MN Vikings 2025 Draft Class Has Elite Level RAS

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Kwesi Adofo-Mensah - Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Nobody wants to go to a raffle without any tickets or shopping without any money. That was the Minnesota Vikings’ life during the 2025 NFL Draft, though. They entered the three-day event with just four total picks throughout the seven-round event. Then again, when you spend wisely, even the smallest amount of draft capital can go a long way.

Rather than trading out of the first round and grabbing additional picks, something many pundits projected, the Vikings stuck at 24th overall and picked Ohio State left guard, Donovan Jackson, a move meant to complete the offseason overhaul of their offensive line.

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O'Connell - Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-Imagn Images

Later in the draft General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah moved around, eventually compiling five total selections, when all was said and done. And early indications, just hours since the final pick went off the board Saturday afternoon, suggest the MN Vikings did pretty well.

RAS scores high on Minnesota Vikings draft picks

If there is something that has been a fair criticism of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah during his time as the Minnesota Vikings general manager, it has been his draft classes. Let’s just say that the pile of busts towers over the hits by quite a wide margin.

But if you believe in an NFL prospect rating system labeled “RAS” or Relative Athletic Score, then Kwesi’s latest draft might have you believing in his abilities as a talent evaluator yet again. After finishing 25th in average RAS score during the 2024 draft, the Minnesota Vikings’ 2025 class finished No. 2 overall in RAS score, at 8.968.

RAS (relative athletic score) is a tool developed by Kent Lee Platte. It is defined as “a metric that combines the various categories measured at the NFL Combine — height, weight, wingspan, drill exercises — into one aggregate number that’s then contextualized against other athletes of the same position”.

Related: 2025 Minnesota Vikings Draft Class is Complete

Platte’s RAS algorithm includes data dating back to 1987, though he openly acknowledges that anything from before 2000 is somewhat thin and incomplete. Georgia edge rusher, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (taken in the fifth round) earned the highest RAS grade for the Minnesota Vikings, at 9.79.

The Washington Commanders, who also made just five selections, are the only team with a better RAS grade than the Vikings (8.986). Minnesota’s first round selection of Jackson earned an 8.96 RAS grade. If the metric bears fruit, then the Vikings may have their best class ever assembled underneath Adofo-Mensah.

Minnesota Vikings looking for youth contributions

It’s great that the MN Vikings were able to do so much work in free agency this offseason. That happened due to an ample amount of cap space. All of those players are veterans though, and many of them come with injury concerns.

A sustainable roster is one that incorporates youth, along with its proven talent. It’s difficult for a team to keep a window open if their average age continues to increase. The Vikings can’t just hope some of these guys hit. If they want to continue to compete at the highest level, they need some of them to.

Related: All 20 Minnesota Vikings Undrafted Free Agents

If we assume Donovan Jackson is going to step in and contribute right away. The other four selections, and 20 undrafted free agents, will probably need more time. If Kevin O’Connell and his coaching staff can make usable talents out of this rookie class, then Adofo-Mensah will have done his job.

There is reason to be excited about this group. Even before they step on the field at the professional level, advanced metrics already like what the Minnesota Vikings are doing.

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