Minnesota Vikings 2026 NFL Draft Recap

(Jerry Holt/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

If you’re not a fan of an optimistic—but realistic—approach to the Minnesota Vikings, this article probably isn’t for you. With that being said, let’s dive into one of the more rollercoaster NFL Drafts for the Vikings in recent years.

Round 1, Pick 18: DT Caleb Banks, Florida

NFL Comparison: Chris Jones

Draft Grade: B-

The Vikings kicked off their NFL Draft by selecting defensive tackle Caleb Banks out of Florida. This sparked a strong reaction from fans, many of whom were disappointed the team didn’t select Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman, who had been heavily mocked to Minnesota.

Banks brings some concerns, particularly with his availability due to recurring injuries throughout his college career. However, when you look past that, it’s clear the Vikings are swinging for the fences with this pick.

Banks is a 6'6", 334-pound defensive tackle who can line up across the defensive front. He’s massive, yet explosive off the line, and uses his raw power to his advantage. If he can stay on the field, he has the potential to be a serious problem in the NFL for years to come. The B- grade reflects that high upside, but it’s held back by the ongoing concerns about his durability.

Round 2, Pick 51: LB Jake Golday, Cincinnati

NFL Comparison: Andrew Van Ginkel

Draft Grade: B+

This was an unexpected but exciting pick for the Vikings to kick off Day 2 of the NFL Draft. Jake Golday is a versatile linebacker who spent five years in college, working his way up to the FBS level and ultimately becoming one of the more skilled linebackers in this draft.

Golday can line up all over the field, giving him upside similar to Andrew Van Ginkel as a pass rusher. This is going to be a very fun pick to watch develop under Brian Flores.

Round 3, Pick 82: DT Domonique Orange, Iowa State

NFL Comparison: Dalvin Tomlinson

Draft Grade: B

We were shocked when the Vikings went out and drafted another defensive tackle within their first three picks—especially after how controversial their first selection was. But after doing some research, Domonique “Big Citrus” Orange is a beast and a true space-eater in the middle of the defensive line.

The defensive line has been completely revamped with nasty, violent players up the middle, and we couldn’t be more excited to describe it that way. The thought of rolling out Jalen Redmond, Domonique Orange, and Caleb Banks on the interior is terrifying for opposing offensive lines—and even more dangerous for quarterbacks when they see edge rushers Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner coming off the edge unblocked.

Round 3, Pick 97: OT Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern

NFL Comparison: Jim Shwartz

Draft Grade: C+

This grade is not meant as a knock on the player at all—in fact, Caleb Tiernan is a very good offensive tackle. We just believe that, from a positional standpoint, the Minnesota Vikings could have gone in a different direction. That said, having insurance on the offensive line is never a bad thing.

The Vikings are coming off a season where they dealt with a multitude of injuries to four of their five starting offensive linemen throughout the year—especially at tackle. With Christian Darrisaw yet to play a full season and Brian O’Neill turning 31 in a contract year, it’s important to have succession plans, or at the very least, reliable depth in case of injury.

Caleb Tiernan spent five seasons at Northwestern, logging plenty of snaps, and now looks to add valuable depth to a position group that needed it.

Round 3, Pick 98: S Jakobe Thomas, Pick 98

NFL Comparison: Talanoa Hufanga

Draft Grade: B-

An under-the-radar player from one of the best defenses in the nation in 2025, Jakobe Thomas is a fun pick for the Vikings, who needed to add a playmaker to their safety room with Harrison Smith’s future still uncertain.

Thomas is a physical ball hawk who recorded five interceptions and 3.5 sacks in the 2025 season, along with six pass deflections. He also had a long college career, playing for three different schools across five collegiate seasons.

Round 5, Pick 159: FB Max Bredeson, Michigan

NFL Comparison: Kyle Juszczyck

Draft Grade: C

The Vikings kicked off Day 3 of the draft by selecting FB/TE Max Bredeson out of Michigan. Bredeson is a versatile fullback who can line up all over the field and is a fantastic blocker. He spent five seasons at Michigan, including a national championship run alongside Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy. McCarthy was even seen at Bredeson’s draft party moments after the pick, clearly excited about reuniting with his former Wolverines teammate.

Don’t let the “C” grade make you think this was a bad pick. Bredeson is a solid player, and we like the idea of bringing in a familiar face for McCarthy as he heads into a competitive camp. The only downside is using their first fifth-round pick on him when Nebraska RB Emmett Johnson was still on the board. Johnson was selected just a few picks later, and the Vikings ultimately missed out.

Round 5, Pick 163: CB Charles Demming, Stephen F. Austin

NFL Comparison: Daron Bland

Draft Grade: C+

Charles Demming out of the FCS is an interesting pick for the Vikings, who were in desperate need of adding a cornerback. Demming is a physical player—very physical—and a strong tackler who is expected to bring man coverage ability on the boundary. He recorded eight interceptions at Stephen F. Austin, along with 31 passes defended.

The reason this grade doesn’t quite break into the “B” range comes down to the unknown. There isn’t a ton of information on him coming from the FCS level, but he appears to be a good fit for Brian Flores’ scheme and has the upside to develop into a solid CB2 in the future.

Round 6, Pick 198: RB Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest

NFL Comparison: Bucky Irving

Draft Grade: A-

The Vikings finally addressed the running back position, trading into the sixth round to select Demond Claiborne out of Wake Forest. Claiborne is a great fit for the Vikings’ backfield, bringing much-needed explosiveness to a group that lacked juice. He has true breakaway speed, great elusiveness in the open field, and adds value as a receiving threat.

This is a position the Vikings desperately needed to inject with fresh legs, especially with an aging Aaron Jones and a power back in Jordan Mason. Claiborne has drawn comparisons to Bucky Irving and has even been labeled a “diet” version of De’Von Achane and Jahmyr Gibbs. Being mentioned alongside players like that is a huge compliment, and the Vikings may have landed a dynamic playmaker late in the draft.

Round 7, Pick 235: C Gavin Gerhardt, Cincinnati

NFL Comparison: Ryan Kelly

Draft Grade: C

It’s always tough to assess these later-round picks, as many of them never develop into more than backups or depth pieces. Still, the Vikings selected Gavin Gerhardt with their final pick of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Gerhardt spent six seasons at Cincinnati and allowed one of the lowest pressure rates on true dropbacks among college centers. He made 49 career starts, logging a ton of snaps, and was the leader of an offensive line that was a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award. He didn't rank high on consensus big boards and is considered somewhat undersized.

Overall Vikings NFL Draft Grade

Draft Grade: B

Two very clear trends define the Vikings’ 2026 draft class: experience and a commitment to building in the trenches.

The Vikings drafted nine players this year, including seven who played five or more seasons in college and seven who will be 23 years old at the start of the 2026 regular season. The youngest player selected is 22 years old with four years of college experience. For context, Dallas Turner is 23 and entering his third season in the NFL with the Vikings.

Minnesota also continued its focus on the trenches for the second straight offseason, drafting four linemen—including three on the interior.

Overall, the “B” grade reflects an optimistic outlook on this draft, while still acknowledging the number of “reaches” and riskier selections made by Rob Brzezinski and the front office. There was a clear emphasis on stacking the defense, which was a major priority heading into the draft.

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