With the 2025 NFL Draft in the rearview, experts have updated their offseason power rankings.

Is there a consensus best team? How does Minnesota stack up? And, what's the NFC North hierarchy?

These are some of the questions top of mind as teams hold rookie minicamps (last weekend or this coming weekend), proceed through the remainder of offseason programs and gel their draft classes with new and returning players in aim of a championship.

To set the stage for summer, we gathered powerful intel from five sites – Bleacher Report, CBS Sports, ESPN, FOX Sports and NFL.com – and included applicable arrow-up or -down changes from free agency.

First, here's how the Vikings fared:

Bleacher Report – 11^th

There are countless signs indicating it's J.J. McCarthy's time to lead the Vikings.

There's reasons to be bullish on the 2024 10^th overall pick, too: His recovery from a torn meniscus suffered in his first preseason game has gone swimmingly; Teammates and coaches alike have praised his progress, and the 22-year-old quarterback has continually demonstrated maturity beyond his years.

Still, there's some warranted uncertainty about his development after losing a season of on-field reps.

BR NFL analyst Maurice Moton wrote the following:

Realistically, we should expect McCarthy to experience rough patches in his first full season in a starting role, assuming he outperforms Sam Howell through training camp. The Vikings revamped the interior of their offensive line, signing Ryan Kelly and Will Fries and drafting Donovan Jackson in the first round. McCarthy just needs to play within himself and trust a defense that could be better than last year's fifth-ranked scoring unit with the addition of Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen.

CBS Sports – 13^th (down seven spots)

Pete Prisco of CBS Sports determined Minnesota has improved in both trenches but wrote, "This season will be all about quarterback J.J. McCarthy in his first year as the team's starter. If he's good, they will be good."

Despite the focus placed on fortifying the offensive and defensive lines – not to mention the addition of several skill players to an already stacked offensive cast – there's some work for the Vikings to do. Presumably, a drop in CBS Sports' ranking is connected to an outstanding desire to add to the secondary.

ESPN – 9^th (up one spot)

To little surprise, Kevin Seifert touted Minnesota's interior offensive line as its most improved position.

After fielding interior combinations of Blake Brandel, Garrett Bradbury and Ed Ingram/Dalton Risner in 2024, there's an opportunity to send out Donovan Jackson, Ryan Kelly and Will Fries as starters this year.

Seifert elaborated on the big picture: "Their centers and guards all ranked in the bottom 10 last season in run block win rate. In 2025, the Vikings will likely have three first-round picks (Jackson, Kelly and left tackle Christian Darrisaw) and one second-round pick (right tackle Brian O'Neill) in their starting lineup."

FOX Sports – 16^th (down one spot)

Reporter David Helman said he wanted to place the Vikings "so much higher," but must see more of McCarthy before completely buying into the Vikings.

Also, Helman applauded the acquisition of QB Sam Howell as insurance (and competition) for McCarthy.

NFL.com – 10^th (down three spots)

Minnesota managed to turn four draft picks into five (plus make the deal for Howell). … Is that good enough?

NFL Media's Eric Edholm said he was a fan of Jackson – and not bothered by him flying off the board at 24 despite tagging him with a second-round grade – but wondered if the Vikings may have been better off trading down to score more bites of the apple. Edholm added, "I also worry a little about Minnesota's cornerback depth — is it enough? The Lions, Packers and Bears all added pass catchers over the weekend, supplementing already-strong groups. That CB position is one that might be worth re-addressing as we get closer to camp. But the Vikings already cast most of their lot with a strong free-agent class and realistically should be considered among a top group of contenders if J.J. McCarthy is solid."

In summary, four of five publications pegged the Super Bowl-winning Eagles as the team to beat right now; the outlier, ESPN, listed reigning AFC Champion Kansas City as King of the Hill pre- and post-draft.

As far as the division goes, Detroit received Top 5 recognition from every outlet, peaking at No. 2 in the FOX Sports Power Rankings, and just squeaking out that classification, at No. 5, in the NFL.com ordering.

The Packers were the next NFC North representatives, earning a spot in the Top 10 on all five lists. CBS Sports was the most confident in Green Bay after it addressed questions at corner, receiver and o-line.

Lastly, Chicago had a comparable variance in rankings to Minnesota, slotting in somewhere in the 14-21 range. Experts believe the Bears are much improved in 2025.

Best value picks of NFL Draft

It's always fun watching high draft picks live up to their billing. But for anyone who pulls for the underdog, it's an even greater enjoyment seeing guys that were passed up by one, two or many teams outplay their draft slot and cause 31 other clubs to second guess themselves – why didn't we take him?

On Monday, writers from The Athletic put their heads together to name each team's best-value pick in the 2025 event. There's submissions scattered across the board – from Top 10ers to late Day 3 choices.

Interestingly, four first-rounders were deemed possible steals: Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty (No. 6); Packers WR Matthew Golden (23); Eagles LB Jihaad Campbell (31), and Chiefs tackle Josh Simmons (32).

Jeanty, the earliest selection, was "best value" bookends with defensive tackle Aeneas Peebles, whom the Ravens claimed with the 210^th overall pick in Round 6. FYI, the only other player drafted in the 200s that was included in this exercise happened to be new Vikings linebacker Kobe King, the 201^st selection.

Alec Lewis highlighted the former Penn State Nittany Lion: King wasn't linked to Minnesota before the draft, and understandably so. The Vikings don't need linebackers. So why would they take him? Well, Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace, Jr., missed time last season. And while the team targeted free-agent Eric Wilson for a backup role, there's value in adding a former team captain who can seek and destroy. King may not have ideal length, and coverage might not be his calling card, but linebackers are critical to the way Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores stops the run, and King can accomplish that task.

A few other notable entrants are Seahawks and Browns quarterbacks Jalen Milroe (No. 92) and Shedeur Sanders (144), and Cardinal, Buccaneer and Cowboy cornerbacks Will Johnson (47), Benjamin Morrison (53) and Shavon Revel, Jr. (76) – defenders that likely fell in the draft due to injury histories or concerns.

Read the full story about potential draft steals here.