Vikings get dream scenario as Malaki Starks, Nick Emmanwori, top safeties fall outside top 20

Ryan OLeary

Vikings get dream scenario as Malaki Starks, Nick Emmanwori, top safeties fall outside top 20 image

Despite their mega spending spree in free agency this year, the Minnesota Vikings have yet to adequately replace starting safety Cam Bynum.

GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the Vikings now have a monster decision on their hands, with the top safeties of this year’s class still on the board at pick No. 24 overall of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Georgia’s Malaki Starks? South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori? If the Vikings have a first-round grade on a safety in this class, they can draft him here and deal with their poor overall draft capital for Days 2 and 3 later.

MORE: Live tracker | Pick-by-pick grades | Top 250 big board

The Vikings hold just four total selections in this draft, and their next pick isn’t until the compensatory portion of the third round, a 73-pick gap in total. Their only other two selections for this year are in the fifth and sixth rounds.

Minnesota could, of course, solve that draft capital issue by trading back, though trades have been scarce since the blockbuster deal at the top between the Jaguars and Browns for Colorado’s Travis Hunter. With quarterback Shedeur Sanders still on the board, the Vikings could hop on the phone with QB-needy teams like the Browns and Giants, or look to sell their pick to contenders like the Bills or Eagles who are looking to move up.

The Vikings are in win-now mode, though, and the chance to have their choice between Starks and Emmanwori is a dream scenario at a huge position of need for Brian Flores’ defense.

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MORE: Final Vikings Day 1 draft predictions: Who experts love for Minnesota, from Nick Emmanwori to Derrick Harmon

Ryan OLeary

Ryan O'Leary has spent his entire professional career in sports multimedia, working as journalist, editor, podcaster, and in live events as a content manager and show emcee. His career highlights include working as a podcast host and audio editor for USA TODAY Sports Media Group, where he led a series of NFL podcasts for the company’s top-performing NFL sites. A born and raised New Englander, Ryan’s career kicked-off in newspapers after graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in journalism. He developed an affinity for small-town youth, high school and college sports, while also realizing his childhood dream of covering the Patriots in multiple AFC Championship Games. Ryan enjoys kicking it with family and friends, beating his dad and brother in chess, and arguing with anyone crazy enough to insist that Tom Brady isn’t the GOAT.