Rob Kleifield
The Mock Drafts have been speaking for months and most commonly predict the Vikings to add to the offensive line, defensive line or secondary during the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. In leading up to Round 1 on April 24, 2025, we'll take a look at o-line, d-line, cornerback and safety prospects who have garnered a range of attention from national outlets. The series will include rankings by those national outlets, stats and background information for multiple prospects, plus a check-in on the position room.
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Vikings status at defensive line
Minnesota prioritized both sides of the trenches when free agency opened a month ago and did so on defense by signing Pro Bowl tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, formerly with the Commanders and 49ers. Allen and Hargrave add incredible experience to the Vikings DL room (108 and 115 starts, respectively, over eight and nine seasons) and coveted pass-rush abilities, as evidenced by their 42.0 and 45.5 career sacks.
Returning players include 2024 captain Harrison Phillips, who has played in and started all 51 possible regular-season games for Minnesota since joining the team in 2022. He has appeared in 96 overall in seven NFL seasons. The Vikings also have Jalen Redmond, Levi Drake Rodriguez and Taki Taimani. Those three impressed enough in training camp last season to make the initial 53-man roster and wound up playing well in varying roles, with Redmond the flashiest of the trio.
In 2024, Redmond, 26, had a sack and six tackles for loss on a smidge more than 200 snaps. Taimani, a UDFA signing last year, handled some run-down duties early in the campaign before an injury stopped him in his tracks, while 2024 seventh-rounder Drake Rodriguez shined primarily on look squads in Year 1.
The Vikings also have Travis Bell and Jonathan Harris in the fold after they signed futures contracts. Bell was a seventh-round pick of Chicago in 2023 and joined the practice squad in November. Harris, who has played in 40 NFL games, with nine starts, 91 tackles and a sack to his name, did the same in December.
Phillips (29), Allen (30) and Hargrave (32) give Minnesota essential knowledge and leadership in the DL room, plus a dynamic combination of run-stopping and pass-rushing all of which should help its youth.
Also of note: Veteran DL Jerry Tillery departed after one season with the Vikings, signing a free-agent deal with Kansas City, and 31-year-old Jonathan Bullard is an unrestricted free agent after three seasons repping the Purple.
Recently said
Kevin O'Connell spoke with Vikings Entertainment Network's Tatum Everett at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida, during the 2025 Annual League Meeting about the defensive additions that he's most excited about:
"I think Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen two veteran guys that are proven disruptors in the interior. And I think people may be underestimating their impact when you think about what we did on the edges last year with [Jonathan] Greenard, [Andrew] Van Ginkel, [and] drafting Dallas Turner, who's going to have a great second year as a Minnesota Viking; and then Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace, [Jr.]. We're really starting to talk about a front that is as formidable as anybody in the National Football League."
Expert rankings
Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com has five interior defensive linemen in hisTop 50player rankings: Mason Graham (No. 4 overall), Derrick Harmon (23), Walter Nolen (28), Kenneth Grant (30) and Darius Alexander (47).
The Athletic's Dane Brugler has 10 on his big board of top 100 prospects, which he updated in his comprehensive draft guideThe Beast: Graham (4), Harmon (16), Grant (25), Nolen (31), Tyleik Williams (40), Shemar Turner (56), Alexander (61), Alfred Collins (68), T.J. Sanders (70) and Joshua Farmer (76).
Rankings for defensive linemen by Jeremiah, his NFL Media counterpartBucky Brooks,ESPNs Mel Kiper, Jr.,Pro Football Focusand Brugler are listed below.
Prospects
Note: Heights and weights are from each player's profile on NFL.com (linked for each player's name).
While there's a consensus that defensive line is one of, if not the deepest position in the class, we're including 13 prospects.
