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The Minnesota Vikings made history as the NFL's first 14-win wild-card team during the 2024 season. They are hoping to improve upon that finish and potentially mount a Super Bowl run with a new starting quarterback.
J.J. McCarthy is set to take over for Sam Darnold in 2025 after the veteran signed a three-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks in free agency. McCarthy was a top-10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft after starring at Michigan and was initially favored to win Minnesota's starting job last season before a knee injury knocked him out for the season.
McCarthy will face a tough task in replicating Darnold's regular-season success. That said, if he can improve upon Darnold's rocky postseason performance, he will quickly endear him to a Minnesota fan base hoping to finally win a Super Bowl.
The Vikings have done a good job adding talent around McCarthy. They notably built up the offensive line in front of him by signing Ryan Kelly and Will Fries in free agency. They also beefed up the interior defensive line with a couple of veterans – Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave – positioning Brian Flores' stop unit to take yet another step forward.
How will the Vikings continue to improve their roster in the 2025 NFL Draft? It won't be easy, as the team is armed with just four selections entering the event. That makes them a strong trade-down candidate as they look to keep improving McCarthy's supporting cast.
Here are USA TODAY Sports and the USA TODAY Network's grades for each of Minnesota's selections in the 2025 NFL Draft.
This section will be updated as picks are made.
Below is a full list of Minnesota's selections in the 2025 NFL draft:
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Vikings 2025 draft grades: Live grades for every player taken
Continue reading...
J.J. McCarthy is set to take over for Sam Darnold in 2025 after the veteran signed a three-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks in free agency. McCarthy was a top-10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft after starring at Michigan and was initially favored to win Minnesota's starting job last season before a knee injury knocked him out for the season.
McCarthy will face a tough task in replicating Darnold's regular-season success. That said, if he can improve upon Darnold's rocky postseason performance, he will quickly endear him to a Minnesota fan base hoping to finally win a Super Bowl.
The Vikings have done a good job adding talent around McCarthy. They notably built up the offensive line in front of him by signing Ryan Kelly and Will Fries in free agency. They also beefed up the interior defensive line with a couple of veterans – Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave – positioning Brian Flores' stop unit to take yet another step forward.
How will the Vikings continue to improve their roster in the 2025 NFL Draft? It won't be easy, as the team is armed with just four selections entering the event. That makes them a strong trade-down candidate as they look to keep improving McCarthy's supporting cast.
Here are USA TODAY Sports and the USA TODAY Network's grades for each of Minnesota's selections in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Vikings NFL draft grades
This section will be updated as picks are made.
Vikings NFL draft picks
Below is a full list of Minnesota's selections in the 2025 NFL draft:
- Round 1, Pick 24
- Round 3, Pick 97
- Round 5, Pick 139 (from Browns)
- Round 6, Pick 187 (from 49ers)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Vikings 2025 draft grades: Live grades for every player taken
Continue reading...
