The prevailing sentiment among media experts is that the Minnesota Vikings should look to trade during the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. With four picks in hand—first, third, fifth, and sixth rounds—many believe the Vikings should focus on bolstering their secondary, adding defensive line depth, and strengthening their offensive line.
The biggest question remains whether Minnesota will trade down to accumulate more picks in the later rounds. One draft expert, NFL.com’s Chad Reuter, predicts that the Vikings will indeed trade down with the Kansas City Chiefs, moving to the 31st overall pick in his latest mock draft. In return, the Vikings would acquire Kansas City’s 95th and 133rd picks, swapping their first-round pick for the Chiefs’ slot.
Reuter suggests that Minnesota would select Florida State cornerback Azareye’h Thomas with their newly acquired pick. While Thomas’ 40-yard dash time of 4.6 seconds may raise some concerns, his size offers a valuable asset to the Vikings’ secondary, complementing returning starter Byron Murphy Jr. and new addition Isaiah Rodgers. Last season, Thomas posted a career-high 52 tackles, along with four pass deflections, two tackles for loss, and an interception in 12 games.
Reuter envisions the Vikings using the extra picks from their trade to address both offensive and defensive needs throughout the next four rounds. The added selections from the third through fifth rounds would provide the team with opportunities to add depth without sacrificing future potential.
One key pick that stands out is West Virginia’s All-American offensive lineman, Milum, who Reuter suggests could be a valuable addition for Minnesota to solidify their line without using a first-round pick. Another intriguing choice is Virginia Tech running back Bhayshul Tuten, projected to be selected in the fourth round.
Tuten is coming off an impressive 1,000-yard season and a career-high 15 touchdowns. While Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason are the current top backs, Tuten could eventually be a replacement for Jones, especially considering that Jones is on a one-year deal.
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