlanta Falcons also moved up to the 26th spot, so the Vikings clearly had options to move back and improve upon their draft board that included just four total selections entering Day 1.
The Vikings also passed on a potential franchise safety in Malaki Starks, who went off the board at pick No. 27 to the Baltimore Ravens. With Harrison Smith entering what most assume to be his swan song season, the Vikings passed on a golden opportunity to draft his potential replacement.
With all that said, you could argue that replacing struggling guard Blake Brandel was an even bigger priority for GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and company. If Jackson can help keep McCarthy upright, and Minnesota’s offense continues to hum this season, the Vikings’ 2025 draft class will be a much-needed success.
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