Using the Vikings’ Four Top 100 Selections on Behalf of the Team
The Vikings’ four best selections all arrive in the top 100 picks. Most specifically, there’s No. 18 (1st Round), No. 49 (2nd Round), No. 82 (3rd Round), and No. 97 (3rd Round).
Nailing all of those picks is very unlikely. If, however, the Vikings got two tremendous talents early in the 2026 NFL Draft, then Minnesota really benefits. So, too, would tossing three or four solid, productive players into the mix from within the draft more broadly be a huge help (think of total of two high-end starters and four solid depth pieces). Check out how a certain hack writer would go if the board fell a certain way. Shout out to ESPN for the mock simulator.
The Vikings’ Four Top Picks: No. 18, 49, 82, & 97
Pick No. 18 — Dillon Thieneman, Safety, Oregon
Original? Not at all. Still smart? Good chance. Sometimes, the easy answer is the correct answer.
Getting Thieneman into the mix for the Vikings would mean adding a young athlete into the secondary. Doing so would be with an eye toward having a hybrid slot/linebacker safety who helps in all facets of football (run and pass, possibly on specials). Minnesota’s desire would very likely involve seeing a trio of Thieneman, Jay Ward, and Josh Metellus taking on a bulk of the work for the Vikings (with Theo Jackson getting worked in, as well).
Pick No. 49 — Jacob Rodriguez, Linebacker, Texas Tech
An absolutely perfect world means getting somebody like Eric Kendricks. Just a general consideration brings back memories of the former Vikings great since Jacob Rodriguez is a 6’1″ linebacker who weighs 231 pounds who ran a fantastic 4.57. Kendricks is 6’0″ and weighs 232 while running a 4.61.
Plus, Kendricks went in the 2nd while Rodriguez is projected to go then. Seeing the Vikings get somewhere close to Kendricks would mean a total slam dunk.
Consider the word from Lance Zierlein: “Rodriguez arrived in college as an offensive ‘athlete’ and leaves Texas Tech as a bigger-than-life, stat-stuffing linebacker. He’s uniquely productive, with elite tackle, interception and forced fumble production. He’ll occasionally bounce out of a run fit when chasing action, but he has the burst to race back inside and finish. He’s slippery working off blocks and navigating combo climbers. His lateral pursuit leaves the station on time and with a fast take-off. Rodriguez displays ballhawking instincts and outstanding hands but busted coverages were part of the package in 2025. His unbridled urgency and ‘make every play’ mindset can inflate missed tackle totals, but the production should outweigh the occasional headaches. He projects as a long-term starting inside linebacker.”
Pick No. 82 — Logan Jones, Center, Iowa
He’s the dream fit and would instantly be the favorite to start in Week 1. Overcoming Blake Brandel and Michael Jurgens isn’t a given, but he would likely be the best option.
Iowa is known as a school where tight ends thrive (T.J. Hockenson played there), but maybe an o-lineman is the move here. Getting a young, highly-athletic center would represent a nice win. Jones fits the pattern of smaller, tremendously gifted centers in Minnesota. Maybe he’s the one who locks down the starting spot for a decade.
Pick No. 97 — Demond Claiborne, Running Back, Wake Forest
The runner has wheels.
Last year, Claiborne tossed up 907 yards in his 179 carries, working out to a healthy 5.1 yards-per-carry average. He had 10 ground scores. He then turned 28 catches into 140 yards. Let him develop as the RB3 behind Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason. Minnesota has shown interest in him.
