All along, the plan has been to pickup some draft picks due to the decisions made during free agency. Have the Vikings seen some of that plan go up in smoke?
Estimates from Nick Korte of Over the Cap — an online authority on comp picks — have regularly placed Minnesota around three incoming picks (with an outside shot at four). The current outlook is considerably more bleak. Just a single, lonely pick is how things currently stand, a stark reminder that good plans can go wonky in the NFL.
Vikings See a Bite Taken Out of Comp Pick Projection
Start off with the recent word from Korte.
On social media, the writer clarified why the picks are looking a touch slimmer than expected: “Here’s what that cancellation chart looks like: just like last offseason, just settling for the top 3rd round compensatory pick for a quarterback that left in free agency.” The main culprit for the decrease, as Korte notes, is the starter’s workload for Eric Wilson, a development that allows the cheaper FA to cancel out one of the projected picks for Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s Vikings.
Thankfully for Minnesota, there’s a draft pick that’s still looking good: the 3rd coming to Minnesota due to Sam Darnold deciding to walk.
The former quarterback opted for Seattle, a decision that’s looking good all around for player and team. Putting pen to paper for north of $100 million across three seasons meant that Minnesota (very likely) secured the top compensatory pick, which will arrive at No. 97. Last year, Kirk Cousins’ departure had the same effect, with the No. 97 pick eventually getting worked into a trade before Minnesota snagged WR Tai Felton at No. 102.
On Vikings Territory, Dustin Baker covered the recent word about where the Vikings’ comp picks are trending.
“So, what happened? The most glaring disruption is obvious — linebacker Eric Wilson has shapeshifted into a starter,” Baker writes. “Wilson took over for Blake Cashman when Cashman injured his hamstring in Week 1, and he played so well that when Cashman healed and returned in Week 7, defensive coordinator Brian Flores turned around and benched fellow linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. in favor of Wilson.”
Baker continues: “It’s unclear if Pace Jr. will remain on the bench, but so long as Wilson remains a starter or accumulates a starter’s snap count, he will cancel the would-be comp pick for Daniel Jones’ free agent departure. It’s bittersweet. Wilson playing a starter’s level is wonderful news for the defense — and a bad development for the comp pick situation.”
The good news, folks, is that things aren’t yet settled. The majority of the 2025 season still needs to arrive (even if Minnesota feels like it has already undergone a season’s worth of injuries).
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will therefore be looking to see at least one or two more compensatory picks re-added to his total. If so, then the GM will have a hearty helping of draft picks to help bring in more talent in what forecasts as a bleak budget for 2026. Cheap, cost-controlled talent is precisely what the doctor ordered for a team in need of help but with limited money.
The Vikings see the Chargers tonight for a critical road battle. Winning would mean climbing up to 4-3 with the hope of seeing J.J. McCarthy return shortly thereafter.