**Mason Graham**
School:Michigan| Class:Junior| Ht:6-foot-3 1/2| Wt:296 pounds
2024 stats:12 games; 45 tackles (23 solo), 3.5 sacks, 7 TFL, 1 PD
Career stats:39 games; 107 tackles (60 solo), 9 sacks, 17 TFL, 3 PD, 1 FF, 1 FR
One of a kind:Four-hundred and thirty-eight Michigan players have been drafted into the NFL, and 21 have gone in the top 10 but never a defensive tackle. Graham is likely to change that after he collected All-American honors twice (unanimous First Team, 2024; Second Team, 2023) in three college seasons.
Experts' Position Rankings
Daniel Jeremiah: DT1
Bucky Brooks: DT1
Mel Kiper, Jr.: DT1
Pro Football Focus: DT1
Dane Brugler: DT1
**Derrick Harmon**
School:Oregon (after Michigan State)| Class:R-Junior| Ht:6-foot-4 1/2| Wt:313 pounds
2024 stats:14 games; 45 tackles (27 solo), 5.0 sacks, 10.5 TFL, 3 PD, 2 FF, 2 FR
Career starts:42 games (28 at Michigan State); 116 tackles (51 solo), 8.5 sacks, 17 TFL, 5 PD, 3 FF, 3 FR
Under pressure:After transferring from Michigan State, Harmon more than doubled his top total pressures in a season, logging an FBS-best 49 among interior defenders, in 2024 for the Ducks 10 more than anyone else in the country; his 88.8 pass-rush grade via Pro Football Focus was third overall for DTs.
Experts' Position Rankings
Daniel Jeremiah: DT2
Bucky Brooks: DT4
Mel Kiper, Jr.: DT2
Pro Football Focus: DT4
Dane Brugler: DT2
**Walter Nolen**
School:Mississippi (after Texas A&M)| Class:Junior| Ht:6-foot-4| Wt:296 pounds
2024 stats:13 games; 48 tackles (25 solo), 6.5 sacks, 14 TFL, 3 PD, 2 FR
Career stats:35 games (22 at Texas A&M); 114 tackles (62 solo), 11.5 sacks, 25 TFL, 4 PD, 1 FF, 3 FR
Historic transfer:Following two seasons at Texas A&M, Nolen helped Mississippi limit opponents to the fewest rushing yards per game in the nation (80.5) and achieve single-season defensive program records in sacks (52) and tackles for loss (120). He became one of 14 consensus All-Americans in the Rebels' 119-year history.
Experts' Position Rankings
Daniel Jeremiah: DT3
Bucky Brooks: DT2
Mel Kiper, Jr.: DT3
Pro Football Focus: DT3
Dane Brugler: DT4
**Kenneth Grant**
School:Michigan| Class:Junior| Ht:6-foot-4| Wt:331 pounds
2024 stats:12 games; 32 tackles (18 solo), 3.0 sacks, 6.5 TFL, 5 PD, 2 FR
Career stats: 41 games; 69 tackles (36 solo), 6.5 sacks, 11.5 TFL, 1 INT, 12 PD, 3 FR
Strong self-belief:Trimmed down at the NFL Scouting Combine, Grant said he played last season at 345 pounds. "I'm a 3-down player for sure. I can rush the passer with my strength and a little bit of finesse in there," he said. "Most guys think I'm just a run stopper, but I'm super athletic and can rush the passer."
Experts' Position Rankings
Daniel Jeremiah: DT4
Bucky Brooks: DT3
Mel Kiper, Jr.: DT4
Pro Football Focus: DT2
Dane Brugler: DT3
**Darius Alexander**
School:Toledo| Class:Senior| Ht:6-foot-4| Wt:305 pounds
2024 stats:12 games; 40 tackles (17 solo), 3.5 sacks, 7.5 TFL, 1 INT, 5 PD
Career stats:57 games; 127 tackles (45 solo), 9 sacks, 22 TFL, 1 INT, 13 PD, 1 FR
House call:Alexander intercepted a pass and returned it 58 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the GameAbove Sports Bowl against Pittsburgh when Toledo trailed 30-20. The thick pick six ignited the Rockets to come back, force overtime and later topple the Panthers, 48-46, in a wonky six-OT affair.
