4 Predictions for the Vikings’ 2026 Draft
The NFL Draft is finally here. After weeks and months of speculation about Minnesota’s first-round choice, the club will finally reveal its strategy. The best-case scenario is that the new arrivals can be franchise-changing talents and eventually lead the Vikings to their first Super Bowl.
At this point, however, the approach is anyone’s guess. Here’s mine.
1. Athletic Player in Round 1
This could be perceived as a cop-out, but I’m doing it regardless. The Vikings will pick a guy in the first round (or early in the second after a trade) that can be labeled “athletic freak”. There are various candidates for that, such as Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman and Kenyon Sadiq.
In recent years, the Vikings have prioritized athletic players and there’s no reason to expect that to change. Get ready to hear terms like relative athletic score and you will hear the pick’s 40-yard dash time.
Those things will make the rounds after the selection, not the college production.
2. New Center and New RB Arrive in Rounds 2-4
This one is not quite as vague. The Vikings will fill two major needs for the near future in rounds two through four. There’s currently no fourth-rounder in Minnesota’s arsenal, but that could change in a trade. The Vikings, meanwhile, hold one pick in the second and two picks in the third.
At center, last year’s addition Ryan Kelly retired following his injury-plagued 2025 season. This year’s center class doesn’t include any premier players, but several intriguing prospects that are expected to fly off the board on Day 2. The Vikings will snag one of them, who will then compete with Blake Brandel for the Week 1 job. Potential targets are Connor Lew, Jake Slaughter, Sam Hecht, Logan Jones, and Trey Zuhn.
The running back position features Jeremiyah Love out of Notre Dame, but he’s highly unlikely to drop to Minnesota’s 18th pick. Instead, they will add one of the tier 2 backs. The running game could once again be the driving force of Kevin O’Connell’s offense with the quarterback uncertainty. Furthermore, both Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason are in contract years and adding a young back a year too early might not be the worst idea.
Jadarian Price, Mike Washington, Jonah Coleman, and Emmett Johnson could provide some youth.
3. Early Pick Set to Redshirt
Speaking of early, there will be a prominent player in this year’s class that isn’t expected to see the field much. Think of the 2024 draft when the franchise picked Dallas Turner, who was stuck behind starters Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel, as well as backup Patrick Jones.
An early pick will face a similar fate in his debut season. That could be a linebacker, as the Vikings don’t have a particular need in 2026 with Blake Cashman and Eric Wilson returning from last year. They aren’t the youngest players, though, and a successor could arrive and take over next year.
Also in the cards could be an offensive tackle. Christian Darrisaw’s knee issue, paired with Brian O’Neill’s expiring contract and age, could prompt the Vikings to think about an offensive tackle. It is a premium position and having a talented guy waiting in the wings is smart planning.
4. Backup Tackle Selected
Back to offensive tackle, even if the Vikings don’t add one early, they will certainly pick one throughout the draft. A few years ago, the Vikings were pretty successful at developing backup tackles, including players like Rashod Hill, Oli Udoh, and Blake Brandel.
That pipeline has come to a halt. In 2022, the franchise drafted Vederian Lowe in the sixth round, but he was traded to New England a year later. After skipping the position in 2023, the Vikings acquired Walter Rouse in 2024, who has yet to establish himself as a real alternative. Veteran Justin Skule was signed in free agency a year ago and Ryan Van Demark this time.
Developing the backup tackle is the better solution.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.