One of the worst parts of the NFL is when your team is eliminated from the playoffs and focus now has to shift to next season. That means teams like the Minnesota Vikings will need to start eyeing up prospects in the draft and checking out potential free agent signings.
Although the Vikings won 14 games last season, they will have some holes to fill on their roster this offseason. Whether it is departing free agents, retirements, or weak areas the team needs to improve, talent must be brought into the squad.
Getting their draft picks right is important. Missing out on an opportunity to get an impact player can hurt a team's development and force the general manager to spend more resources attempting to get a great player to fill a need.
Minnesota's defensive secondary is an area where the team could look very different in 2025. Numerous cornerbacks and both starting safeties might need to be replaced, creating a bit of an issue for the Vikings.
Vikings replace All-Pro defender with top pick in recent 2025 NFL mock draft
Harrison Smith is turning 36 years old in February and his future in the NFL is up in the air. The former All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowl safety has earned his retirement and will be a strong candidate for the Vikings Ring of Honor with arguments for him to go in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
A recent mock draft has the Minnesota Vikings drafting a player to step in at safety and hopefully fill the hole left by Smith if he chooses to retire. The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner and Scott Dochterman recently shared their projected pick for the purple and gold in their most recent mock draft.
"As the Vikings prepare for the post-Harrison Smith world, they need another third-level playmaker. Emmanwori was that and more for the Gamecocks — he had two pick sixes this season (and a third called back because of roughing the passer). Emmanwori can hit and cover, plus he’s a high-energy player. You’re getting the full package."Baumgardner and Dochterman
Nick Emmanwori is a 20-year-old safety who played for South Carolina. In three years he played in 37 games where he defended 11 passes and had six interceptions to go with 244 combined tackles in his collegiate career.
The six-foot-three, 227-pound defensive back could be a physical force in Minnesota's secondary and possibly be a cornerstone for the defense for many years to come. If he is on the board when the Vikings are on the clock, it would be hard to pass up Nick Emmanwori.