The 2026 NFL Draft is just two weeks away and the Minnesota Vikings continue evaluating prospects and hosting Top 30 meetings as well. They met with a bunch of prospects this week and will likely continue to meet with prospects through at least mid-April.
However, while there is still a lot of unknowns about the Vikings’ draft intentions- and likely some attempts at obfuscating those intentions- if we piece together roster needs, salary cap situation, prospect meetings, and draft picks, there appears to be at least an outline of how the Vikings may approach this draft and ultimately the positions and players they draft.
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As a reminder, the Vikings have a first-round pick (#18), a second-round pick (#49), two third-round picks (#82 and #97), no fourth-round pick, a fifth-round pick (#163), a sixth-round pick (#196), and three seventh-round picks (#234, #235, and #244) in the upcoming draft.
Let’s first review roster needs.
Roster Needs
The Vikings’ starting lineup this season is already pretty much set.
QB: Kyler Murray
RBs: Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason
OL: Christian Darrisaw, Donovan Jackson, Blake Brandel, Will Fries, Brian O’Neill
TEs: T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver
WRs: Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison
EDGE: Andrew Van Ginkel, Jonathan Greenard, Dallas Turner
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DTs: Jalen Redmond, Levi Drake-Rodriquez
LBs: Blake Cashman, Eric Wilson
CBs: Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, James Pierre
Ss: Harrison Smith/Theo Jackson, Josh Metellus
Specialists: K Will Reichard, P Johnny Hekker, LS Andrew DePaola
We may see some of the early round picks a bit in rotation, and maybe the first-round pick more than that, but this draft is mainly about developing current draft picks into players who can start next year or later on to replace aging veterans, to build more quality depth, and perhaps add a missing but needed skillset here and there. Scheme evolution could impact draft pick selection. And positions where aging and expensive veterans predominate could be the focus of early round picks, particularly at higher-value positions.
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In particular, both safety and cornerback position groups could be the target for early round picks, or potentially linebacker as well. All three groups have aging veterans that will need to be replaced at some point in the not-too-distant future and potentially this season if Harrison Smith retires or next year in some other cases. Interior defensive line would seem to be a need given the departures of Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen, but not sure if that will be the priority for either the first or second-round pick.
Offensively, running back and tight end are areas where an aging and expensive veteran will likely need to be replaced next season. Center looks to be at least an area for more quality depth and possibly a future starter. Adding to the wide receiver development pipeline makes sense too, although with the Vikings indicating that they are budgeting for a Jordan Addison extension that may limit the priority. Lastly, there is no such thing as too much quality depth along the offensive line. Backups at guard may be the priority with Brandel moving to center and Ryan Van Demark as primary swing tackle.
So, with all that background in mind, let’s review consider how that may translate into how the Vikings approach each of its draft picks. But first a brief recap of last year’s draft.
Last year, a week before the draft, I put together all the prospects the Vikings had met with in the pre-draft process along with their consensus board rankings to provide an overview of how the Vikings’ draft may unfold. As it turned out, their first three picks were guys they met with during the pre-draft process. That is not always the case, but typically the Vikings meet with guys they invest a top draft pick in at some point in the pre-draft process.
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To recap, last year the Vikings explored trading down from their #24 spot but didn’t like the compensation so picked Donovan Jackson there. He was ranked #37 on the consensus board the week before the draft. They then traded down from #97 for #102 in exchange for moving up from #187 to #142. They picked Tai Felton at #102. He was ranked #125 on the consensus board. They picked Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins at #139 (he was ranked #176 on the consensus board). Then they traded the #142 pick for Sam Howell and the #172 pick. Then they traded #172 for picks #201 and #202. They picked Kobe King and Gavin Bartholomew with those picks. There were no reported meetings between the Vikings and their last two picks in the pre-draft process.
Of course last year’s draft was run by Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who is no longer with the team. This year it will be run by Rob Brzezinski. My guess is that the scouting staff will help prepare their draft board with a lot of input from the coaching staff and that Brzezinski will try to execute on coaching staff priorities.
