Whether or not All-Pro safety Harrison Smith decides to delay retirement and return for his 14th NFL season, the Minnesota Vikings are likely to be searching for his successor in the 2025 NFL Draft this April.
With the possibility of parting ways with Cam Bynum as well, the Vikings will likely need to upgrade their safety position before the draft arrives.
In this pre-Super Bowl 2025 NFL mock draft, that’s precisely what Minnesota does. The Vikings don’t just find a worthy replacement for Smith, but they even trade up in the draft to secure him.
Pre-Super Bowl Minnesota Vikings 7-Round 2025 NFL Mock Draft
Before diving into the players the Minnesota Vikings select in this mock draft, it’s worth noting that they make two key trades to secure higher-value picks.
Trade No. 1
The Vikings acquire picks No. 32 (first) and No. 64 (second) from the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for pick No. 24 (first) and a 2026 fourth-round pick.
Trade No. 2
The Vikings acquire pick No. 43 (second) from the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for picks No. 64 (second), No. 161 (fifth), and a 2026 third-round pick.
Now, with these picks in hand, here’s who the Vikings select in this 2025 NFL mock draft:
First-Round Pick (32nd Overall – From KC)
Omarion Hampton – RB (North Carolina)
While the Vikings may try to bring back Aaron Jones for another season, adding a running back to complement him seems likely. In this mock, they grab Omarion Hampton, a powerful back from North Carolina. Standing at 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, Hampton excels in short-yardage situations and could eventually take over as the lead back in Minnesota by 2026.
Second-Round Pick (43rd Overall – From SF)
Xavier Watts – S (Notre Dame)
With Xavier Watts still available early in the second round, Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah makes a move to trade up and secure this standout safety from Notre Dame. Known for his relentless physicality and excellent pass coverage, Watts picked off six passes in 2024 and only allowed a 30.1 passer rating when targeted. He’s a perfect fit for the Vikings’ aggressive defense under Brian Flores.
Third-Round Pick (97th Overall)
Tate Ratledge – OG (Georgia)
Improving the interior offensive line is a priority for the Vikings, and Tate Ratledge, a tough and nasty guard from Georgia, fills that need. In his time as a starting right guard, Ratledge gave up just two sacks in 1,177 pass-blocking snaps. His gritty playing style would help bring the physicality Minnesota needs in the trenches.
Fifth-Round Pick (139th Overall)
Aeneas Peebles – DL (Virginia Tech)
To bolster their pass rush, the Vikings use their fifth-round pick to select Aeneas Peebles, a standout pass-rushing defensive lineman from Virginia Tech. Peebles finished with the sixth-most pressures in the FBS in 2024, with a 17.7 percent pass-rush win rate, ranking third among qualifying defensive linemen. He could make an immediate impact in improving Minnesota’s ability to generate pressure.
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