While the 2025 NFL Draft is still over a handful of months away, it’s never too early to start thinking about who the Minnesota Vikings could ultimately select with their top pick.

In a 2025 mock draft released Thursday, CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards has the Vikings using the 32nd overall selection in the first round (wait, what!?) on current Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke. Edwards also added a brief explanation of why Minnesota could draft Burke next year.

“Minnesota has run through its options at cornerback over the years, and the 2025 NFL Draft puts them back in the right direction with the selection of Denzel Burke in the first round.”

While some Vikings fans are still recovering from the franchise’s Mike Zimmer era, when it seemed like the team always used high draft picks to select a cornerback, drafting a corner in Minnesota appears to be in 2025 very believable.

Stephon Gilmore, Byron Murphy Jr. and Shaq Griffin are the cornerbacks who have been on the field the most for the Vikings this year and all three of their contracts are set to expire at the end of the season.

That leaves Minnesota with Mekhi Blackmon (coming off a torn ACL), Akayleb Evans and rookie Dwight McGlothern as the only corners currently under contract with the team beyond the 2024 season.

With the Vikings projected to have well over $75 million in cap space next year, expect them to likely spend that money on a pair of veteran, starting-caliber cornerbacks. But even if Minnesota does that, they should still consider using the team’s top pick in the 2025 draft on Burke or another top corner prospect.

In Burke, the Vikings would get a 6-foot-1, 193-pound AP All-American who has been outstanding for the Buckeyes this season. He has two interceptions in five games, and opposing quarterbacks have a passer rating of just 54.5 when throwing in his direction, according to PFF.

Minnesota was able to revamp its cornerback room this offseason by signing several veterans like Gilmore and Griffin. But going forward, investing draft picks in top corner prospects like Burke should be part of the Vikings’ strategy to improve their secondary.

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