The 2024 NFL Draft is officially over. The Minnesota Vikings hopefully landed their quarterback of the future in J.J. McCarthy. They also hope they found their long-term replacement for Danielle Hunter in Dallas Turner, who they stole at pick No. 17.
Now is a time to bask in the glow and potential of all the new players and how they'll look in that glorious shade of purple. It's also a time to look ahead and even make a very early prediction on what the Vikings' 2025 draft may look like. At this point, they don't have a ton of picks but they are expected to get a fairly high compensatory pick that should net them an extra third-rounder.
While we will name some players in this exercise, the real takeaway is the positions that could be addressed. Minnesota filled some needs in the 2024 draft but did leave some concerning areas untouched, at least when it comes to the investment of a high draft pick. So here's a very early look at what the Vikings could do in the 2025 NFL Draft with the three picks they currently possess.
Minnesota Vikings Way-Too-Early 2025 NFL Mock Draft
First-Round Pick
Mason Graham - DT (Michigan)
It was thought by quite a few draft experts, analysts, and even fans that the Vikings would target a beast of a defensive lineman in the 2024 NFL Draft. They were said to be high on Texas's Byron Murphy II, but he was snapped up by the Seattle Seahawks at pick No. 16, and then the Vikings opted to go with Turner, as the value was too good to pass up.
They didn't address the position with their remaining picks, and it will likely be the team's primary need as they head into the 2025 NFL Draft unless they heavily upgrade it in free agency. If they do select a defensive tackle with their first pick, a great option would be Michigan's Mason Graham.
Graham is 6-foot-3 and 318 pounds. He is explosive off the snap and is tenacious in his pursuit of the ball carrier. He has the strength to throw blockers out of his way and the athletic ability to close in on the quarterback in a hurry. He was a key cog of a very impressive Michigan defense and racked up three sacks and seven and a half tackles for a loss a season ago.
It's unclear where Minnesota will end up picking next year, but if they are in a position to land Graham, they should pull the trigger. He could be the dawg this defensive line currently lacks.
Fifth-Round Pick No. 1
Xavier Truss - OG (Georgia)
Like defensive tackle, guard was a big need heading into the draft and wasn't touched until very late. Guard will need to be upgraded again next year, especially if Blake Brandel struggles as the starter on the left side. It's also unclear what Garrett Bradbury's future with the team will be after next season, so the interior of the offensive line, as a whole, will emerge as a major need area.
Xavier Truss from Georgia would be a great start to fixing that issue. He's a behemoth of a man, standing 6-foot-7 and weighing over 320 pounds. For a big man, he's extremely athletic and is a natural knee-bender. He does need some fine-tuning with his footwork and technique, but is SEC battle-tested and that is always a huge plus.
Truss also can kick outside and play tackle if needed. That position flexibility is a huge plus and a factor that could get him drafted even higher.
Fifth-Round Pick No. 2
Noah Thomas - WR (Texas A&M)
Many assumed that the Vikings would take a wide receiver at some point in the 2024 NFL Draft. It was never a primary need, with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison topping the depth chart and Brandon Powell re-signing to work out of the slot. Minnesota also added Trent Sherrfield in free agency earlier this year, and they have young players like Jalen Nailor and Trishton Jackson on the roster.
Again, there wasn't a dire need, but if the value presented itself it was widely speculated they could add a name to this group. That didn't happen, and it should become a much bigger area of concern in 2024.
The Vikings will need to add talent to the depth behind the two stars and why not add a huge target to the room? Noah Thomas is a ginormous player, standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 200 pounds. He has great quickness and burst for being so large and logged the best season of his career when he accumulated 29 catches for 359 yards and five touchdowns.
Thomas would bring elite size to Minnesota's wide receiver room and would become a nice red-zone target and safety net option for McCarthy. It'll be interesting to see what he does in 2025 and how far he shoots up the board, but he'd be a solid addition to the Vikings.