Having just four picks in this year's NFL Draft pushed the idea that the Minnesota Vikings would trade out of the first round if they could. But they wound up sticking at No. 24 overall, taking former Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson to further fortify J.J. McCarthy's protection.
Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could still make some trades to accumulate more picks over the remaining six rounds of the draft, but that would echo former Minnesota general manager Rick Spielman's draft dealings in a way no one wants.
So on Day 2, entering the day, the Vikings will have just one selection: No. 97 overall, late in the third round. Here are five prospects who should be on the radar with that pick.
Top prospects left for the Minnesota Vikings on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft
Nohl Williams - CB (California)
On a pre-draft installment of "The Alec Lewis Show" with The Athletic's Vikings beat writer Alec Lewis, Dane Brugler of The Athletic pointed to Williams as an ideal fit for Brian Flores's defensive scheme.
"He is a junkyard dog at the position, and he reminds me, actually, a lot of Cam Bynum. I think he brings some versatility, where you can line him up outside, or you can line him up inside, he can play a little bit of safety, physical enough to play in the box.
...He's got the mentality, and the ball skills that I think fits Brian Flores perfectly."
Williams (6-foot, 199 pounds) had 52 total tackles, nine pass breakups and a FBS-high seven interceptions last season. Most of his snaps came as an outside corner, but as Brugler hinted at as a projection to the NFL, he lined up in the slot and in the box as well.
Flores apparently hand-picked a cornerback the Vikings signed in free agency (Isaiah Rodgers). It's fair to assume he'll have some influence over the cornerback that is drafted, if one is drafted, and Williams might be that guy.
Kevin Winston - S (Penn State)
Harrison Smith is back for his 14th season, but retirement is around the corner, and Minnesota has to be thinking about his successor. South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori was a potential first-round target for them, but as one of the best players available entering Day 2, he will not last to them at their current spot in the third round.
If not for a knee injury that cost him all but three games last season, Winston might be a top-50 pick in this draft. But alas, he had just one full season as a starter at Penn State, and evaluations of him note his all-around skills why lamenting a lack of instincts that can only be cured with experience.
Winston can be an immediate special-teams contributor for the Vikings while honing his craft under the wing of a future Hall of Famer. There is no more ideal landing spot for him, and there's no more ideal Day 2 fit for finding Smith's potential successor if Minnesota goes that way at pick No. 97.
Darien Porter - CB (Iowa State)
Porter started his career at Iowa State as a wide receiver, and he did not start a game at cornerback for the Cyclones until last season (seven starts). So he is very raw, and his experience in man coverage is limited. But the size (6-foot-3, 195 pounds, 33 and 1/8-inch arms) and speed (4.3 40-yard dash at the combine) are here in spades.
Porter posted a top-10 PFF coverage grade among FBS cornerbacks last season (90.1), with a 29.4 completion rate (five catches on 17 targets) and a 4.7 passer rating allowed in his coverage (per PFF). Those are shutdown cornerback numbers, and a little over one target per game coming his way says opponents knew targeting him was a dead end.
Flores has surely been asked to study this year's class of cornerbacks. As much as he might like Williams, it's possible he likes Porter even more.
Joshua Farmer - DT (Florida State)
The Vikings made an effort to bolster their interior defensive line in free agency, but Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave were not pictures of health last season and more depth would be nice.
Farmer was a two-year starter at Florida State, but he was also ACC Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2022 (six tackles for loss, two sacks). He has good size (6-foot-3, 305 pounds) and edge rusher-style arm length (35 inches), with lateral quickness and movement skills that tease his potential in the NFL.
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com suggested the idea that he can play as a 3-4 end (a "5-technique") or a 4-3 defensive tackle. That versatility would play well in Flores' varied and aggressive scheme.
Terrance Ferguson - TE (Oregon)
After losing Johnny Mundt and Nick Muse in free agency, Minnesota is thin at tight end with only T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver on the roster right now. And Oliver is entering the final year of his contract.
During his pre-draft press conference, Adofo-Mensah more or less assured reporters that a tight end would be drafted when he was asked about that possibility.
"Roster spot-wise, that's probably an easy place to look and see that the Vikings would want to add something. But, need – I don't love using the word need. You'll see sometimes I want to be positive focused. It's want. We want certain types of players on our team."
"But when you start that question with T.J. and Josh, and you say the word need, I feel a little bit champagne problem-ish in terms of the phrase of the word need. I think those are two dynamic players at their positions, the ability to give us a lot of great skill sets. And we're excited to add somebody else in that room, however that comes."
"Again, the draft is just one of the avenues that we have, but from a number standpoint, that is a position we will address."
Ferguson holds the Oregon school records for receptions (134) and receiving touchdowns (16) by a tight end, and he also averaged over 12 yards a catch in two of his last three seasons. He is big (6-foot-5, 247 pounds) and fast (4.63 40 at the NFL Combine, with tied for the fastest 10-yard split among tight ends at 1.55 seconds).
As is the case with a fair chunk of college tight ends, Ferguson has shortcomings as a blocker that won't fly if he's going to be his best as a complete tight end in the NFL. But he's not a lost cause in that facet of the game, and some good coaching can surely foster improvement.
The Vikings run two-tight end formations enough to be noticeable (26.5 percent last season, according to Sumer Sports), so there's room for Ferguson to take some snaps from Oliver and contribute right away.