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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
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Andrew Harbaugh

Vikings get defensive help in latest Draft Network mock draft

The Minnesota Vikings sold a lot of the groceries in the 2025 NFL Draft for assets in the 2024 NFL Draft, but they still have their first-round pick, which means mock drafts matter. The Vikings and their first-round pick are going to be very valuable. Could they trade back? Could they sit where they are and get a value?

It’s the NFL draft, anything is possible.

The Draft Network published the latest mock draft within the industry, with some interesting picks. One common theme, though, is that defense rules the draft. A year after the offense was the king of the draft, the other side of the ball gets a turn, and that is where they have the Vikings going.

They gave the Vikings help along the defensive line in the form of Deone Walker from Kentucky. He is arguably the most impressive player in the entire draft due to how he moves as a defensive lineman with the size he possesses.

We wrote a scouting report on him from our summer scouting and thought he would be a great fit for the team in the future. Damian Parson sells us on the idea of Walker alongside the Vikings’ established edge rushers.

“Dallas Turner looks the part from his first NFL action in Week 1 of the preseason. Pairing him with Deone Walker with Brian Flores calling the defensive plays will make opposing QBs lose sleep at night.”

A defensive front of Jonathan Greenard, Dallas Turner, and Deone Walker is a modern-day version of the Purple People Eaters. What more could you ask for?

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