Here is a list of prospects the Vikings have met with arranged by consensus board rank with the Vikings’ draft pick slots in bold.
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S Dillon Thieneman (#18) (Combine)
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DT Kayden McDonald (#31) (Combine)
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OG Emmanuel Pregnon (#40) (Pro Day)
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CB Chris Johnson (#41) (Pro Day Workout)
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LB Anthony Hill Jr. (#49) (Top 30)
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LB Jack Golday (#51) (Top 30)
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DT Dominque Orange (#66) (Top 30)
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S/CB Treydan Stukes (#67) (Pro Day Dinner)
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WR Ted Hurst (#77) (Top 30 & Pro Day)
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DT Gracen Halten (#78) (Pro Day)
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WR Skyler Bell (#82) (Combine)
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DT Darrell Jackson Jr. (#86) (Top 30)
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TE Oscar Delp (#87) (Top 30)
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S Jalon Kilgore (#94) (Pro Day)
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RB Jonah Coleman (#98) (Top 30)
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RB Emmett Johnson (#107) (Top 30 & Combine)
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OT Markel Bell (#119) (Combine)
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DT Zxavian Harris (#123) (Pro Day)
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WR De’Zhaun Stribling (#126) (Top 30)
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OT Austin Barber (#128) (Combine)
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RB Kaytron Allen (#144) (Combine)
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CB Charles Demmings (#147) (Pro Day)
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WR Jeff Caldwell (#151) (Top 30)
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RB Demond Claiborne (#166) (Top 30)
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DT Cameron Ball (#210) (Pro Day)
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ED Mason Reiger (#212) (Top 30)
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WR C.J. Daniels (#214) (Top 30)
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S Cole Wisniewski (#240) (Top 30)
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OT Alex Harkey (#247) (Pro Day)
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DT Uar Bernard (#293) (Top 30)
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RB Rahsul Faison (#298) (Pro Day)
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QB Haynes King (#303) (Pro Day)
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WR Vinny Anthony (#335) (Top 30)
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TE Lance Mason (#345) (Top 30)
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OT Tristian Leigh (#363) (Top 30 & Workout)
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OT Jayden Williams (#456) (Pro Day Workout)
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LB Jack Dingle (unranked) (Private Workout)
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LB Khalil Jacobs (unranked) (Virtual Meeting)
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DT Jacobian Guilory (unranked) (Pro Day)
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LB Erick Hunter (unranked) (Pro Day)
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OT Jake Pope (unranked) (Pro Day)
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RB Chris Mosley (unranked) (HBCU Legacy Bowl)
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OT Shiyazh Pete (unranked) (Top 30)
Overall Thoughts
The Vikings have met with defensive tackles that could go around almost every Vikings’ draft pick slot, which makes it a strong likelihood that they draft a defensive tackle at some point in the draft. Scheme fit, value at a particular draft slot, and whether the defensive tackle is the best player available at that draft slot may determine at what point in the draft they select a defensive tackle, although we don’t know if there is a particular defensive tackle they favor overall.
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The Vikings also have met with several running backs, including three in Top 30 visits. History suggests when that is the case that the Vikings will draft a running back in the first four rounds (80% chance). The running backs the Vikings are showing the most interest in are expected to go in the late third or early fourth rounds.
The Vikings have also met with a number of offensive tackle prospects expected to go late in the draft. These are mostly prospects that could slide inside to guard. This isn’t seen as a good draft for either offensive tackles or guards. It’s worth noting that most of these guys look to be more gap-scheme type offensive linemen, which is the run scheme trend these days in the NFL. It’s also worth noting that running back Emmett Johnson, who the Vikings appear to have a lot of interest in,
The Vikings have also not met with any prospect expected to go ahead of their first pick at #18 and they only met with Dillion Thieneman at the Combine and not since. That doesn’t suggest the Vikings are considering a move up in the first round. The fact that they’ve met with some later first-round/early second-round prospects suggests a move down would be more likely if they trade out of #18.
