When it comes to some of the position groups that most assume the Minnesota Vikings will target in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft, tight end typically isn't at the top of the list. But maybe it should be?
On Thursday, Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was asked about the potential of the team selecting a tight end in this year's NFL Draft, and his answer definitely wasn't one to be ignored.
"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."
Will the Minnesota Vikings spend their top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on a tight end?
Adofo-Mensah admitted to Minnesota obviously having the need to add more players to its tight end room, with T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver being the only tight ends on the team's current roster. But the Vikings general manager also did his best to make it known that the team is not anywhere close to having a desperate need at the tight end position.
Still, some of Minnesota's best selections in past NFL Drafts have been during years when they decided to add a top prospect to a position group that wasn't in need of much of a talent upgrade (see Randy Moss and Adrian Peterson).
The same can probably be said for the current group of Vikings tight ends heading into the 2025 season. But, at the same time, Minnesota is also one Hockenson injury away from Oliver starting games as the team's No. 1 tight end.
Plus, Oliver is also scheduled to become a free agent in 2026, so he could be entering his final season with the Vikings.
Adding another tight end or two in free agency is still an option for the Vikings, but this year's draft pool also features several intriguing tight end prospects, including one of J.J. McCarthy's college teammates.
Former Michigan tight end Colston Loveland is PFF's second-highest ranked tight end in this year's draft pool, and he's PFF's 26th-best prospect overall. He had a solid season with the Wolverines in 2024, and in the 2023 campaign, he and McCarthy connected 45 times for 649 yards and four touchdowns.
Adding someone who has already developed an on-field chemistry with McCarthy is something that could definitely entice Minnesota to draft Loveland this year.
Now, he's probably not someone the Vikings are going to trade up to select. But if he's still on the board whenever it comes time for Minnesota to make its top pick next week, don't be surprised if Loveland is given the opportunity to become teammates with McCarthy for the second time in his football career.