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The Vikings Appear to Have a Clear Draft Frontrunner

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On the stage of the NFL Draft in Green Bay
Apr 23, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; A general overall view of the 2025 NFL Draft logo on the Draft stage at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.

The Super Bowl is just three days away, and after either the Seattle Seahawks or New England Patriots prevail, the NFL will jump with both feet into the pre-draft process. The Minnesota Vikings will pick 18th on Draft Night Number One, and according to budding consensus, the frontrunner to land in the Twin Cities is Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell.

Terrell’s name keeps surfacing for Minnesota mock drafts, and the fit makes sense given Brian Flores’ appetite for physical corners who can survive on an island.

Minnesota is due — massively overdue — to hit on a rookie cornerback. Perhaps that man will be Terrell.

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Vikings Mock Drafts Keep Pointing to Terrell

Get your mock draft machines warmed up.

Avieon Terrell celebrating a defensive play for Clemson. Vikings draft frontrunner Avieon Terrell.
Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell celebrates after a successful defensive snap at Williams-Brice Stadium, captured in the first quarter on Nov 29, 2025, as Clemson faced South Carolina. The moment highlights Terrell’s energy and confidence, reflecting his aggressive style and responsiveness in a hostile road environment during a rivalry matchup. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images

Terrell a February Mock Draft Frontrunner for Vikings

Fox Sports Bucky Brooks published a mock draft this week, and lo and behold, Terrell got another mention for Minnesota.

Brooks wrote, “Brian Flores needs a collection of high-IQ cover corners to make his scheme work. Terrell’s experience and ball skills would make him a nice fit as a CB2 opposite Byron Murphy.”

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A day prior, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein went the same route for the Vikings, noting on Terrell: “Terrell is a sticky, man-cover cornerback with the ability to irritate at the catchpoint and play inside or outside.”

Terrell has also been mock-drafted to Minnesota by about six other writers in the last week. You can see those publications here.

Brian Flores Calling the Shots?

Last week, the Vikings severed ties with general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, a few days removed from former Vikings passer Sam Darnold reaching the Super Bowl. Adofo-Mensah’s draft record was apparently too poor for a fifth offseason, and although it was late by offseason standards to make the decision, the ownership group pulled the trigger on Adofo-Mensah’s termination.

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Nobody is too sure who will make the personnel calls on draft night, but with Brian Flores back in the saddle as defensive coordinator, equipped with a contract worth $6 million per year, the defensive mastermind might call the shots in Round 1.

If so, Flores’s defense could reach new heights with Terrell or his draft mate, Mansoor Delane of LSU, who is expected to be the first cornerback off the board in April.

With Flores empowered to make roster decisions, as the working theory suggests, Minnesota’s defense could bend defensively in the first couple of rounds.

Terrell’s Scouting Report

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Terrell checks several boxes that keep him firmly in 1st-Round conversations. He’s just 21 years old, giving him youth that many prospects don’t have. At 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, the frame works, too. The skill set follows — physical coverage, ball tracking, and a knack for finishing plays. The collegiate traits translate cleanly to the NFL level.

Bleacher Report‘s Daniel Harms on the Clemson corner: “Terrell gets proper depth in zone coverage and uses exceptional eyes to break on route concepts and throws. He has a great competitive nature across the board and won’t back down to anyone. He’s improved strength and leverage understanding to deliver hits and get off blocks.”

“Smooth backpedal and hip-flip to match to maintain connectivity in man coverage and zone match principles. Breaks on the football quickly and regularly attacks the catch point with his hands and ball tracking skills.”

Avieon Terrell on the field before a Clemson game
Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell stands on the field during pregame moments at Williams-Brice Stadium, shown before kickoff on Nov 29, 2025. The image frames Terrell’s focus and readiness, offering a calm contrast to in-game intensity as Clemson prepared for its road test against South Carolina under heightened rivalry stakes. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

And NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein: “Avieon shares the same bloodlines and coverage temperament as his brother, A.J., a first-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 2020. Avieon Terrell is an athletic, fluid mover with clean transitions and enough speed to stay in phase on most vertical routes. He’s most effective in press-man coverage, where he mirrors releases with timing and discipline, staying crowded to the route.”

“He concedes 50/50s to bigger targets at times, but is a constant catch irritant with good technique on all three levels. He can play wide or inside and is willing in run support, but he lacks ideal size. Terrell projects as an early starter thanks to his polish, ball skills and coverage versatility.”

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The New-Look CB Room if So

If the mock-draft powers that be have this Terrell pick right, Minnesota’s 2026 cornerback room will look something like this before free agency:

  • Byron Murphy Jr.
  • Isaiah Rodgers
  • Avieon Terrell
  • Dwight McGlothern
  • Zemaiah Vaughn

While Minnesota doesn’t have much cap space as of early February, interim boss Rob Brzezinski could add a corner or two from the open market in March.

Trae Waynes in coverage during a Vikings playoff game
Minnesota Vikings cornerback Trae Waynes lines up in coverage at U.S. Bank Stadium during postseason action on Jan 14, 2018, as Minnesota faced New Orleans in the NFC Divisional round. The frame captures Waynes operating within the defensive scheme, reflecting playoff tempo and responsibility in a high-leverage home setting. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Vikings are egregiously overdue to hit on a cornerback; they haven’t successfully drafted one with long-term staying power since Trae Waynes and Mackenise Alexander a decade ago.

The NFL Draft is 11 weeks away.


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Moffi Tipped to Outshine Gyökeres After Move to FC Porto

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Super Eagles forward Terem Moffi has been tipped to make a bigger impact at FC Porto than Viktor Gyökeres has done at Sporting, following his winter move to the Portuguese giants.

