Vikings Set Their Sights on Shavon Revel Jr. as a Potential Draft Steal After Injury Setback

General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the Minnesota Vikings made bold moves in their most recent draft, trading up twice in the first round to secure quarterback J.J. McCarthy and EDGE rusher Dallas Turner. However, with limited draft capital in 2025, the team is expected to take a more conservative approach. Minnesota currently holds only four picks in the upcoming draft: a late first-round selection, two fifth-rounders, and a projected third-round compensatory pick, earned due to Kirk Cousins’ departure to Atlanta in free agency.

The Vikings have also tapped into their 2026 draft capital through trades for Cam Akers and Cam Robinson, further reducing their flexibility. Given these constraints, Adofo-Mensah and his team are unlikely to make another aggressive move on Day 1. Instead, they may consider trading back to recoup a Day 2 pick or wait patiently for an elite prospect to fall to their spot.

One such prospect could be East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel Jr., as predicted by Vinnie Iyer of The Sporting News. Despite suffering a season-ending ACL injury in September, Revel remains one of the top defensive talents in this draft class. NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero has reported that Revel expects to be medically cleared before April, restoring his first-round potential. Prior to the injury, Revel was regarded as a premier cornerback, earning comparisons to Richard Sherman for his physicality, length, and versatility.

Kyle Crabbs of the 33rd Team described Revel as “an uber-physical cornerback” who excels in press coverage, run support, and tackling. At 6-foot-3, he fits perfectly into defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ preference for long, physical cornerbacks. With aging veteran Stephon Gilmore turning 35 and key players like Byron Murphy Jr. and Shaq Griffin approaching free agency, Revel could address a major long-term need in Minnesota’s secondary.

Landing a potential franchise cornerback late in the first round could be the strategic victory Adofo-Mensah needs to bolster his draft résumé and solidify the Vikings’ defensive future.