Vikings Have Just 4 Draft Picks, But Must Upgrade Following FA Signings

The Vikings are close, closer than they have ever been to being in a position to select the best player available and not look for a major position need at the upcoming NFL Draft in less than three weeks.

NFL fans have heard that bromide for decades. The most successful teams in the draft don’t look at need as the biggest factor when making their selections. That makes sense when there is a player like Lawerence Taylor, Jerry Rice, Barry Sanders, Aaron Donald or Joe Burrow available. Players who transcend their scouting reports and have the special quality that allow them to become the dominant player on the field on an every-week basis.

The problem with that theory is that players at that level are not available in every draft and may not be available for five consecutive drafts. As a result, drafting the best player available rarely makes sense for any team that wants to improve from one year to the next.

But look at what the Vikings have done in the offseason. They have signed a pair of interior offensive linemen in center Ryan Kelly and offensive guard Will Fries, both from the Indianapolis Colts. After watching the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams overrun the Vikings interior blockers in the final two games of the season, this was their biggest need.

Kelly and Fries represent a significant upgrade for general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell, but Kelly is 31 years old and he may not be the long-term answer. The 27-year-old Fries has plenty of runway left and should be a fixture on the Vikings’ offensive line for a minimum of the next five seasons, but he is coming off a fractured tibia. Fries played in just five games for the Colts a year ago.

The other major need that the Vikings had at the end of the 2024 season was on the defensive front. Adofo-Mensah appeared to have addressed that area of weakness by signing free agents Jonathan Allen of the Washington Commanders and Javon Hargrave of the San Francisco 49ers.

Adofo-Mensah faces big draft test with 4 Vikings selections

Allen, 30, suffered a pectoral injury last season and he played in just eight games, but he has demonstrated throughout his career that he can handle both interior responsibilities in shutting down the running game and rushing the passer. He is also extremely motivated, because the Commanders let him know that they were not interested in retaining his services. The Commanders released him despite having 401 tackles and 42.0 sacks in eight seasons.

Hargrave, 32, also had an injury-shortened 2024 season. Hargrave tore his triceps last season and played in just three games for the Niners. He should be ready to perform at full speed by the start of training camp, and he is a two-time Pro Bowler who had 11.0 sacks in the 2022 season. When Hargrave is at his best, he can wreck an opponent’s offensive game plan.

All four of these signings have question marks associated with their long-term viability, so these are still positions that the Vikings may choose to address with their four draft picks. Minnesota has its first-round selection (No. 24) as well as third-, fifth- and seventh-round choices.

The Vikings could also choose a cornerback with their top choice since this has been a position of need for several years. Byron Murphy and former Eagle Isaiah Rodgers both look solid, but depth remains an issue.

However, unless Adofo-Mensah has his eye on a game-changing sleeper he can select with their No. 24 selection, he may be better off trading down and turning that choice into two or perhaps three potential picks that will help the Vikings secure depth and talent at multiple positions.

The Vikings appear to have made multiple strong moves in free agency, but finding quality players in the draft is necessary if they are going to continue the momentum they gained in the 2024 season