3 Best Vikings Players Under 25 Years Old

The Minnesota Vikings really did an outstanding job at weathering their turbulent offseason in the NFL Draft. General manager Rick Spielman loaded up on capital and was able to nab two young studs in LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson and TCU cornerback Jeff Gladney at the end of Round 1.

While Minnesota's roster is largely comprised of veteran talents like quarterback Kirk Cousins, wideout Adam Thielen, and defensive stars Danielle Hunter, Anthony Barr and Harrison Smith, there's no denying that its young core is promising.

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at the Vikings' top players under 25 years old.

3. Garrett Bradbury

Minnesota Vikings OL Garrett Bradbury / Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images

As much as we wanted to feature Jefferson on this list, Bradbury's sound rookie campaign gives him the nod over the LSU star. Last year's No. 18 overall pick started all 16 games for Minnesota in 2019 and played a whopping 97% of the offensive snaps. Offensive lineman don't always make a smooth transition to the NFL, and Bradbury certainly has room to improve, but there's a lot to be said for a player that starts at center from Day 1 as a rookie. The 24-year-old has solidified himself as a key cog on the Vikings OL moving forward.

2. Alexander Mattison

Minnesota Vikings RB Alexander Mattison / Alika Jenner/Getty Images

Given Dalvin Cook's alarming proneness to injury, Alexander Mattison's importance to the Vikings cannot be understated. The 21-year-old impressed across his 100 carries last season, totaling 462 yards and a touchdown. In doing so, Mattison proved that he can handle No. 1 RB duties if Cook were to go down with injury. Expect Minnesota to give the former Boise State star all the work he can handle in 2020 after a solid rookie year.

1. Dalvin Cook

Minnesota Vikings RB Dalvin Cook / Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

It was refreshing to watch Dalvin Cook breakout in 2019 after playing a combined 15 games across his first two seasons in the NFL. The 24-year-old established himself as a superstar as he rushed for 1,135 yards and 13 touchdowns on 4.5 yards per carry. He added 53 receptions for 518 yards through the air. Health withstanding, Cook will be the centerpiece of the Vikings offense moving forward. Already one of the most versatile running backs in the league, the Florida State product is indisputably Minnesota's best player under 25.