Experts' Position Rankings
Daniel Jeremiah: DT5
Bucky Brooks: DT5
Mel Kiper, Jr.: DT6
Pro Football Focus: DT5
Dane Brugler: DT7
**Tyleik Williams**
School:Ohio State| Class:Senior| Ht:6-foot-3| Wt:334 pounds
2024 stats:13 games; 46 tackles (16 solo), 2.5 sacks, 8 TFL, 1 PD
Career stats:51 games; 137 tackles (56 solo), 11.5 sacks, 27 TFL, 10 PD, 1 FF, 1 FR
Divisional comp:NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein compared Williams to Lions star Alim McNeil, who inked the fourth-largest contract in terms of total compensation for a defensive tackle this past October. Zierlein praised Williams' violent first contact and nimble feet and said his "knock-back pop and ability to eat up runners in his general vicinity" could turn him into an impactful, run-stuffing 3-technique.
Experts' Position Rankings
Daniel Jeremiah: Not ranked among Top 50 prospects
Bucky Brooks: Not ranked among Top 5 DL
Mel Kiper, Jr.: DT7
Pro Football Focus: DT7
Dane Brugler: DT5
**Alfred Collins**
School:Texas| Class:Senior| Ht:6-foot-6| Wt:332 pounds
2024 stats:16 games; 55 tackles (27 solo), 1.0 sack, 5.5 TFL, 7 PD, 1 FF
Career stats: 63 games; 142 tackles (73 solo), 7.5 sacks, 18 TFL, 1 INT, 13 PD, 2 FF
Great genes:Collins' mother, Benita Pollard-Collins, played on the Texas women's hoops team from 1990-94; A personnel director for an NFC team described Collins to Zierlein as a "legit specimen," adding, "with the right coaching he could end up taking off and becoming the best interior player in this class."
Experts' Position Rankings
Daniel Jeremiah: Not ranked among Top 50 prospects
Bucky Brooks: Not ranked among Top 5 DL
Mel Kiper, Jr.: DT8
Pro Football Focus: DT11
Dane Brugler: DT8
**Joshua Farmer**
School:Florida State| Class:R-Junior| Ht:6-foot-3| Wt:305 pounds
2024 stats:12 games; 32 tackles (12 solo), 4.0 sacks, 8 TFL
Career starts:40 games; 74 tackles (31 solo), 10 sacks, 20 TFL, 1 PD, 1 FF
Overcoming adversity:Farmer lost his father to a botched medical procedure when he was 2 years old and was dealt another blow at age 11 when his mother passed while in a coma that resulted from a brain aneurysm. The childhood losses led Farmer to stick tightly with his six older siblings and grandmother, follow the straight and narrow, and attempt to honor his parents and bless his siblings through football successes.
Experts' Position Rankings
Daniel Jeremiah: (Not currently included in Top 50, but was at 43 earlier this year)
Bucky Brooks: Not ranked among Top 5 DL
Mel Kiper, Jr.: DT5
Pro Football Focus: DT13
Dane Brugler: DT10
**Shemar Turner**
School:Texas A&M| Class:Senior| Ht:6-foot-3| Wt:290 pounds
2024 stats:12 games; 36 tackles (20 solo), 2.0 sacks, 5.5 TFL, 1 PD, 1 FF
Career stats:43 games; 115 tackles (54 solo), 10 sacks, 22.5 TFL, 1 PD, 3 FF
Dynamic duo:At Dallas-suburb DeSoto High School in Texas, Turner teamed with 2024 No. 16 overall draft pick, Seattle's Byron Murphy II. As prepsters, Turner was a 5-star recruit and Murphy a 4-star. DeSoto has produced 23 NFL players, including former Vikings guard Ed Ingram and All-Pro Von Miller.
