Vikings predicted to draft future Harrison Smith replacement in unanimous All-American safety

The Minnesota Vikings secondary remains a work in progress, as despite a monster haul in free agency, the team has not yet filled the void left from departed starting safety Cam Bynum. The Vikings also must prepare for life after franchise icon Harrison Smith, leaving a significant need for young, starting-caliber talent on the back end entering the 2025 NFL Draft.

Eighteen of the top prospects in this year’s draft class are expected to be inside the green room in Green Bay this Thursday night, and NFL analyst Gavino Borquez of Newsweek expects Vikings fans to see their team’s newest first-round selection walk across the stage sporting some purple and gold.

Borquez predicts the Vikings will select star Georgia safety Malaki Starks with the 24th overall pick on Day 1, a reasonable projection considering core special teamer Theo Jackson is currently the top reserve on the depth chart behind Smith and Josh Metellus.

“Starks would provide Brian Flores with athleticism and versatility to play multiple spots in the secondary,” Borquez wrote.

Starks has built a reputation as one of the most instinctive and explosive safeties in this year’s draft class. He brings the kind of hybrid skill set that Flores covets — capable of playing deep coverage, dropping into the box, or even handling slot receivers. At 6-foot-1 and nearly 210 pounds, Starks combines physicality with exceptional range, and adding him would give Flores yet another chess piece to deploy along with Metellus and Byron Murphy Jr.

The Vikings hold an NFL-low four selections in this draft, so most draft pundits expect GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to trade back and acquire some much-needed capital. While that’s very much in play, Minnesota’s aggressive approach to free agency has them positioned to stand pat and make a selection on Day 1, if they still have a first-round graded player on their board.

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The allure of an instant starter on defense like Starks could be too hard to pass on if he’s still available at pick No. 24 overall. Don’t be surprised Starks is holding up a Vikings jersey alongside NFL commissioner Rodger Goodell on draft night.

MORE VIKINGS NEWS:

• Vikings-Bills trade proposal sends record-breaking EDGE rusher to Buffalo
• Vikings should stand pat at No. 24 overall, draft dream defender for Brian Flores
• Will Vikings trade pick No. 24 overall? Every in-draft move during GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s tenure