Minnesota Vikings Trade Greenard and Draft 4 Players on Day 2

(Reese Strickland-Imagn Images)

The Minnesota Vikings have wrapped up their second day of the 2026 NFL Draft, and we’ll be breaking down each pick from Rounds 2 and 3—assessing the players, trades, and overall value.

The Minnesota Vikings Second Round Pick

The Vikings kicked off the day by trading back in the second round from pick No. 49 to No. 51 with the Carolina Panthers, while also swapping their No. 196 pick to move up to No. 159. The trade had little impact on their second-round approach, as they only moved back two spots, but it did allow them to turn a sixth-round pick into a fifth-rounder by moving up 37 spots. Overall, an A+ trade by Rob Brzezinski and the Vikings front office.

Minnesota stayed put at No. 51 with plenty of options still on the board—including some projected first-round talent—but ultimately selected linebacker Jake Golday out of Cincinnati.

Golday played just two collegiate seasons at Cincinnati, appearing in 24 games after a stint in the FCS. He totaled 163 tackles across those two seasons, including 105 in 2025 alone. He also added 13 tackles for loss and five sacks.

Golday is a versatile linebacker who can play both on and off the ball. He converted from a defensive end at Central Arkansas to an off-ball linebacker at Cincinnati, which really highlights that versatility.

Jake Golday is the type of player who can compete with a veteran like Eric Wilson while also complementing Andrew Van Ginkel—two players who fill very different roles in Brian Flores’ versatile defensive scheme. This could be a pick that adds an entirely new dimension to the defense. His Relative Athletic Score (RAS) is even very similar to Andrew Van Ginkel out of college. If the Vikings can replicate even a portion of Van Ginkel’s impact with Golday, opposing quarterbacks are going to have problems.

As the Vikings add another exciting piece to a linebacker room that includes Blake Cashman, Eric Wilson, Van Ginkel, and Dallas Turner, they also say goodbye to a fan favorite and key contributor from the past two seasons.

The Vikings Trade Greenard and Add Draft Capital

Vikings edge rusher Jonathan Greenard was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for the 98th overall pick in this year’s third round and a 2027 third-round pick. The compensation is fair, but not overwhelming. Ultimately, the Vikings chose not to commit to the $100 million contract Greenard received from the Eagles over the next four years, instead saving $34 million over the next two seasons with his departure.

Vikings Interim-General Manager Rob Brzezinski had this to say when asked about the decision not to extend Jonathan Greenard:

“We have just spent so much money the last several years that it's not sustainable for us to move forward. Our salary cap situation has been very, very challenging." (via Kevin Seifert on X)

Dallas Turner's Time to Shine

The opening left by Greenard’s departure immediately gives 23-year-old Dallas Turner—one of the Vikings’ first-round picks in 2024—a clear path to continue his ascent.

Turner made a noticeable jump from his rookie to sophomore season, improving from three to eight sacks and from three to 11 tackles for loss. He also recorded four forced fumbles in 2025 after having none as a rookie.

His production undeniably took a leap in 2025, and it’s worth noting that much of that came in the second half of the season, when Jonathan Greenard went down with an injury that ultimately ended his season.

The Minnesota Vikings Take Big Citrus

The Minnesota Vikings used their 82nd overall pick—their first selection of the third round—to draft Domonique Orange, also known as “Big Citrus,” out of Iowa State. This is a major pick for Minnesota, as they continue to prioritize revamping their defensive line.

Before people react to the Vikings taking another defensive tackle on back-to-back days, it’s important to understand that Domonique Orange and Caleb Banks are very different players. Banks and Jalen Redmond project more as 3-technique defenders, while Orange profiles as a primary A-gap presence, lining up over the center and inside shoulder of the guards.

Orange stands at 6'2", 328 pounds and has the ability to absorb double teams, clog the interior, and move quick for his size. He played nearly 1,600 snaps over four seasons at Iowa State and boasts a 450-pound bench press along with a 34-inch vertical—yes, you read that correctly.

There are some concerns about his arm length, pass-rush ability, and a 25% missed tackle rate in 2025. However, under Brian Flores, it’s fair to expect he’ll be put in the best position to maximize his potential as “Big Citrus.” (Shoutout to BengalsBrews on X for some of this intel.)

This is yet another clear statement from the Vikings—they are committed to rebuilding the trenches.

Back to Back Picks to Finish the Night

The Minnesota Vikings held onto two more picks later in the third round at No. 97 and No. 98, where they selected offensive tackle Caleb Tiernan out of Northwestern and safety Jakobe Thomas from Miami.

Offensive tackle may have come as a surprise to some fans, considering the two pillars of the franchise on the line—Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill. However, with Darrisaw yet to play a full season in his five-year career and O’Neill turning 31 years old with just one year remaining on his contract, the insurance pick makes a lot of sense.

It’s very likely both are still with the Vikings in 2027, but Tiernan represents great value at No. 97 overall, especially after being ranked No. 67 on the consensus big board. It’s always important to draft offensive linemen—especially tackles—in the early to mid rounds due to the importance of the position.

In fact, Brian O’Neill himself was drafted in the second round in 2018 as a developmental tackle before stepping in for an injured Rashod Hill early in the season—and he’s been the starter ever since.

Moving to the Vikings’ second pick in that back-to-back sequence—safety Jakobe Thomas. Minnesota selected Thomas after a standout season with the Miami Hurricanes defense, which was one of the best in the country in 2025. Thomas is known as a ball hawk, recording five interceptions last season along with six pass deflections.

That’s not all he brings, though—he also totaled 76 tackles, 4 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles in 2025.

From a production standpoint, Jakobe Thomas is an intriguing pick for the Vikings and adds much-needed depth to a somewhat depleted safety room that includes Josh Metellus, Jay Ward, Theo Jackson, and Tavierre Thomas. With Harrison Smith’s future still uncertain, this move helps stabilize the group a bit—even if more work still needs to be done.

Thoughts on Rounds 1-3

Many fans have a negative view of the Minnesota Vikings’ 2026 draft class so far, and it’s fair to criticize it—but there’s also a clear plan in place, and the Vikings may quietly be having a very good draft.

Adding to the trenches is extremely important, and Minnesota has already used three picks there in the first three rounds. The idea of Jalen Redmond, Domonique Orange, and Caleb Banks lined up across the interior of the defensive line is something the Vikings haven’t had in quite some time. Adding Jake Golday also brings versatility to the linebacker group and pass rush alongside Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner. This front seven has the potential to be scary, and it’s something to be excited about.

Outside of those picks, the Vikings also added offensive tackle Caleb Tiernan as an insurance and developmental piece for an offensive line that dealt with major injuries last season. Jakobe Thomas was another solid pickup, coming from an elite defensive unit and helping shore up the Vikings’ safety room.

One of the most intriguing trends in this Vikings draft class is that four of the five players selected spent five seasons in college and will be 23 years old before the season starts. It’s clear the Vikings are taking an approach focused on players who can contribute right away. The only younger player in the group is Domonique Orange, who is 22 years old and spent four years in college.

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