![\"Vikings\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/NFL-Las-Vegas-Raiders-at-Minnesota-Vikings-23968396.jpg\")
Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCredit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Unlike last year, when the Minnesota Vikings made a huge splash with two first-round selections, the 2025 NFL Draft was much less explosive. Yet, considering the Vikings entered the three-day selection process with an NFL-low four draft picks. <\/p>\n
However, by the time the weekend was done, the Vikings emerged with five new draftees, instead of the expected four. They even swung a trade for a new backup quarterback<\/a>. After it all, who are the Vikings\u2019 three biggest winners and losers from the NFL Draft?<\/p>\n Related: 2025 Minnesota Vikings Draft Class is Complete<\/a><\/p>\n 2025 Minnesota Vikings Draft Day Loser: Blake Brandel<\/p>\n The biggest loser from the Vikings\u2019 draft class is clearly Blake Brandel. Before the draft kicked off, the former sixth-round pick was in line to reclaim his role as the starting left guard. Now? After selecting<\/a> Donovan Jackson with the 24th overall pick, Brandel is expected to return to a backup role in 2025.<\/p>\n That doesn\u2019t mean he won\u2019t or can\u2019t make an impact on the upcoming season. Not only can he go back to the role he thrived in, which is playing swing OL whenever called upon, but the Minnesota Vikings will need him to push Jackson in camp.<\/p>\n Related: NFL Draft Experts Drool Over New MN Viking, Donovan Jackson<\/a><\/p>\n And at the end of the day, there\u2019s no guarantee Donovan Jackson is NFL-ready, right from the get-go. As a first-round pick, that may be the expectation. But expectations do not always align with reality. It won\u2019t take long for the Vikings to realize what they have in their new left guard.<\/p>\n When that time comes, Brandel\u2019s future role in purple will be more clear. Without a doubt, however, it\u2019s clear that Brandel\u2019s job is considerably more in jeopardy today than it was on Thursday afternoon.<\/p>\n Loser: Brett Rypien<\/p>\n Like Brandel, Brett Rypien was set for a more featured role this season, as J.J. McCarthy\u2019s backup quarterback. That\u2019s an upgrade from last season when he became the QB3 as rosters were being finalized. Yet, once again, Rypien is set to become the team\u2019s No. 3 quarterback following the trade for Sam Howell<\/a>. <\/p>\n While Rypien, 28, may be disappointed in his QB3 role, we all knew the Vikings were going to add another quarterback before the season started. Here\u2019s the thing, though\u2026 in a matter of minutes on Saturday, Rypien may have dropped from QB2, all the way down to QB4.<\/p>\n The Minnesota Vikings didn\u2019t just add one rookie quarterback this weekend, they also made former Minnesota Gophers quarterback Max Brosmer a priority undrafted free agent signing, even guaranteeing him<\/a> $250,000 to seal the deal.<\/p>\n Related: Max Brosmer is Staying in Minnesota<\/a><\/p>\n Vikings fans out there who double as Gopher football fans, know\u2026 Max Brosmer is not going to give up his purple jersey without a fight. So with all the young talent in the Vikings new QB room, it\u2019s very plausible Rypien could once again find himself on the outside looking in, when final training camp cuts are made, come August.<\/p>\n Loser: Jalen Nailor<\/p>\n Jalen Nailor is headed into the final year of his contract, and the Vikings may not be able to afford a second contract for the speedster. Yet, by adding Tai Felton, the Vikings get a new potential long-term WR3, and like Nailor, he\u2019s quick.<\/p>\n Felton clocked<\/a> a 4.37 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, and the Vikings believe he can be their next playmaker who helps take attention away from Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson. The Vikings also added five undrafted free agent receivers, showing how eager they are to find another pass-catcher who can contribute on a weekly basis.<\/p>\n Related: Minnesota Vikings Swing Trade and Draft New Wide Receiver<\/a><\/p>\n 2025 MN Vikings Draft Day Winner: Jordan Mason<\/p>\n When the offseason kicked off, running back was listed as one of the Minnesota Vikings\u2019 biggest needs. Re-signing Aaron Jones and trading for Jordan Mason \u2014 who went for<\/a> 789 rushing yards (3 TD) and 164 receiving yards with the Niners last season \u2014 has KOC & Co feeling comfortable with their backfield entering the 2025 season.