As we approach the 2026 draft, the Minnesota Vikings are taking a different approach this year. Gone are the days of low amounts of picks in the draft and signing expensive veterans. The Vikings are building the next iteration of the franchise through the draft and aim to get younger, speedier and cheaper.
It’s very important for the team to draft well so we can pay our young, rising stars like Jordan Addison and Jalen Redmond in the near future. The Vikings have nine selections in the draft and four in the top 100 picks. Let’s take a closer look at who the Vikings should select in the first round with pick 18.
Safety – a big need
It’s a no brainer to pick a safety at 18 with the looming retirement of Harrison Smith. Whether or not he comes back for one final year, he’s 37 years old and not as quick as he once was. At that age, if he were to come back, Smith would act almost as an additional defensive backs coach and a young safety having the opportunity to learn off a future Hall of Famer would be a great idea.
In most mock drafts, the Vikings have been slated to select Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman. Standing 6 feet tall and weighing 201lb, he ran a 4.35-second 40-yard dash at the Combine, notched a 41-inch vertical jump, and a 10′ 5″ broad jump. He’d be an excellent selection thanks to his ball hawking ability, coupled with linebacker-like tackling. It’ll take time for anyone to come in and fill the shoes of Harrison Smith in the Brian Flores defense, but Thieneman looks to be the best attainable option at pick 18 to fill the need.
Cornerback
After signing James Pierre on a two year deal in free agency, one could argue that cornerback is a position that could be addressed later in the draft. However, there is still a need for long-term security at the position and some younger legs and players who capable of going one-on-one more. This would allow Flores to pivot away from his zone scheme on the back end and play more man defense, which he did so successfully in Miami and New England.
A potential corner to keep an eye on at pick 18 would be Mansoor Delane. The LSU corner didn’t take part in the combine but attended interviews with teams instead. NFL analyst Lance Zierlein likened him to Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell and described Delane as excelling in press coverage, altering release timing with punches and slides. Smooth hips and efficient footwork keep him connected in man coverage, while his processing allows for quick transitions in off-man and short zone looks; however, at times his aggression can draw flags with his constant hand-fighting and he struggles to locate deep throws. It’s highly impressive that he played through a core muscle injury last year; the Vikings need more strong-willed players that can hang when the going gets tough.
Running back – a luxury move
It’s important to note here that this would break the whole mould of how Rob Brzezinski has talked about the team-building process this offseason, but trading up to select Jeremiyah Love was a possibility that was floated by NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah. Albeit highly unlikely, it would be a needle-mover; the Vikings desperately need to add some speed to the running back position and this would be the perfect pick.
However, it would be a luxury selection that would mean giving up draft capital in a year where we need to fill out the roster. At the Combine, Love ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash, which was second fastest of the running backs. As a fan, it would be a hugely exciting move as the Vikings have not had an explosive running back since Dalvin Cook at the beginning of his career. Unfortunately, the Vikings are not in a position of picking the best player available and shifting capital.
Who do you think the Vikings should take with the 18th overall pick? Should they trade up, or maybe trade down to add more picks? Let us know via email at UKVikingsFanClub@gmail.com or drop us a DM on any of our social media platforms.