We’re two weeks away from the 2025 NFL Combine, when most fans will get introduced to this year’s crop of rookies. Still, that doesn’t mean mock drafts haven’t started yet.
This week, we finally clarified the draft order. Now that the Super Bowl is over, all 32 first-round slots are locked up. The Minnesota Vikings remain at pick 24, a spot where they can find value at several positions.
Trevor Sikkema of PFF wrote his first post-Super Bowl mock draft this week. He has the Vikings selecting Alabama guard Tyler Booker. PFF lists him as 6’5″, 325 pounds. Sikkema said the following about the pick.
The Vikings could target a defensive back in this range, but their interior offensive line was also a weak spot in 2024 — and a reason they didn’t advance further in the playoffs. Booker is a rock-solid guard prospect who is talked about in high regard for his intangibles and how he approaches the game.
According to PFF, Booker graded well in 2024, posting an 86.5 pass-block grade. His run-blocking grade was slightly above average at 63.9, but the Vikings run a pass-first operation.
This isn’t a pick fans would be upset about, as the interior offensive line needs help. But would Kwesi Adofo-Mensah address guard at pick 24? PFF has Booker listed as their 45th-ranked prospect on their Big Board. This could be seen as a reach at pick 24.
However, this doesn’t mean Booker couldn’t be an option in Minnesota. Although the Vikings are projected to receive a third-round compensatory pick, they currently only have three draft picks. Trading down, gaining additional picks in the middle rounds, and selecting Booker in the second round could better maximize value.
Booker is an intriguing prospect, and he turns 21 in April, meaning he still has tons of potential. The Vikings need better guard play, and the SEC product could be exactly what they need to protect J.J. McCarthy in 2025 and beyond.