More Vikings 2025 NFL Draft Late-Round Sleepers

This isn’t the first time we’ve done this, so long story made short; the Vikings don’t have many picks, they need to maximize the talent they draft with their small amount of picks, or they could trade back a couple times to have more dart throws at some potential hidden gems among the prospect pool of the 2025 NFL Draft. Let’s take a look at some.

Got it? Let’s go.

Arkansas WR Andrew Armstrong

Standing at 6’4 and weighing 204lbs, this absolute freak of nature could have a small shot at being the big-body, go up and get it archetype receiver that could complement the route-running masters in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison on the Vikings’ offense.

He had over 1,000 yards receiving last season and graded out very well according to PFF. His 89.1 offensive grade was 5th among all receivers last season, and his 89.4 receiving grade was 3rd. Also per PFF, Armstrong was the only WR in the nation with an 80+ receiving grade against both man and zone coverage in 2024.

He’s ranked 176th on PFF’s 2025 NFL Draft Big Board, and his age has a lot to do with his relatively low draft stock; Armstrong will be 25 in October. He will be an older rookie, but in theory, his path to WR3 over the next season or two is quite clear. The depth behind Jefferson and Addison is lacking, and the presumed third and fourth options are a less-than-spectacular Jalen Nailor and an injury-prone Rondale Moore.

I had the Vikings drafting him when he fell to pick 242 (which I acquired via a trade down with the Atlanta Falcons) on the Bane 2.0 Vikings Mock Draft, which you can read all about here.

Clemson S R.J. Mickens

Mickens is the son of former New York Jet, Cleveland Brown, and New England Patriot (2006 with Tom Brady) Ray Mickens, so football is in the kid’s blood. Per PFF, his 88.9 coverage grade was tied for second-best among safeties attending Power Four schools.

The best way to put it is that Mickens is closer to a Metellus-type than a Bynum-type; he’s not a run-of-the-mill, ball-hawking, outfielder archetype of safety. Mickens is a player who flourishes in roles at both the second and third levels of the defense, and that sounds like something that Vikings’ defensive coordinator Brian Flores would really like to explore.

The versatile R.J. Mickens is one of those guys that, if he doesn’t work out in true defensive sets, could have some legitimate run at being a solid special-teams player.

Oklahoma State RB Ollie Gordon II

Gordon does come with some off-field concerns, as he was arrested in June of 2024 for suspicion of DUI while having an open container while speeding, and a team like the Vikings, who are already dealing with similar issues with WR Jordan Addison, it may turn them completely off.

However, while that is a main factor in his absolutely tanked draft stock, the Oklahoma State Cowboys’ offense did him absolutely no favors. They had the worst offense in the Big 12, and the running back that had Heisman hopes in the preseason, coming off a year where he won the Doak Walker and unanimous All-American honors, went from first-round selection to very-late-round-pick.

Some team will still take a shot at him, and his career 537 carries for 2,920 yards and 37 TDs will be enough to have his phone ring, most likely on the Saturday night of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Editor’s Note: Information from PFF and Sports Reference CFB helped with this article.