We're now entered NFL Draft month — and that's no April Fools' joke.
As the league looks ahead to the three-day event that kicks off Thursday, April 24, media pundits have been busy speculating which players will be selected by which teams.
ESPN recently took a look at each of the NFL's 32 teams and weighed in on "biggest draft needs” for each roster. Let's look at the NFC North division, shall we?
Kevin Seifert believes Minnesota's most prominent needs in the draft are cornerback, interior defensive line and center. He wrote:
The Vikings won't have to reach for need in the draft for 2025 impact due to their … free agent shopping spree. But the one position that still needs work is cornerback. The team's top four corners this past season were all on expiring contracts, and only Byron Murphy Jr. has been re-signed.
The Vikings are anticipating the return of 2024 draft pick Mekhi Blackmon, who missed his rookie campaign due to injury, and also added Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah in free agency, but Seifert opined the team still is lacking depth at the position.
According to Seifert, Minnesota's "other positional holes are longer-term."
The Vikings top three defensive linemen — Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave and Harrison Phillips — are between 29 and 32 years old. New center Ryan Kelly is 32 and on a short-term contract.
ESPN's Jordan Reid was asked about a prospect Minnesota could target outside of Round 1, and he pointed to Tennessee defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott.
After adding Allen and Hargrave in splash-free agent moves, Minnesota could another pass rush specialist. Norman-Lott played sporadically this season (20 or more snaps in only five out of 13 games), but his hand power and explosiveness were unmatched.
Across the border in Green Bay, ESPN's Rob Demovsky believes the Packers also should look at filling spots at corner and defensive tackle, as well as receiver. The Vikings division rival did recently sign free agent wideout Mecole Hardman, but Demovsky said, "If there ever was a year when the Packers might use a first-round pick on that position (remember, they haven't since 2002), this could be it."
Reid suggested Green Bay could snag Iowa State receiver Jayden Higgins outside Round 1.
The Packers lack a true WR1, and Higgins brings a different body type and skill set than what's currently on their roster. With a wide catch radius and good movement skills for a bigger receiver (6-foot-4, 215 pounds), Higgins would give quarterback Jordan Love a consistent three-level target.
Eric Woodyard wrote that Detroit should zero in on edge rusher, guard and linebacker, while Courtney Cronin in Chicago said the Bears should look to draft a tackle, edge rusher and running back.
Click here to ESPN's breakdown of needs across the league.
PFF suggests first-round trade option for Vikings
We're 23 days away from the Vikings submitting a name card for the 24th overall pick in the NFL Draft.
Well, that is unless Minnesota maneuvers to pick elsewhere.
Pro Football Focus analyst Mason Cameron on Tuesday explored four first-round trade ideas, and he included a pair of trades in a major shakeup for the Vikings, plus a pick swap for NFC North rival Chicago.
Cameron insisted the first move(s) on his list is necessary: Minnesota trading down not once but twice in Round 1 due to its scarce number of selections and dearth of developmental depth (a debatable point).
The proposal would first help "a team eyeing key defensive help" and also assist "a team looking to take advantage of the fifth-year option awarded to first-round selections." In this scenario, the Vikings trade the No. 24 pick to Philadelphia for pick Nos. 32, 96 and 161. Later, they would deal the 32nd choice to Tennessee for the Nos. 35 and 120 selections. Cameron scores the Vikings four picks for the price of one.
You've probably read/heard this previously: The NFL Draft is not a science; granted, it may be an art.
As Cameron noted about the Vikings, however, moving down would be the "antithesis of their active approach during the 2024 NFL Draft, in which they traded up twice" (for J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner).
Cameron wrote the following:
With many teams at the end of the first round in need of pass-rush help, Minnesota could field calls from the Lions, Ravens, Commanders, Bills and Eagles, among others.
Then, Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could again look to leverage the team's new draft slot and move back once more. Armed with the No. 35 pick, the Titans could sneak back into Round 1 to acquire more talent for, presumably, their rookie signal-caller selected No. 1 overall.
With only four picks (Nos. 24, 97, 139 and 187) to its name, Minnesota definitely could be on trade watch.
On the Bears – for the sake of divisional interest – Cameron suggested they trade up to No. 5 with Jacksonville so that they're able to select top-rated edge rusher Abdul Carter out of Penn State.
If this offseason has taught us anything, it's that Bears General Manager Ryan Poles isn't shy about flexing his draft capital when he sees an opportunity. That very well could be the situation this team will find itself in should Abdul Carter fall out of the top four, the result of two quarterbacks being selected within that range or perhaps Will Campbell's length concerns not scaring away a team like New England.
In Cameron's exercise, Chicago's aggressiveness is easily afforded for pick Nos. 10 and 41.
The cost of one of their two second-round picks is a small price to pay for an impact starter at a premium position. Getting Carter at the No. 5 pick would cut the Carolina Panthers out of the picture — another team that would be all too happy to execute the move.
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