Trading back in the NFL Draft doesn’t always equate to finding “a freak of nature,” but the Minnesota Vikings could find just that.
In NFL.com draft analyst Chad Reuter’s latest mock draft, he has the Vikings landing South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori after a trade with the Buffalo Bills to move from the No. 24 spot to No. 30 in the first round. The Vikings get two fourth-round selections in the deal, which brings the team up to six draft picks instead of four.
“Emmanwori and Harrison Smith would form a nice safety duo for the Vikings,” Reuter wrote. “The rookie could play in the box, over slot receivers and cover the back end when called upon.”
Emmanwori, a 2024 All-American, would be worth the move for the DB-needy Vikings. His two pick-sixes from last year also seem to be more indicative of his athletic prowess versus an anomaly, as many top-tier corners seldom get one, let alone two, pick-sixes in a season. Yahoo Sports’ Charles McDonald calls Emmanwori “a freak of nature” because of the junior’s sheer athleticism.
“Nick Emmanwori had a monster scouting combine that matched the tape on the field,” McDonald wrote. “He’s a freak of nature who can get to where he needs in a hurry, but could still use some work with his physicality at the point of attack.”
Emmanwori scored an 85 at the combine per Next Gent Stats, as he hit 4.38 seconds for the 40-yard dash, 43 inches on the vertical jump, and 11 feet, 6 inches on the broad jump. He has great size, too, at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds.
“He is explosive and can close quickly when he diagnoses route concepts, but his tight hips make him an inconsistent coverage defender when he has to turn and run with routes,” Yahoo Sports’ Nate Tice wrote.
“Emmanwori is best when he can attack downhill, either as a quarters safety or in a single-high scheme where he can keep everything in front of him,” Tice added. “And he has the production to match his ability to close on the football.”
In three seasons at South Carolina, Emmanwori accumulated 166 tackles, 11 pass deflections, and six interceptions. He capped that with 57 tackles and four picks in 2024 alone, and Tice noted Emmanwori’s ability to take down ball carriers.
“Emmanwori’s testing doesn’t always show up with his film, but he has size, explosiveness, ball skills and is a willing tackler,” Tice wrote. “This all gives him versatility (in theory) to move around the box at the next level. I would like to see him do some work from the slot, too.”
Pro Football Focus had Emmanwori with a 79.6 overall grade, but PFF’s big board analysis offers a little caution. Questions remain on whether Emmanwori can adapt well to the NFL.
“Emmanwori is a tricky prospect who will require a leap of faith, considering where he’s likely to be drafted,” PFF wrote. “His elite athleticism and playmaking ability suggest his ceiling could be on par with a player like Kerby Joseph, but his underwhelming box play and questionable technique and instincts are more reminiscent of Isaiah Simmons, who was drafted in the first round in 2020 but has struggled to find a natural NFL position.”
Conversely, Bleacher Report draft scouting called Emmanwori a “run-first defender who plays strong in the box” but “doesn’t always see the full play, can be slow to react” on time. Bleacher Report highlighted quick movement and tackling ability as additional strengths, but expressed concerns about his backpedaling technique and proneness to “getting handsy” with wideouts downfield.
“His size and physicality make him a perfect fit for matchups against tight ends and in-the-box play, though he will need to develop better coverage skills and range to maximize his potential at the next level,” Bleacher Report wrote.
Emmanwori has been a popular pick in Vikings mock drafts and should be on the team’s radar.
