The Minnesota Vikings looked like they could win the Super Bowl. But the Vikings are already thinking about the summer after the last two games. That means finding out who will be picked 24th in the NFL Draft in 2025.
Minnesota lost in the first round after being a possible top seed in the NFC. The Vikings let the Los Angeles Rams get nine sacks, which tied an NFL playoff record.
The team led by head coach Kevin O’Connell will have to deal with a number of issues. His team, the Vikings, won’t pick in the top 10 this year, though. Minnesota will have to wait until the very end of the first night of the draft.
At No. 24, there are still three interesting names that can help the Vikings. There is one choice that can fix their pass defense problems. Here are three early Vikings first-round targets that you should keep an eye on.
Tyler Booker is an offensive guard for Alabama.
Tyler Booker (52) warms up before a game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA, on November 30, 2024. Credit is required for Will McLelland-Imagn Images.
It’s clear that the offensive line needs to be fixed. In 14 games this season, Sam Darnold was sacked more than twice. There are nine more in that number, taken on Monday in Glendale, Arizona.
Texas Tech’s Tyler Booker is one of the more reliable pass blockers in this class. With his big hands, he shakes pass rushers at the point of attack. Booker also has a strong foot burst for pull blocks, which lets him do his job as a blocker and then destroy the opponent.
Josh Edwards of CBS Sports already thinks the 6-foot-5, 352-pound player will go to the Vikings in the 24th round. Booker is from an Alabama town that is ready for the NFL. He is ready to start right away when he comes in.
Running back Kaleb Johnson from Iowa
In the second half of the game on November 29, 2024, Nebraska Cornhuskers defender Mikai Gbayor (42) is behind Iowa Hawkeyes running back Kaleb Johnson (2), who scores a touchdown.
Julie Hansen/USA TODAY NETWORK/Iowa City Press-Citizen
If Boise State star Ashton Jeanty somehow falls to the Vikings, Minnesota fans will chant “Skol!” Jeanty won’t likely fall that low, though.
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Vikings want to sign free agents in 2025 after a terrible playoff loss to the Rams.
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Kaleb Johnson of Iowa, on the other hand, should be free if Minnesota chooses to go with the running back scheme. Johnson is taller than Jeanty, who is 5 feet 9 inches, and he knows how to run in the zone well.
One of Johnson’s best skills is his ability to cut. Another one that’s hard to beat, but this one is 6 feet tall and 220 pounds. The Vikings and O’Connell need to think about who will play in place of Aaron Jones, who is 30 years old, for a long time. By coming here, Johnson becomes the future running back for the Twin Cities.
Benjamin Morrison is a cornerback for Notre Dame. On Saturday, September 7, 2024, in South Bend, Benjamin Morrison (20) goes with his team during warm-ups before an NCAA football game between Notre Dame and Northern Illinois at Notre Dame Stadium.
© Michael Clubb / USA NETWORK FOR TODAY
Odell Beckham Jr., Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, and the Vikings need to make a lot of changes at cornerback.
Even after all these years, Shaquill Griffin and Stephon Gilmore still work out. Both of them are getting older, though. Bryon Murphy, who has the most interceptions, is also leaving the team for free. This is another reason why CB is the third need for spot No. 24.
Benjamin Morrison is one of the best cornerbacks in the country at man defense. His 6-foot-4 height makes people even more interested in his ability to play in the league. For 2025, Notre Dame is full of NFL prospects. But Morrison is the best choice for the Fighting Irish in this class.
Going forward, Minnesota needs to be sure that someone in the NFC North will be able to lock up Amon-Ra St. Brown, Keenan Allen, D.J. Moore, and Christian Watson. The Vikings may be keeping an eye on someone who can stop Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith from making a lot of catches in Monday night’s national title game. If Morrison falls to 24th overall, this is a great time to pick him up.
