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EAGAN, Minn. (courtesy Minnesota Vikings)— The Vikings have used their second pick of the 2025 NFL Draft to add a receiver to the roster.
Minnesota selected Maryland’s Tai Felton with the 102nd overall pick after trading down from the 97th overall spot.
Felton started all 12 games he played for the Terrapins last season and led the entire Big Ten in catches (96) and receiving yards (1,124). His nine receiving touchdowns finished fourth in the conference.
NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein noted that Felton “took on a tremendous target load without flinching” last season and wrote that he “can build speed inside with long strides and has proven he can make tacklers miss, creating chunk plays on possession throws.”
Zierlein opined that Felton will need to gain functional strength at the next level.
Over four seasons (46 games) with Maryland, Felton totaled 172 catches for 2,207 yards and 17 touchdowns. His total receiving yards rank fourth in school history behind Jermaine Lewis (2,932), former Vikings WR Stefon Diggs (2,227) and Torrey Smith (2,215).
NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah listed Felton as his 82nd overall best player in this year’s draft, while ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jr., listed him just one spot lower at 83.
Felton participated in the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, where his 40-yard dash time of 4.37 seconds tied for sixth-fastest among receivers this year. His broad jump of 10 feet, 10 inches ranked fifth, and his vertical jump of 39.5 inches tied for fourth.
A native of Ashburn, Virginia, Felton shined at Stone Bridge High School, where as a sophomore in 2018 he snagged 50 catches for 1,050 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Felton is the fourth player drafted out of Maryland by the Vikings in franchise history. He joins Diggs (146th overall in 2015), E.J. Henderson (40th in 2003) and Jeff Dugan (220th in 2004).
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