The Minnesota Vikings spent free agency stacking their interior offensive line, locking down Ryan Kelly and Will Fries with multi-year deals. On paper, that gives the team a pretty solid base in the interior. But each of those additions also comes with durability concerns, and Minnesota still doesn’t have a true long-term answer at left guard.
That’s where UNC’s Willie Lampkin could enter the picture. The five-year starter and former state champion wrestler is one of the most technically polished linemen in the class, despite being one of the smallest prospects to ever take reps at the Senior Bowl. His 61 career starts across all three interior positions give him instant plug-and-play versatility—especially valuable for a Vikings team with limited draft capital.
Whether it’s as a developmental starter at left guard or an eventual replacement at center, Lampkin brings a tone-setting presence and a technician’s mindset to the trenches. If the Vikings want to get younger, more reliable, and more physical inside, Lampkin is a smart bet to outperform his draft slot.
North Carolina OL Willie Lampkin 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Notes
- Height: 5-foot-11
- Weight: 290 pounds
- Recruiting: 2020 3-star, No. 1,965 national, No. 144 DT
- Third-Team All-ACC (2023), 2024 AP First-team All-ACC selection
- Florida 2A heavyweight state champion in wrestling (47-0)
Positives
- Exceptional natural leverage and elite hand technique from years of wrestling
- Impressive mobility and footwork; closes space quickly on pulls and climbs
- Versatile with experience at left guard, right guard, and center (61 career starts)
- Strong anchor and grip strength in pass protection despite size limitations
Upside is the name of Willie's game. Lampkin plays with rare functional leverage. His low center of gravity, compact frame, and high-level wrestling background allow him to control bigger defenders by staying underneath their pads and neutralizing power at the point of attack. That’s huge for a Vikings team looking to stabilize the interior of their line — particularly if they want to get back to dominating on early downs.
His footwork is outstanding, especially on the move. Lampkin is a perfect fit for zone-blocking schemes that value mobility and angles over brute strength. For a team like Minnesota that just added a rookie quarterback and already has athletic tackles, inserting a technician like Lampkin could help create cleaner pockets and more consistent interior push in the run game.
Negatives
- Undersized frame may limit upside and create match-up concerns vs power
- Can get overextended if he loses the initial hand battle
- Lacks ideal range on wide pulls or extended zone stretches
Lampkin’s size is the elephant in the room. He’s significantly shorter and lighter than most interior linemen — a fact that will push him down many draft boards. In certain matchups, particularly against long-levered interior defenders, his lack of mass can show up. He can get pulled forward or struggle to re-anchor if he’s beaten to first contact.
There’s also some athletic ceiling here in terms of range. While Lampkin is nimble, he’s not a long-speed athlete, and his effectiveness drops slightly when asked to sustain movement across wide gaps. For the Vikings, this means managing his usage in scheme fits — limiting the amount of isolation pass-block reps and keeping him in zone-heavy situations where his leverage and quick hands can shine.
Willie Lampkin NFL Player Comparison:
- Primary Comp: Jason Kelce
- Alternative: Graham Glasgow
- Floor Comp: Nick Harris
Willie Lampkin shares an obvious stylistic comparison with Jason Kelce—both undersized, technically elite centers with outstanding leverage and processing speed. Like Kelce, Lampkin wins with angles, intelligence, and a nonstop motor that makes him a chore for defenders to deal with for four quarters. He lacks the physical upside, but the stylistic ceiling is present.
Graham Glasgow is another decent comp in terms of positional versatility and general profile. While Lampkin may not have Glasgow’s size (6-foot-6, 308 pounds), both players offer three-position flexibility and play with outstanding pad level and footwork, the kind of plug-and-play utility that gives coaches confidence when building their depth chart.
Willie Lampkin 2025 NFL Draft Grade: 4th round
Lampkin is such an interesting prospect. His size will keep him on Day 3 boards, but his tape shows a smart, relentless lineman who wins with technique, leverage, and toughness. In a zone-heavy system like Minnesota’s, he has a real shot to compete for reps at center or guard early in his career with the potential to eventually kick outside.