Emmanuel Pregnon seems like an outlier. Perhaps he might have been seen as a candidate to play center? He seems an unlikely choice at this point for either the Vikings’ first- or second-round pick. The Vikings have not shown any pre-draft interest in center prospects otherwise. That doesn’t mean they won’t draft a center- and there is speculation that they will- but there haven’t been any public meetings with center prospects.
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Also, it’s worth reiterating that the consensus board isn’t always accurate in predicting at what point a prospect may be drafted. And prospects shift in the rankings as teams make their preferences known. For example, Chris Johnson is #42 on the consensus board, but Dane Brugler has him as a late first/early second round pick and the Steelers, Seahawks and Chiefs have shown interest in him with Top 30 visits, suggesting he may go earlier than #42. The Cowboys (who pick #20) have met with him twice. None of those teams have early second-round picks. By contrast, CB Avieon Terrell, ranked #23 on the consensus board, isn’t drawing as much interest from a pre-draft meeting standpoint.
Last year Donovan Jackson was #37 on the consensus board a week before the draft but the Vikings took him at #24. Additionally, the lower the ranking the more variance can be expected in actual draft position. And after the first 200 prospects, the rankings aren’t really that meaningful.
So, with all of the above in mind, let’s take a closer look at each draft slot for the Vikings.
First-Round, #18
The Vikings are frequently mocked Dillon Thieneman as a Harrison Smith-like replacement for Harrison Smith, Although not as much in recent days. But the fact that they haven’t met with him since the Combine suggests more luke-warm interest for a potential first-round pick. Thieneman could be a nice addition, but I wonder if the Vikings value the safety position that much to draft a safety in the first round. They’ve had success developing mid-to-late round safeties in the past and if Harrison Smith is returning, which they will know before the draft, they may not consider drafting a safety this year as a priority. They have decent depth at the position as well.
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I do have a difficult time seeing the Vikings not draft a defensive back with one of their first two picks and more likely the first. Cornerback is pretty thin past the first three on the depth chart, all three of which are 28 or older this year. The Vikings also don’t really have a backup slot cornerback (although they have safeties that can play the position) beyond Byron Murphy Jr. Chris Johnson is seen as an inside/outside cornerback who could fill that need and could be called upon to start as a rookie if one of the starters went down to injury. Johnson’s strong suit is zone coverage, which the Vikings play 80% of the time. Johnson may not be an exceptional value at #18, however.
That, along with the prospects the Vikings have met with, suggests the Vikings could entertain a trade down at #18. I’m sure they would be happy to trade down a half-dozen spots or so and pick up a third-round pick, so long as they can still get their guy. But if that guy is Chris Johnson, he could be gone as early as pick #20 to the Cowboys. But there are several teams with a need at cornerback drafting in the next several spots after the Vikings. The Vikings would need to have some good intel and/or another key prospect(s) in mind before deciding to move down.
The other possibility here is that a prospect thought to be drafted higher falls to #18. In all likelihood that would be a prospect the Vikings haven’t met with and most likely not at a position of need, given the number of offensive tackles, edge rushers, and wide receivers expected to go before #18. Defensive backs like Jermod McCoy, Mansoor Delane, and Caleb Downs have either been static around the #10 spot or moving up in recent days.
Second-Round, #49
Assuming for a moment that the Vikings stick and pick a defensive tackle or defensive back at #18, the Top 30 visits with two inside linebackers are suggestive for this pick. Beyond Blake Cashman, who turns 30 in a couple months and is on the last year of his contract, the Vikings have an even older Eric Wilson who turns 32 this year. If either go down to injury, Ivan Pace Jr. – more of a two-down thumper at this point- is the backup. This is at least as big a position of need as cornerback, if not more so, although cornerback is a higher value position. Looking at team needs for those picking ahead of the Vikings in the second-round, there is a reasonably good chance that at least one of either Anthony Hill Jr. or Jack Golday would be available at #49.
