Vikings Draft 2020: Five-year history of the 25th overall pick

Marquise Brown – WR

It’s hard to judge a player after one year, but Marquise “Hollywood” Brown gave plenty of bang for the 25th overall buck the Ravens used on him.

Brown used his exceptional speed to blow by defenders on his way to 46 receptions for 584 yards and seven touchdowns last season. He formed a strong rapport with Lamar Jackson and should be looked at as Baltimore’s top target in the passing game as he heads into his second season in the NFL.

Other Players Available:

The Ravens definitely don’t regret the choice they made in their second consecutive year of having the 25th pick. Other than Montez Sweat being on the board, it appears they took the best player available.

Some of the guys who didn’t make an impact in as rookies last season who were selected around this slot were Jerry Tillery, Johnathan Abram (got hurt), L.J. Collier, and N’Keal Harry.

Conclusion:

Looking back over the last five years, there has been plenty of quality talent available on the board when the team holding the 25th pick is on the clock. Many times, the team picking hasn’t made the right choice. But for the most part, the 25th overall selection has at least produced a solid starter.

Looking back, the team holding the 25th pick would’ve benefited from trading down on multiple occasions. Almost every single year, there were a handful of players who fell to the early part of the second round that ended up being more productive than the guys taken at or after the 25th choice.

The Vikings would be wise to go back and look at some of these trends. If the 2020 NFL Draft falls similarly to what we’ve seen in the last five years, trading back would be a great move. Minnesota would still be able to land a potential star player and accumulate more choices.

If the Vikings can’t find a trade partner, they should take comfort knowing that in the last five years, the No. 25 pick has often produced a solid starter who can come in and help the team as a rookie.