Grading CBS Sports' 7-round mock draft for the Vikings

USA Today

11-04-2025

Grading CBS Sports' 7-round mock draft for the Vikings
We're less than two weeks away from the first round of the NFL Draft. That means we're about to get a flurry of mock drafts, including full seven-round mocks like the one CBS Sports' Chris Trapasso released this week.
He doesn't have the Vikings making any trades, which is unfortunate because that leaves the team with only four picks. But it's also a possibility, as it takes two to tango. So even if the Vikings want to trade down, they may not find a willing partner.
1st Round, 24th Overall: Nick Emmanwori, Safety, South Carolina
Nick Emmanwori, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound safety is ranked 25th overall on the 2025 Consensus Big Board. This is good value and gives the Vikings their eventual successor to Harrison Smith, who may be playing his final season in 2025. Emmanwori has position flexibility to play in the box and deep safety.
It's worth noting that players who are still available at 24 in Trapasso's mock include interior defensive linemen Kenneth Grant and Walter Nolen, as well as offensive lineman Grey Zabel.
3rd Round, 97th Overall: Jordan Hancock, Safety/Cornerback, Ohio State
The Vikings address the secondary again in the third round, taking Hancock, who, like Emmanwori, has position flexibility. He can play slot cornerback, although Byron Murphy, Jr. has manned that role the past two seasons. Hancock is ranked 153rd in the Consensus Big Board.
This pick would make more sense if the Vikings hadn't signed Theo Jackson to an extension this offseason. Players passed up in the mock include Kentucky defensive lineman Deone Walker, Virginia Tech cornerback Dorian Strong, and Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson.
5th Round, 139th Overall: Caleb Rogers, Guard/Tackle, Texas Tech
With the first pick in the fifth round, the Vikings address the trenches with Rogers. He, too, gives the team position flexibility. Rogers is ranked 131st on the Consensus Big Board.
6th Round, 187th Overall: Jamaree Caldwell, DT, Oregon
The Vikings add to the trenches again, drafting Caldwell, who stands 6-foot-2, 332 pounds. Although Minnesota added Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen in free agency, they need younger players who can replace them in the future. Caldwell is ranked 129th on the Consensus Big Board.
Total Grade: B-
Outside of the Hancock selection, the Vikings combine value with need, addressing their most pressing roster questions with the Emmanwori, Rogers, and Caldwell picks.
It will sting a bit if the Vikings aren't able to trade down in the first round, especially if players like Grant, Nolen, and Zabel are still on the board at 24. Not being able to swing a trade and recouping lost draft capital could raise further questions about Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's draft approach.