The 2026 NFL draft is now complete and dust is settling on the 32 teams’ latest intake of talent, including some players who could provide the bedrock of their rosters for years to come.
The Minnesota Vikings had nine picks in this year’s draft, ultimately including five in the top 100, giving them a great chance to address some of the positions most in need of a refresh after a disappointing 2025 campaign.
Where was the draft held this year?
The NFL announced in May 2024 that the 2026 draft would be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for the first time since 1948. The draft stage will be located adjacent to Acrisure Stadium, the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and there will also be Draft Experience events held outside the stadium and across the Allegheny River in Point State Park.
What picks did the Vikings have in the 2026 draft?
Round 1, pick 18
Round 2, pick 51
Round 3, pick 82
Round 3, pick 97 (compensatory selection)
Round 3, pick 98 (compensatory selection, from Eagles)
Round 5, pick 159 (from Panthers)
Round 5, pick 163 (from Eagles)
Round 6, pick 198 (from Patriots)
Round 7, pick 235 (from Panthers)
Each team usually has one pick in each round, but they can trade players or draft picks to increase their overall draft capital. The league may also award extra draft picks to teams as compensation for any net losses in free agency the previous year.
The Vikings gave up their fourth-round pick in a trade for Jaguars OT Cam Robinson after Christian Darrisaw was injured during the 2024 season, and their fifth-round pick was given up in a trade to bring WR Adam Thielen back from the Carolina Panthers.
Their sixth-round pick went to the San Francisco 49ers in a trade for RB Jordan Mason. They acquired an additional sixth-round pick when the Jets traded for DT Harrison Phillips, but sent that pick (and QB Sam Howell) to the Eagles in a trade for an additional fifth-round pick.
The Vikings got a sixth-round pick back from the Colts when they traded away CB Mekhi Blackmon, and picked up extra seventh-round picks in the Thielen trade and the trade that brought RB Cam Akers back to Minnesota from the Texans.
Draft day update: The Vikings started day 2 of the draft by trading back two places in the second round, acquiring pick #51 and an additional fifth-rounder (#159) from the Panthers in exchange for pick #49 and the sixth-rounder they received from the Colts (#196). However, the big news on day 2 was the announcement that the Vikings had traded OLB Jonathan Greenard and a seventh-round pick to the Eagles in exchange for third-rounders in 2026 (#98) and 2027.
A disaster of a move. Minnesota loses its premier pass-rusher for a sub-par return. While Greenard didn’t put up the sack numbers of 2024 last season and ended it early with the shoulder injury, trading him – and to the Eagles no less – is a bad move. He was the only pass rusher on the team who could win consistently against his opposing tackle. The Vikings will be a poorer team without him, although JG has a long-term extension and pay rise in Philly.
– Jonathan Pye
The Vikings made one more trade on day 3, reacquiring pick 198 in the sixth round from the New England Patriots in exchange for one of their round 7 picks.
Who did the Vikings pick in the 2026 draft?
Team needs: S, OL, DL, CB, RB
The Vikings had several needs to address on both sides of the ball in this year’s draft. With the future of veteran safety Harrison Smith still up in the air, they had the opportunity to bring in his successor with a high-value pick. The defensive line also needed bolstering after Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave were both let go in the offseason, while the retirement of center Ryan Kelly left an opening on the offensive line.
The Vikings also had the chance to address more of a luxury position by bringing in a promising running back to take some of the load off Jordan Mason and the aging Aaron Jones. Meanwhile, cornerback remains a perennial issue for the Minnesota Vikings. But while these are positions the team can strengthen, they are always open to picking up talent wherever they can find it.
Round 1, pick 18 – Caleb Banks, DL, Florida
This was a bit of a surprise pick from the Vikings front office. While the defensive line is undeniably a position that needed strengthening, the NFL cognoscenti seemed dead set on the Vikings picking a ready-made Harrison Smith replacement in Dillon Thieneman, who ended up going to the Chicago Bears seven picks later.
Banks, though, is a physical specimen, standing 6’6″ tall and weighing in at 330lb. He’s been described as “unblockable” by some sections of the NFL media, and if he can come into the new season fully fit after suffering a broken foot at the Combine, he could be a cornerstone of our defensive line for years to come.
