The Minnesota Vikings put themselves in a strong position entering the 2025 NFL Draft. There is a lot of hard work ahead, but general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is well on his way to providing head coach Kevin O'Connell with everything needed to mount another NFC North title challenge next time around.
Nobody is getting too carried away. There are other needs to fill and not much draft capital to find immediate difference-makers from the college ranks. The Vikings have just four picks as things stand, although Adofo-Mensah would probably like to get that up by trading down at some stage.
This makes maximizing their resources even more important. Minnesota has a strong roster, which helps provide flexibility. But one NFL analyst believes an ideal draft scenario could help the Vikings solve an overlooked defensive issue that nobody is talking about.
NFL analyst urges Vikings to consider Kenneth Grant at No. 24 overall
Max Chadwick from Pro Football Focus thought Michigan nose tackle Kenneth Grant would be a dream candidate at No. 24 overall if he fell that far down the pecking order. The analyst believes the incoming prospect represents the perfect long-term replacement for Harrison Phillips, whose production dipped last season and needs to improve to avoid becoming a salary-cap casualty in 2026.
"The Vikings shored up their need for 5-techniques enough by signing both Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen in free agency. However, they could still improve at nose tackle since Harrison Phillips is coming off back-to-back sub-60.0 season-long PFF grades. [Kenneth] Grant is the best nose tackle in the class and has rare quickness for a 340-pounder. He was one of eight FBS interior defenders since 2023 with 80.0-plus PFF grades as both a pass rusher and a run defender."Max Chadwick
Phillips has the scope to bounce back despite his advancing years. Having Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen alongside him on Minnesota's 3-4 defensive front is only going to help, but Adofo-Mensah won't be leaving anything to chance. If he can find another anchor capable of filling the void if injury or more poor performances arrive, he shouldn't hesitate.
Grant ticks those boxes and more. He's a genuine disruptor with violent hands. His athleticism is extraordinary for a man his size, which is matched by a core base that makes him a formidable proposition to overcome on running plays.
The ex-Wolverine displays explosiveness in the pass-rushing aspect when opportunities arise. Grant also has the physical attributes to block passes at the line of scrimmage effectively, which is an overlooked part of his game that won't go unnoticed by NFL personnel.
Once Grant becomes more consistent with his technique and adjusts his game to create better leverage consistently, someone is going to have an exceptional player on their hands. Landing on the Vikings would give the 21-year-old a chance to learn behind some savvy veterans before rising into an important role, which represents a tremendous spot.
It'll be fascinating to see how Adofo-Mensah approaches the draft with so few picks available. The decisions made will go a long way to determining whether the Vikings can keep pace with the Detroit Lions or not.
If the pick is Grant, nobody should be complaining too much.