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If not, the Vikings could opt to trade down and/or pick either a defensive tackle or defensive back- whichever they didn’t take with their first pick- or maybe double up on defensive back picks if they took one in the first round and that was the better player available.
Third-Round, #82
While I’d be surprised if the Vikings’ first two picks were not defensive players, I would expect at least one of their third-round picks to be offensive players- either wide receiver, tight end, or running back. But at this point in the draft, the selection will be influenced first by what positions they’ve already drafted and which of their preferred prospects falls to them.
If they’ve already drafted a defensive tackle, I don’t see them doubling-up on the position here. I could see them taking another defensive back like Stukes or Kilgore. But if they go wide receiver, the interest in receiver types like Ted Hurst and De’Zhaun Stribling (less so Skyler Bell) suggest the Vikings may be looking for an outside-the-numbers deep threat who can win contested catches against single coverage. All three quarterbacks on the Vikings roster, and especially Kyler Murray, like those types of throws. And a receiver who excels in that area could draw more attention away from Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.
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Third Round, #97
This could be the Vikings’ new running game coordinator Frank Smith’s pick. It looks like the spot where the Vikings may draft a running back. We’ll see how the draft unfolds, but a few running backs could be drafted late third- or early fourth round.
If the Vikings don’t go running back here, they could also target tight end Oscar Delp if he’s still available. Delp was an underutilized tight end at Georgia and could fit nicely with Smith’s scheme as an H-back who can line up anywhere and be a receiving threat while also an effective blocker, including lead blocker. He still needs to develop some in all areas, but he’d have a year to do that with Hockenson and Oliver ahead of him this year. He is widely thought to become a better pro than he was a college player.
This is also a point in the draft where the top centers are expected to be picked. If the Vikings are secretly coveting a center above other offensive positions, this may be where that pick happens.
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Fifth Round, #163
As it stands now, the Vikings have two rounds until this pick from #97. I would not be surprised, given the consensus board rankings of the prospects the Vikings have met with, if they packaged this pick and #196 and at least one seventh-round pick to move up into the fourth round. It wouldn’t surprise me either if the Vikings move back with one of their early picks if they pick up a fourth-rounder as part of the compensation.
In any case, if the Vikings haven’t drafted a running back yet, and Demond Claiborne is still available, that could be the pick here. Claiborne has been described as a smaller version of De’Von Achane, with exceptional home run acceleration and speed. He’s also a kick returner.
Defensive tackle Zxavian Harris (6’7”, 330 lbs) has a wide range of where he could be drafted starting in the third round, but he could go undrafted because of concerns about off-field arrests in 2023 and 2024. He has starting potential as a nose tackle if the Vikings want to take a chance on his character and off-field issues. Austin Barber is likely a guard prospect, but Markel Bell (6’9”, 350 lbs.) would likely stay at tackle.
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Sixth Round, #196
As I mentioned above, this looks like a pick the Vikings could earmark for a trade. If they don’t trade it, they could use it on a falling prospect they like – and there is a lot of variance in where late round picks are drafted compared to the consensus board- but I would expect the Vikings to have concluded the business of filling their main priorities by this stage of the draft and if they don’t trade this pick, they may take a flier on a prospect with a lot of upside. They could also pick up a guy like fullback Max Bredeson from Michigan, who they haven’t met with, but might be the best blocking fullback in the draft if they are looking to replace C.J. Ham. If they don’t take Oscar Delp, Bredeson could fill the H-back spot too, although not the receiving threat Delp would be.
Seventh Round, #234, #235, #244
To the extent the Vikings haven’t traded these picks, they will likely use them on potential UDFAs they like but are worried they may sign with another team. There are a lot of possibilities among the prospects they have met with, but beyond that they could spend one of these picks on a top punter like Brett Thorson, given Johnny Hekker is well past his prime and could be cut or traded without a big cap hit if he lost the punting competition.