Moffi joined FC Porto on loan from French club Nice during the January transfer window. The deal includes an option to buy, valued at eight million euros, with an additional 250,000 euros in bonuses.

The move followed a difficult period for the Nigerian striker in France, where he struggled for form and was affected by off-field issues, including an incident involving a group of fans targeting players.

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Speaking on Moffi’s character and development, former teammate Mindaugas Grigaravicius said the striker has the mindset and quality to succeed at the highest level. The two played together at Lithuanian club FK Riteriai, where Moffi joined at the age of 18 after leaving England.

Grigaravicius recalled that Moffi found life and football in Lithuania difficult at first but later proved his critics wrong.

“I lived with him for three weeks in a hotel, while the club looked for apartments for the players. I was the one who took him to training, we went for rides in the car and ate together,” he said.

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“He was a shy and quiet boy who didn’t speak at first. He didn’t show his emotions; he seemed like a boy who had come from Africa just chasing his dream of playing football. His first training sessions were terrible.”

He added that many people doubted Moffi’s ability in the early weeks.

“We were discussing amongst ourselves what he had come here to do, he couldn’t fit in or play. He was strong and tall, but he seemed weak, he lost every ball,” Grigaravicius said.

“After a month, we said he had no chance of staying… But he showed us how wrong we were.”

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According to Grigaravicius, Moffi’s improvement began when he accepted the physical and tactical demands of European football and put in extra work, especially in the gym and on the training ground.

“He had a complicated adaptation… He had to do extra work, and that’s where the progress began,” he said.

Once he settled, Moffi’s rise was rapid.

“He showed passion, power, a lot of strength… he crushed the defenders, he killed them! He started scoring a lot of goals,” Grigaravicius added.

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Looking ahead to Moffi’s time at FC Porto, Grigaravicius said the striker has everything needed to succeed in Portugal.

“At a big club like FC Porto, there’s no time for adaptation… he will surely be successful,” he said.

“In good form, with everyone’s confidence, he has no limits. He could be better than Gyökeres at Sporting.”

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Watch: 14-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s animated celebration after record-breaking ton goes viral in U19 World Cup final | Cricket News

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Watch: 14-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's animated celebration after record-breaking ton goes viral in U19 World Cup final
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Photo by @BCCI on X)

NEW DELHI: Fourteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi delivered a stunning performance in the U-19 World Cup final on Friday, producing one of the most dominant innings ever seen at this level. Playing against England on the biggest stage, the young Indian opener showed remarkable composure and attacking intent from the very start.

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Sooryavanshi reached his century in just 55 balls, making it the second-fastest hundred in U-19 World Cup history. Only Australia’s Will Malajczuk has scored a quicker ton in the tournament. He brought up his century with a single and then marked the moment with a calm and respectful celebration. After a brief roar, he removed his helmet and gloves, paused for a brief prayer, and applauded the dressing room.Watch:The Indian batter brought up his first fifty in 32 balls and then accelerated even further, scoring his next fifty in only 23 deliveries as England’s bowlers struggled to slow him down.He shared a rapid 142-run partnership with captain Ayush Mhatre, who contributed a steady half-century before getting out. Together, they completely took control of the final and pushed England onto the back foot.Sooryavanshi eventually fell for a breathtaking 175 off 80 balls, an innings filled with 15 fours and 15 sixes. His dismissal finally gave England a moment to regroup, as the scoring rate had made even an extremely high total seem possible.Despite missing out on a double century, the young prodigy walked off to a standing ovation. At the time of reporting, India have crossed 300 runs with over 15 overs left to play.

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Chris Jericho returning to WWE in a non-wrestling role is possible, says veteran

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A wrestling veteran said that the former AEW World Champion, Chris Jericho could return to WWE in a non-wrestling role. The veteran believes that Y2J could join the Stamford-based promotion in an off-screen role.

Chris Jericho may not return to the WWE as a talent, according to the wrestling veteran, Dutch Mantell. Jericho last appeared on AEW TV back in April 2025. While he has been heavily rumored to be returning to the Sports Entertainment Juggernaut for months, Y2J is still listed on the official roster page of Tony Khan’s promotion.

Speaking on his Story Time podcast recently, Dutch Mantell assumed that Jericho may not return to the WWE as a talent, but could become a part of the promotion’s creative team instead:

“Well, he may be in shape, but when people hear he’s 55-56, to me, he is an old guy in a young man’s game; it’s what he is. I don’t care how good he is, he is great. I’ve seen him do a lot of great stuff and he hits all the points. But at 55, and he’s not going back till next year, I would say there is a possibility that he doesn’t even go now, as a talent, let me say that. He may not go as a talent; he could go as a part of the creative team, but I don’t think he wants to do that.”

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Veteran believes Chris Jericho will end his wrestling career in WWE

The wrestling veteran, Jim Ross recently claimed that Chris Jericho wants to finish up his wrestling career in the WWE. Speaking on his Grilling JR podcast, Ross also recalled hiring Jericho to the Stamford-based promotion decades ago:

“I don’t think going to WWE is a matter over paychecks. I think he wants to end his career in wrestling in WWE. I hired Chris Jericho. Jerry Brisco and I had a couple of meetings as I recall to get him pointed in the right direction,” JR said.

Only time will tell what the future holds for Y2J.

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If taking quotes from this article’s first half, H/T ‘Sportskeeda Wrestling’ for transcription and credit ‘Story Time with Dutch Mantell on YT.’