Rob Kleifield

One of the best weekends of the year is almost here.

If you're reading this, you've likely consumed an exorbitant amount of content related to the 2025 NFL Draft over the past several months, which means you're more or less familiar with the big-name prospects, perhaps some of the diamonds in the rough, and the lot that's been mocked to the Vikings.

But what about guys with Minnesota ties in general?

Andrew Krammer of Star Tribune on Monday outlined a solid haul of players connected to the state in some fashion that are worth monitoring once the draft begins. He prefaced his list with an intro about former DeLaSalle standout Jalen Travis, who is 6-foot-8, 339 pounds and excelled at Princeton before transferring last year and earning All-Big 12 Honorable Mention accolades as an o-lineman at Iowa State.

Additionally, Krammer also noted Gophers tackle Aireontae Ersery is projected as a second-round pick.

The rest of his article highlights Minnesota teammates Justin Walley (DB), Max Brosmer (QB), Cody Lindenberg (LB), Daniel Jackson (WR) and Jah Joyner (DL), as well as Apple Valley's and Marshall's own Bilhal Kone and Yahya Black, who finished college strongly at Western Michigan and Iowa, respectively.

Krammer noted Kone took the long route: The former do-it-all Apple Valley star played at Iowa Central Community College and FCS Indiana State before emerging the past two years at Western Michigan, where he had 18 passes defensed. His NFL.com draft profile projects him as a fourth-round pick Saturday.

At the combine, Kone ran the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds, which tied for 10th at his position. Black didn't test well relative to other d-linemen, but his 35-inch arms were among the DL's best, per Krammer.

The 23-year-old Black played five seasons at Iowa and augmented his production in his final two, posting 85 tackles, including 12 for a loss, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and seven passes defended since 2023.

Lindenberg may be the most familiar as he grew from Anoka to leading Minnesota in tackles in 2024. He was one of four Gophers players invited to the Senior Bowl (also Ersery, Joyner and DL Danny Striggow).

Read Krammer's full storyhere.

Feldman: D-linemen 'best part of this year's draft by far'

There's nuggets specific to each position in Bruce Feldman'sNFL Draft Confidential, but there's one section in particular, deemed "the best of the draft" by The Athletic reporter that's great for the Vikings.

Feldman wrote about the defensive linemen: This is the best part of this year's draft by far.

"There might be three times as many good linemen in this draft as last year," a DL coach told Feldman. Another coach said: "Somebody's gonna get some really good players in the second or even third round."

The enthusiasm for the trenches includes admiration of EDGE players that'll fit into outside linebacker roles in certain schemes or play as more of a traditional defensive end, depending on their destination. Those guys include oft-talked about headliners Penn State's Abdul Carter and Georgia's Mykel Williams.

Still, whether it's a twitched-up pass-rusher standing up outside the tackle box or a run-stuffer that aligns head up with the center or guards, there's a lot to love about this year's class of d-linemen overall.

Feldman went more in depth, with insights from coaching staffs and scouting departments, on a mix of talented prospects, including Michigan teammates Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, Mississippi's Walter Nolen, Toledo's Darius Alexander and Oregon teammates Derrick Harmon and Jamaree Caldwell.

In their assessment, a couple of coaches raved about Grant, likening him to Dexter Lawrence II and Chris Jones, and issued a hot take he may wind up better than Graham, who's considered a "legit top-10 guy."

Nolen, a former No. 1 overall recruit who exploded with 14 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in 2024 after transferring from Texas A&M, has a change of direction described by one coach as "off the charts."

"You have to have a plan for him," a national scout touting Nolen as a top-15 talent said to Feldman, before adding, "I think he has to be in the right place and in a d-line room with some strong vets."

Feldman's notebook-style article isworth a readbefore Round 1 begins Thursday night.