The Top 3 Vikings Roster Competitions After the 2026 NFL Draft
A total of nine draft picks and nineteen UDFAs got tossed into the mix due to the 2026 NFL Draft (read more). Some Vikings roster competitions are now going to follow.
Certain newcomers aren’t going to face meaningful resistance for playing time. Last year, the Vikings snagged LG Donovan Jackson and then barely touched the breaks while racing toward a starting position in Week 1. Apart from a healthy Caleb Banks, the current pile of talent doesn’t have the same certitude, meaning there’s still plenty that needs to be determined.
The Top 3 Vikings Roster Competitions
Competition No. 1 — The Punter Battle
Every single NFL team should participate in a special teams battle during training camp. To be sure, there are limitations — not bringing a long snapper to town to square off with Andrew DePaola is sensible — but the point remains.
The Vikings, to their credit, got the memo.
An elder statesman who is among the greats of his era, Johnny Hekker is going toe-to-toe with UDFA addition Brett Thorson. As of early May, the competition looks like a flip of the coin, a 50/50 battle that is going to result in the best man winning. Forced to guess, I think the Vikings roll with the rookie.
Competition No. 2 — The ‘Backer Battle
Consider an assessment of the Minnesota Vikings’ linebackers. An educated guess on the hierarchy:
- LB1 Blake Cashman
- LB2 Eric Wilson
- LB3 Jake Golday
- LB4 Ivan Pace Jr.
- LB5 Josh Ross
- LB6 Jacob Roberts
- LB7 Keli Lawson
- LB8 Scooby Williams
At minimum, Minnesota’s team is going to boast four linebackers on the final 53-man roster. The edge rusher depth is (at least currently) too skimpy and Wilson/Golday too important to shore up those issues to get by with anything less. Even better, linebackers tend to be pivotal for special teams due to their nice blend of size, speed, and physicality.
Golday appears to be the third linebacker. Sinking a 2nd into him suggests as much. Can competition from Pace or any of the others who appear lower in the list change that projection?
Competition No. 3 — The Defensive Backs Battle
The top corners are Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, and James Pierre. Next up would appear to be Chuck Demmings, who is looking to be better than Dwight McGlothern and Zemaiah Vaughn.
The top safeties are Josh Metellus, Jay Ward, and Theo Jackson. Next up would appear to be Jakobe Thomas, who is looking to be better than Tavierre Thomas, Jacob Thomas, and Kahlef Hailassie.
Tossing a 3rd (Thomas) and a 5th (Demmings) into the mix isn’t the death knell for the in-house talents. The Vikings have nevertheless signalled a desire to rally around these recent adds, at least in terms of depth roles within that Brian Flores secondary. The fourth and fifth options at corner and safety need to battle for a roster spot.
