Way too early 2025 Mock Draft

[purplefaithful]

Here's your guy Stickier...

28. Minnesota - Deone Walker | DL | Kentucky


The Vikings are going to be looking to add at least one new starter on the interior defensive line this offseason, and perhaps even two. Walker is a ridiculous physical specimen at 6’6/345. He’s more athletic than T’Vondre Sweat, who went No. 38 overall to the Titans last process. A linebacker’s best-friend in the run game, Walker is also a much better pass-rusher than most 340-plus pounders. He piled up 15 sacks, 76 hurries, and 96 pressures over 965 pass-rush reps the past three years. Walker would take over the NT gig in Minnesota, kicking Harrison Phillips to DE in Minnesota’s 3-4 alignment.

[AGRforever]

So everything looks great except we’re picking 32.

[StickierBuns]

Walker would be a most welcome addition IMO. Big, long armed dude. An Albert Haynesworth type, that's who I'd comp for him.

[MaroonBells]

Massive dude. At this point I'd put CB ahead of DL among our hierarchy of needs. It seems everyone wants a big oversized NT for this defense...except Brian Flores. If we go DL, I'd prefer a pass rusher, or at least someone who can play all three downs.

[StickierBuns]

Massive dude. At this point I'd put CB ahead of DL among our hierarchy of needs. It seems everyone wants a big oversized NT for this defense...except Brian Flores. If we go DL, I'd prefer a pass rusher, or at least someone who can play all three downs.

Not sure how you figure that, they made a big swing for DT Christian Wilkins, he was their first target in FA. And I keep hearing how good other teams monster DTs are for Bradbury to handle.....except Minnesota doesn't have one. The team very much wants one, getting one is the tough part. Imagine a quicker guy like Redmond parked right next to a dude like Walker and Patrick Jones on the other side. Nice.

[MaroonBells]

Not sure how you figure that, they made a big swing for DT Christian Wilkins, he was their first target in FA. And I keep hearing how good other teams monster DTs are for Bradbury to handle.....except Minnesota doesn't have one. The team very much wants one, getting one is the tough part. Imagine a quicker guy like Redmond parked right next to a dude like Walker and Patrick Jones on the other side. Nice.

Walker and Wilkins are two very different players. I think Flores liked Wilkins precisely because he's not a fatty. Every opportunity Flores has had to add to his DL's he's favored smaller, more versatile players over the behemoths.

[StickierBuns]

Walker and Wilkins are two very different players. I think Flores liked Wilkins precisely because he's not a fatty. Every opportunity Flores has had to add to his DL's he's favored smaller, more versatile players over the behemoths.

This guy isn't fat, lol??

[MaroonBells]

This guy isn't fat, lol??

For an accountant? Sure he's fat. For a nose tackle, at 6-4, 310, no he's not. 

I think we'd all love a guy like Dexter Lawrence, who, at 345 lbs can rush the passer and stop the run. But he's a unicorn. If Walker is that, I'll take it and run. But given several opportunities to add a DT in free agency and the draft (Roy, LDR, Taimani, etc), Flores seems to avoid the oversized guys.

[StickierBuns]

For an accountant? Sure he's fat. For a nose tackle, at 6-4, 310, no he's not. 

I think we'd all love a guy like Dexter Lawrence, who, at 345 lbs can rush the passer and stop the run. But he's a unicorn. If Walker is that, I'll take it and run. But given several opportunities to add a DT in free agency and the draft (Roy, LDR, Taimani, etc), Flores seems to avoid the oversized guys.

If he's 310 lbs, I'm the King of Sweden.

[purplefaithful]

I suspect it will be easier to get a Db in FA than an idl who can rush well.