The Vikings take an All-American defensive lineman in the latest 2025 NFL mock draft

Although the 2025 NFL Draft is still more than a few months away, it's never too early to start thinking about who the Minnesota Vikings will ultimately select with the top pick.

In a 2025 mock draft released Thursday, Josh Edwards of CBS Sports has the Vikings using the 32nd overall pick in the first round (wait, what!?) on current Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke. Edwards also added a brief explanation as to why Minnesota might draft Burke next year.

“Minnesota has played through its options at cornerback over the years, and the 2025 NFL Draft puts them back at the top with the first-round selection of Denzel Burke.”

While some Vikings fans are still recovering from the franchise's Mike Zimmer era, when it seemed like the team always used high draft picks to select a cornerback, it seems very believable that Minnesota in the year Selects a corner draft in 2025.

Stephon Gilmore, Byron Murphy Jr. and Shaq Griffin are the cornerbacks who have been on the field the most for the Vikings this year, and all three of their contracts expire at the end of the season.

This makes Minnesota's Mekhi Blackmon (after a torn ACL), Akayleb Evans and rookie Dwight McGlothern the only cornerbacks currently under contract with the team beyond the 2024 season.

With the Vikings expected to have $75 million in cap space next year, it's safe to assume they'll likely spend that money on one or two experienced starting cornerbacks. But even if Minnesota does that, they should still consider using the team's top pick in the 2025 draft on Burke or another top corner prospect.

With Burke, the Vikings would be getting a 6-foot-1, 193-pound preseason AP All-American who has excelled for the Buckeyes this season. He's already snagged two interceptions in five games, and opposing quarterbacks have a passer rating of just 54.5 when throwing in his direction, according to PFF.

Minnesota was able to bolster its cornerback room this offseason by signing several veterans like Gilmore and Griffin. But moving forward, investing draft picks on top corner prospects like Burke to improve their secondary should be part of the Vikings' strategy.

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