Experts' Position Rankings
Daniel Jeremiah: Not ranked among Top 50 prospects
Bucky Brooks: Not ranked among Top 5 DL
Mel Kiper, Jr.: Not ranked among Top 10 DL
Pro Football Focus: DT8
Dane Brugler: DT6
**T.J. Sanders**
School:South Carolina| Class:R-Junior| Ht:6-foot-4| Wt:297 pounds
2024 stats:13 games; 50 tackles (29 solo), 4.0 sacks, 7 TFL, 1 PD
Career stats: 39 games; 109 tackles (63 solo), 9.5 sacks, 17.5 TFL, 6 PD
Two-sport star:A defensive tackle and tight end at Marion (S.C.) High School, Sanders was recognized by Rivals.com as the seventh-best football player in the state as a senior. He also excelled on the hardwood, averaging a double-double his junior year, which earned him 6-3A Player of the Year distinction.
Experts' Position Rankings
Daniel Jeremiah: Not ranked among Top 50 prospects
Bucky Brooks: Not ranked among Top 5 DL
Mel Kiper, Jr.: DT10
Pro Football Focus: DT6
Dane Brugler: DT9
**Jordan Phillips**
School:Maryland (after Tennessee)| Class:R-Sophomore| Ht:6-foot-2| Wt:312 pounds
2024 stats:12 games; 29 tackles (17 solo), 0 sacks, 1 TFL
Career stats:28 games (includes 3 at Tennessee); 58 tackles (31 solo), 0 sacks, 3 TFL
Freaks and links:Phillips was part of Bruce Feldman's2024 College Football Freaks List, with compliments from Maryland coach Mike Locksley. "He's a nose tackle, but he's light and so twitchy," Locksley said. "This kid is a manchild." Locksley likened Phillips to Commanders DT Daron Payne, whom Locksley coached at Alabama and was new Vikings DL Jonathan Allen's teammate for nearly a decade, including in college. In response, Phillips said, "[Payne] is one of my favorite players. I actually study him a lot now that he plays for the Commanders. He's very athletic. Has great short-area quickness and is very twitchy at the line of scrimmage and has that ability to create knock-back and get in the backfield."
Experts' Position Rankings
Daniel Jeremiah: Not ranked among Top 50 prospects
Bucky Brooks: Not ranked among Top 5 DL
Mel Kiper, Jr.: Not ranked among Top 10 DL
Pro Football Focus: DT14
Dane Brugler: Not ranked among Top 100 prospects
**Deone Walker**
School:Kentucky| Class:Junior| Ht:6-foot-7| Wt:331 pounds
2024 stats:11 games; 37 tackles (13 solo), 1.5 sacks, 5 TFL, 2 PD
Career stats:37 games; 132 tackles (53 solo), 10 sacks, 22 TFL, 6 PD
Battled through pain:Walker was credited with 43 quarterback pressures in 2023 but had only about half that many in 2024 (22). He owned his decline, contributed to by a pars defect a stress fracture in the lower spine and said at his Pro Day on March 11, which also happened to be his 21st birthday, that he's accountable for the season he had, and is trying to be grounded and regain and surpass his old form.
Experts' Position Rankings
Daniel Jeremiah: Not ranked among Top 50 prospects
Bucky Brooks: Not ranked among Top 5 DL
Mel Kiper, Jr.: Not ranked among Top 10 DL
Pro Football Focus: DT15
Dane Brugler: Not ranked among Top 100 prospects
**Omarr Normon-Lott**
School:Tennessee (after Arizona State)| Class:Senior| Ht:6-foot-2| Wt:291 pounds
2024 stats:13 games; 18 tackles (8 solo), 4.0 sacks, 4 TFL
Career stats:44 games; 89 tackles (47 solo), 13.5 sacks, 17 TFL, 2 PD, 1 FR
Winning reps:A rotating player for the Volunteers, Normon-Lott had limited opportunities to push back offenses, yet consistently thrived in his role; his 18.9-percent win rate when rushing the passer, per PFF, was the highest in the country in 2024 for interior defenders, and edged the FBS pressures king Harmon (18.8%).
Experts' Position Rankings
Daniel Jeremiah: Not ranked among Top 50 prospects
Bucky Brooks: Not ranked among Top 5 DL
DL Mel Kiper, Jr.: DT9
Pro Football Focus: DT9
Dane Brugler: Not ranked among Top 100 prospects
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