The Minnesota Vikings addressed their offensive line in the 2025 NFL Draft, selecting Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson 24th overall. Although they signed veterans Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave to help the other side of the line, ESPN believes the Vikings will look to the draft to get younger on the defensive trenches.
Matt Miller projects the Vikings to take Alabama defensive tackle Tim Keenan III with the 18th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. He believes that rumors suggesting the Vikings wanted Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Milton Williams, who is much younger than Allen and Hargrave, indicate the Vikings are seeking a long-term solution at the position.
While the Vikings bolstered their offensive line in Round 1 in 2025 with guard Donovan Jackson, they were linked to many interior defenders during the predraft process and made a run at Milton Williams in free agency. So defensive tackle is a need, and the 6-foot-2, 326-pound Keenan is a physical, tough-nosed anchor with the prototypical nose tackle build. He has some pass-rush ability (2.5 sacks last season), but Keenan’s strength against the run and on-field leadership have scouts discussing him as a potential first-rounder.
PFF graded Keenan as college football’s 14th-ranked interior defensive lineman in 2024 out of 896 qualified players. He’s ranked 48th on PFF’s Big Board, so he should be a player to watch for, even if the Vikings outperform Miller’s expectations.