The 2025 NFL Draft is months away, and the Vikings are surprising everyone by looking like they could be one of the best teams in the entire NFC, not just the North. Despite that, they do have some positions that will need some depth pieces added.
The team’s positional needs heading into the season include a defensive line, cornerback, and maybe a wide receiver or running back.
For this mock draft, we went with something outside the box. The Vikings Byron Murphy Jr. has six interceptions which is good for third in the NFL going into Monday Night Football. The veteran cornerback is set to be a free agent, so the team may be forced to replace him. We explored a potential replacement for him by trading for one of the better corners in the NFL.
Let the fun begin as we build this roster to get it closer to being one of the best in the NFL.
The Vikings acquire Sauce Gardner from the New York Jets
Dec 28, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner (1) breaks up a pass intended for Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (85) during the second half during the first half at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
Vikings send:
- 28th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft
- 144th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft
- 2026 5th round draft pick
Jets send:
- Sauce Gardner
- 107th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft
- 2026 6th round draft pick
Some added context for this trade: As far as the Jets trading away their All-Pro cornerback, this team is far away from contending for a Super Bowl. The team is potentially looking at a rebuild if the new front office decides it needs it, so perhaps they pursue the extra draft capital in that sense and see Gardner as expendable.
I used the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade the Steelers and Dolphins pulled off in 2019 as a base for the draft capital in this trade.
Picks the Vikings have after the proposed Sauce Gardner trade in the 2025 NFL Draft
Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
- 97th overall
- 107th overall
- 163rd overall
- 241st overall
Round 3, Pick 97: Kyle Monangai, RB, Rutgers
Dec 28, 2023; Bronx, NY, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights running back Kyle Monangai (5) runs for a touchdown during the second quarter against Miami Hurricanes at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Smith-USA TODAY Sports
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