EAGAN, Minn. — Speed and playmaking. That's the name of Tai Felton's game.

"Whenever you put the ball in my hands," he said, "I'm going to make defenders miss."

It sounds then that he's equipped to fit in nicely with Minnesota's talented room of receivers.

The Vikings wrapped the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft Friday by selecting the former Maryland wide receiver with the 102^nd pick after a trade down five spots from their original No. 97 positioning. In its trade-back with Houston, Minnesota managed to secure picks Nos. 102 and 142 for Nos. 97 and 187.

Ultimately, the deal punctuated the first two days of the draft, landing the Vikings Felton after taking Ohio State offensive lineman Donovan Jackson at 24 in the first round, and boosting value for Saturday.

Felton expanded his offensive workload in 2024 and has a demonstrated history of impacting special teams; he has experience fielding balls and running down the field to cover them up — and he's tough.

"He's not a guy that goes down easy. I mean, he really strains and he breaks off chunks that would be tackles for a lot of guys similar to him, a lot of times will go down and that'll be it," said Vikings Vice President of Player Personnel Ryan Grigson. "He just doesn't really ever want to let a play die. So his mindset really is presented in all different facets of his game, which is really encouraging in the player."

In a post-round video call with media, Felton shared he was enjoying a quasi-family reunion with lots of people dear to him, including friends, coaches, trainers, old college and high school teammates, and, amazingly, about 10 baby cousins he hadn't met previously; family traveled from Georgia and California to Virginia to soak up what they anticipated – hopefully, at least – would be a special night for Felton.

It proved to be, but not before a little sweat as the second round came and went, and Felton nearly escaped the third. Then he got "the call," and he was able to appreciate what his future has in store.

"It's a blessing to have everybody who supported me and just everybody who's showed me a lot of love, even be at the house that we're in," Felton said with a wide grin. "It's a lot of people here and stuff like that. But honestly, I'm just truly blessed to even go to the organization that I'm going to, Minnesota."

On the Vikings, it'll be a reunion of sorts, as well.

Felton teamed with Vikings 2024 undrafted free agent Jeshaun Jones at Maryland for several seasons and has respect for Jordan Addison, who is from Maryland. Felton also can't wait to learn from "the best."

"I've actually been watching him since 2019 at LSU," Felton said of Vikings superstar Justin Jefferson. "So I kind of, well, I started watching the man, and I think he's the best receiver in the league. You've seen it."

Now, Felton will have a front-seat apprenticeship.

The 6-foot-1, 183-pounder emphatically stated he wants to study Jefferson's daily routines, glean information from his film habits and attempt to mirror Jefferson's ridiculous hand-eye coordination.

There's no question it's within Felton's ability to do so.

Felton step-laddered his production in each of his four seasons at Maryland, debuting for the Terps in 2021 with five catches for 51 yards across eight games, and striking an exclamation point in 2024 with 96 receptions for 1,124 yards and nine touchdowns; his 8.0 catches per game ranked third at the FBS level.

His surge on the field wasn't a flash in the pan, either. Felton, whose 96 catches set a Maryland program single-season record, moved like lightning at the NFL Scouting Combine, ripping off the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds, which fared sixth best among participating receivers. He also posted a strong 39 1/2-inch vertical jump.

There is of course a difference between "timed speed" and "play speed," and the existence of one doesn't always translate to the other. In Felton's case, however, he checks both boxes impressively.

"We all sat in those rooms, and you could feel this player's speed on film," said Grigson, before adding Felton is much more than a vertical speed threat. "I think having [receivers coach] Keenan [McCardell] coach him up and refine his game, he's going to be able to do a lot of things for us in this offense. He really is a ball of potential in a lot of different ways. But like I said, you know, he kind of earned his stripes at Maryland."

Felton is excited to work with McCardell, who coincidentally coached receivers at Maryland (2014-15).

"He's a legendary coach," Felton said. "I've been in contact with him throughout this process, and we definitely grew a great relationship in a small amount of time. … We relate a lot. He's cool with Coach Locks' (Mike Locksley) as well. So, he actually called Coach Locks', my head coach at Maryland, [tonight].

"'I got your boy, man,'" is what McCardell told Locksley.

"I can't wait to get up there and work with him," Felton said.