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Closing Thoughts
Looking at the prospects the Vikings are meeting with and their roster needs, I expect the Vikings would like to make one or more trades with a focus on potentially picking up a middle round pick or two. That would most likely come by trading down several slots in the first round. I could also see them spending one or more of their late-round picks on a move up in the mid-rounds. Of course all that depends upon finding trade partners and adequate compensation, and that doesn’t always work out.
There are varying views of this draft, but many consider this a weaker draft without a lot of clean prospects at the top and more limited depth in many position groups. The middle rounds have value and there could be some average starters among them, but there are a lot of prospects where scheme fit will matter more and the ability to decipher which prospects will be able to overcome their shortcomings will be all the more important in this draft. Finding those players could unlock the most production outside of the top half of the first round.
But given scheme fits, preferences and overall evaluations of prospects in the mid-rounds, there could be more variance than normal in terms of where these prospects are drafted.
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For the Vikings, I would be surprised if they didn’t come away with a defensive tackle, defensive back, and running back in the first four rounds. In which order may come down to the best value at each draft slot and whether trades are made. I expect drafting an inside linebacker early may be a priority too.
Outside of Chris Johnson, who is mostly an outside cornerback, the Vikings are looking at a couple hybrid safety/slot corner prospects in Treydan Stukes and Jalon Kilgore. Dillon Thieneman fits that mold too. At defensive tackle, the Vikings are looking for versatility but more of a nose tackle to play next to Jalen Redmond at three technique. Kayden McDonald, Domonique Orange, Darrell Jackson Jr. and Zxavian Harris all fit that description. Gracen Halton not so much.
If the Vikings draft a wide receiver, based on the types of receivers they are meeting with, I expect it will be a larger X-type with speed that can operate outside the numbers in contested catch situations against single coverage. Ted Hurst, De’Zhaun Stribling, Jeff Caldwell, and C.J. Daniels are prospects the Vikings have met with that fit that description.
Among the offensive linemen the Vikings have met with, nearly all seem to be more gap scheme types- larger, more powerful. These are all late round prospects (except Pregnon) and most are tackles that could slide inside to guard- or center. I expect the Vikings to draft at least one of these and probably take on at least a couple more as UDFAs. But the Vikings have not met with any of the top centers in this draft (Connor Lew, Jake Slaughter, Ben Hecht, Logan Jones) and these are all more zone scheme centers. So, I wouldn’t be surprised if they passed on drafting a true center (i.e. a prospect who played center in college) and instead focused on tackles who could move inside. They have Blake Brandel and Michael Jurgens, so they have time to develop a guy who didn’t play center in college.
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At running back, I suspect the Vikings are looking more for a replacement for Aaron Jones rather than Jordan Mason, so looking more for a ‘lightening’ running back rather than a ‘thunder’ one, and a back that is a receiving threat. That suggests guys like Kaytron Allen and Jonah Coleman may not be the preference. Even Emmett Johnson doesn’t have the home run speed at the NFL level, although he’s received a lot of attention from the Vikings. Demond Claiborne has also received a lot of attention and is comped to Aaron Jones or a smaller version of De’Von Achane, which may appeal to running game coordinator Frank Smith, who came from Miami. We’ll see. Claiborne is a smaller back and ranked further down on the consensus board, but some have him ranked as high as RB3 in this draft.
Lastly, it will also be interesting if the Vikings draft a tight end or not. They’ve only met with one who is likely to be drafted in Oscar Delp, who’s more of an H-back type than a true in-line tight end, but probably the type of skillset to go along with Josh Oliver and who could replace T.J. Hockenson next year. They also met with Lance Mason, also an H-back type, but not as athletic. Still he had good production last year with Wisconsin and decent blocking grades too. But I suspect for the Vikings to draft Delp, they may need to acquire another mid-round pick given other priorities.
Stay tuned.
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