The Minnesota Vikings have a handful of potential outcomes when looking ahead to the 2025 NFL Draft. Considering their projected win total this season is not high, they should land a high pick. They’ll need to nail that selection as they currently don’t have another until the fifth round.
Can the Minnesota Vikings address two positions with Travis Hunter?
The Colorado Buffalos are currently among the most polarizing teams in college football. Deion Sanders runs a program that certainly draws headlines. Despite the charades they do have talent, and the best of it is wide receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter. The latest mock draft from CBS has Minnesota grabbing the prospect with the 9th overall pick.
“What a fun selection here — Hunter can act as the No. 1 CB in Minnesota and Kevin O’Connell can design an offensive package to utilize Hunter for the true beginning of the J.J. McCarthy era.”
Chris Trapasso on Travis Hunter to Minnesota (CBS Sports)
What Travis Hunter is currently doing at the college level is unprecedented. It is rare to see a player capable of competing on both sides of the football. Hunter being able to be on the field nearly 100% of the time is unheard of. It doesn’t seem likely that he will be able to keep that up at the next level, but Minnesota could use him in both spots.
Even if Hunter competes on just one side of the football he should be seen as a first round pick. Where and how the Vikings dictate he would most benefit them is something that could be interesting to observe.
Is Travis Hunter the best use of a Minnesota draft pick?
The Minnesota Vikings did not address their wide receiver position this offseason. Jalen Nailor stuck as the third option and may prove to be a great choice as the year goes on. It seems unlikely that Jordan Addison is going anywhere, so Travis Hunter would be a luxury there.
Stephon Gilmore was brought in to strengthen the cornerback room but is an aging commodity. There aren’t many young options for Brian Flores to rely upon against opposing offenses. Hunter may be best served there for the Vikings. Either position would mean passing on an interior defensive lineman to play alongside the newly extended Harrison Phillips.
Trapasso’s mock draft doesn’t have any interior defensive linemen going until the 15th pick. Kentucky’s Deone Walker is the first off the board, and that would require Minnesota having a later pick due to a better year. The Vikings could move back in the first round in order to generate addition draft capital. They definitely don’t need a quarterback with J.J. McCarthy on the roster.
We’re still a long time from the Vikings needing to sort out any of their draft plans. If Hunter did become the pick, there’s no doubt it would be a lot of fun.
