Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and his staff may have only four picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, but they have options to acquire more.
As it stands, Minnesota holds just four selections in the upcoming draft—fewer than any other team in the league. This limited draft capital is largely a result of last year’s moves, which ultimately landed them Dallas Turner with the 17th overall pick.
Adofo-Mensah is well aware of the team’s lack of selections but also recognizes that trades provide opportunities to stockpile additional picks.
“Obviously, draft capital is something people talk about, but every pick has a certain value that can be divided into multiple selections,” Adofo-Mensah said in an interview with Tatum Everett of Vikings Entertainment Network during the NFL’s annual league meeting in Palm Beach, FL. “If we wanted to pick 15 times, we could. There’s a way to do that.”
Since taking over as GM, Adofo-Mensah has shown a willingness to maneuver up and down the draft board. In his first draft in 2022, he traded down 20 spots in the first round, made additional moves on Day 2, and later traded up multiple times. Last year, the Vikings traded up twice in the first round to secure J.J. McCarthy and Turner.
Given their limited draft capital, trading down from the 24th overall pick seems like a strong possibility. The decision will depend on how their draft board shapes up, which players remain available, and whether enticing trade offers arise. The Vikings could also look to trade down from their other selections—Nos. 97 (third round), 139 (fifth round), and 187 (sixth round). It would be surprising if they finish the draft with fewer than six total picks.
One advantage of the Vikings’ aggressive free agency period is their flexibility heading into the draft. They don’t have urgent positional needs to address early, allowing them to take the best available player regardless of position.
“We’re just going to be smart and selective, looking for players who can make an impact,” Adofo-Mensah said. “But also, how do you best navigate the draft board to get the best overall collection of talent? That’s our mindset. I think we’ll take a ‘best available’ approach. I challenged our group—we have big ambitions, and maybe we’ll turn four picks into something special.”