<\/p>\n But that wasn\u2019t clear heading into the draft. Given their interest in running backs throughout the scouting process, RB still felt like a position the Vikings would target with one of their four draft picks, even if they waited until the later rounds. At the end of the day, this draft class just had too much running back talent to just pass up, right?<\/p>\n Related: Minnesota Vikings Have Big Plans for Jordan Mason<\/a><\/p>\n Then, seven rounds went by without the Vikings selecting anyone with an \u201cRB\u201d in front of their name. Now, barring any unforeseen additions between now and week one, it appears this team\u2019s backfield work in 2025 will be divvied up between mostly Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason, with some Ty Chandler sprinkled in.<\/p>\n With Jones\u2019 now 30, Mason will get every opportunity to prove he can be a future starter.<\/p>\n Winner: Christian Darrisaw<\/p>\n How is Christian Darrisaw a winner? No one was ever coming for the former first-round pick\u2019s starting spot. However, the Minnesota Vikings hope his life at left tackle just got a whole lot easier, with the addition of No. 24 overall, Donovan Jackson, who\u2019s expected to slot in right next to Darrisaw at left guard.<\/p>\n Since he took over as the starter in 2021, Darrisaw has dealt with a turnstile of bad to mediocre guards to help him protect the left side of the MN Vikings offensive line. If Jackson is what the Vikings believe, he should be able to take the starting left guard spot away from the aforementioned Blake Brandel pretty quickly.<\/p>\n Related: Christian Darrisaw Blown Away by How Good Dallas Turner is Already<\/a><\/p>\n As long as the next three months play out on the practice and preseason fields, like they do right now on paper, then Christian Darrisaw\u2019s life just got a whole lot easier, and that\u2019s before you factor in the improvement at center (Ryan Kelly) and right guard (Will Fries).<\/p>\n Ideally, not only will Darrisaw be able to focus on sealing the edge \u2014 without having to worry as much about making sure Brandel is handling his assignment too \u2014 but he can also take his time getting healthy, after season-ending knee surgery<\/a> in 2024.<\/p>\n If he can\u2019t return immediately in 2025, Jackson played an impressive left tackle last season at Ohio State. And when he does return, he won\u2019t be pulling double duty (hopefully).<\/p>\n Winner: J.J. McCarthy<\/p>\n There\u2019s no bigger winner in the NFL Draft than J.J. McCarthy, who now has an even more reinforced offensive line, plus a new weapon to work with thanks to the Vikings\u2019 first two picks.<\/p>\n Instead of trying to find more pieces for Brian Flores\u2019 defense, the Vikings opted to do everything in their power to make sure their year-old QB had everything he needed to succeed in his first season as a starter.<\/p>\n Related: All 20 Minnesota Vikings Undrafted Free Agents<\/a><\/p>\n Instead of picking a running back, receiver, or tight end first, the Vikings made a move that they hope will give McCarthy more time to make his reads while protecting him in the pocket.<\/p>\n Ultimately, the Vikings may have very well made the best decision to help their young leader thrive, but that shouldn\u2019t come as a surprise considering how QB-friendly Kevin O\u2019Connell\u2019s system has become.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMentioned in this article: Blake Brandel<\/a> Brett Rypien<\/a> Christian Darrisaw<\/a> J.J. McCarthy<\/a> Jalen Nailor<\/a> Jordan Mason<\/a> NFL Draft<\/a> <\/p>\n![\"Blake](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/NFL-NFC-Wild-Card-Round-Minnesota-Vikings-at-Los-Angeles-Rams-25202619-788x577.jpg\")
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images<\/p>\n![\"Minnesota](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Syndication-Florida-Times-Union-24728408-788x524.jpg\")
Credit: Corey Perrine\/Florida Times-Union \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/p>\n![\"Jalen](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/NFL-NFC-Wild-Card-Round-Minnesota-Vikings-at-Los-Angeles-Rams-25202694-788x554.jpg\")
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images<\/p>\n![\"Jordan](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/NFL-San-Francisco-49ers-at-Buffalo-Bills-24890339-788x525.jpg\")
Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images<\/p>\n![\"Minnesota](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/NFL-Minnesota-Vikings-at-Philadelphia-Eagles-19093835-788x525.jpg\")
Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images<\/p>\n![\"JJ](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/NFL-Las-Vegas-Raiders-at-Minnesota-Vikings-23969186-788x525.jpg\")
Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images<\/p>\n