Minnesota Vikings’ Draft Strategy Becomes Clearer After Free Agency

A Clearer Picture After Free Agency Now that the first wave of free agency has passed, the Minnesota Vikings’ draft strategy is coming into focus. General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has positioned the team in a way that eliminates any major roster gaps. This flexibility allows the Vikings to take a best-player-available approach in the NFL Draft, ensuring they secure top-tier talent.

Focus on Talent Acquisition With no glaring needs, the Vikings can dedicate their draft picks to acquiring the best available talent rather than reaching for positional requirements. This strategy will give them an advantage in securing impact players who can contribute immediately or develop into long-term assets.

Spotlight on Jihaad Campbell One of the most frequently mentioned names in mock drafts for the Vikings is Alabama inside linebacker Jihaad Campbell. The latest installment of our SKOL Search series takes a deeper look at why Campbell could be a perfect fit for Minnesota.

Jihaad Campbell: Player Profile

• College: Alabama
• Height: 6’2”
• Weight: 235 lbs
• Class: Third-Year Junior
• Recruiting Info: 5-star recruit (2021, per 247 Sports)
• College Stats: 184 tackles (88 solo), 16 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 1 touchdown, 5 passes defended, 2 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries
• Games Watched: Georgia 2024, Tennessee 2024, Vanderbilt 2024

Strengths of Jihaad Campbell

• Elite Coverage Skills: Campbell is a rare linebacker who excels in coverage, showing the ability to drop deep with ease and even run the pole in Tampa 2 coverage.
• Strong Field Awareness: His ability to keep his head up and remain patient makes him an asset in space, allowing him to react efficiently to plays.
• Speed and Athleticism: Campbell possesses sideline-to-sideline speed and fluid movement, making him an effective player in both pass coverage and run defense.
• Modern Linebacker Build: His combination of size, speed, and coverage ability makes him an ideal off-ball linebacker for today’s NFL without sacrificing run-stopping ability.

Areas for Improvement

• Pad Level and Leverage: Campbell tends to engage blockers with a high pad level, making it easier for offensive linemen to neutralize him.
• Physicality in Engagements: While he has the athletic traits of an elite linebacker, he needs to develop more physicality when taking on blockers.

Comprehensive Player Evaluation

Why Campbell is a Perfect Fit for the Vikings Campbell is an outstanding prospect due to his rare blend of coverage skills, athleticism, and instincts. Unlike many modern linebackers, he is also effective against the run, making him a complete package. His ability to run the pole in Tampa 2 coverage is a unique trait that makes him a valuable asset in today’s pass-heavy NFL.

Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores would greatly benefit from Campbell’s versatility. While Blake Cashman is already strong in pass coverage, Ivan Pace Jr. struggles in that area. Adding Campbell would create a dynamic linebacker duo, elevating the Vikings’ defense significantly. With the additional versatility of Dallas Turner and Andrew Van Ginkel, Minnesota’s defense could become one of the most adaptable and unpredictable units in the league.

Final Thoughts Jihaad Campbell’s skill set aligns perfectly with what the Vikings need to strengthen their defense. His coverage ability, speed, and football intelligence make him an ideal first-round pick. If Minnesota selects him in the upcoming draft, they would be adding a defensive chess piece capable of making an immediate impact and securing the long-term future of their linebacker corps.