– Tom Parry-Jones
Round 2, pick 51 – Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati
Golday adds important depth to a position where the Vikings are relying on 30-year-old Blake Cashman and 32-year-old Eric Wilson, of whom only Wilson is currently set to be on the roster in 2027. NFL draft experts ranked Golday between 4th and 7th best linebacker in the draft and was in most top 50 boards.
Golday is a versatile player in the mould of Bobby Okereke or Leighton Vander Esch. A former defensive end, standing at 6’4″ and weighing 239lb, he was moved to linebacker to take advantage of his speed more befitting that position. He certainly possesses the skills to rush the passer and get physical in the run game.
– Jonathan Pye
Round 3, pick 82 – Domonique Orange, DL, Iowa State
NFL games are won in the trenches. Last year, the Vikings tried to address this with third-contract players Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen. This time around, it’s the not-so-luxury selections but the necessary. With Levi Drake Rodriguez and Jalen Redmond the only starting-calibre players on the D-line prior to the draft, this fills a need, adding important depth.
Lovingly known as “Big Citrus”, Orange possesses impressive knockback power. Although he’s a raw pass rusher, at 6’2″ and 322lb, he is more than capable of stuffing the run. NFL draft expert Daniel Jeremiah described the pick as “the perfect fit”. Orange was the sixth-best defensive lineman according to The Athletic‘s Dane Brugler. A similar prospect to T’Vondre Sweat coming out of college.
– Jonathan Pye
Round 3, pick 97 – Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern
A significant addition at tackle with the amount of time Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill have missed over the last couple of years. With Blake Brandel moving to center, another swing tackle was required. Not a luxury skill position player but should the Vikings get to important games later in the season with no offensive line depth again, it could have led to potential disaster.
Tiernan is the ideal size at 6’7″, 323lb. He is patient in pass protection, but he needs to address his late anchor movement. Durability isn’t a question; Tiernan started 43 consecutive games in five years at Northwestern. Last year, he only allowed 3 sacks and 13 pressures in 13 games. All things considered, he has the potential to be a starting tackle in the NFL. Dane Brugler of The Athletic sees potential in him moving to guard due to a lack of length. In a similar mould to Blake Brandel in terms of the number of positions he can cover.
– Jonathan Pye
Round 3, pick 98 – Jakobe Thomas, S, Miami (FL)
An important addition with the potential retirement of Harrison Smith looming large in the wing mirrors (editor’s note: and as we know, objects in the mirror may be closer than they appear). This is a selection that will add depth, youth and speed to a position that, outside of Jay Ward, was lacking downhill mobility.
Standing 6’1″ and weighing 211lb, Thomas is a fluid mover and anticipates the game well, with the ability to get downhill and make plays on the ball. He had 5 interceptions to his name last season, as well as 3.5 sacks, 4 tackles-for-loss and 6 pass breakups. He has the ability to play at the line of scrimmage and to learn the role of quarterback of the defense if and when Smith does retire.
– Jonathan Pye
Round 5, pick 159 – Max Bredeson, FB, Michigan
An ideal replacement for CJ Ham, Bredeson began his college career as a tight end but will be deployed mostly as a fullback. The Vikings’ new offensive line coach and assistant head coach Frank Smith had a heavy, physical run game down in Miami – expect similar in Minnesota. Alec Lewis of The Athletic described Bredeson as the best fullback in the draft.
It’s clear for all to see that Minnesota is building through the draft. There may be some question marks surrounding the lack of offensive weaponry being drafted, but as in past years, if we have an injury crisis and can’t protect the quarterback, it won’t matter who we have catching the ball. Elite ball skills and blocking are Bredeson’s main strengths, so expect him to create big holes in the run game.
– Jonathan Pye
Round 5, pick 163 – Charles Demmings, CB, Stephen F. Austin
Corner isn’t a position of particular weakness for the Vikings, but equally not a position of strength, so adding another body to challenge the likes of James Pierre and Isaiah Rodgers is prudent. He topped RAS scoring among corners this year scoring 9.10 (out of 10). Pro Football Network dubbed Demmings “one of the most intriguing FCS prospects”, and has led the Lumberjacks in interceptions and passes defended during his college career.
With the fifth-fastest 40-yard dash time among cornerbacks at this year’s combine, Demmings will add speed at the position for the Vikings. However, the key element that brings excitement to this pick will be his ability for Brian Flores to play more man coverage and will likely do most of his work on the boundary. He can have a tendency to play the receiver instead of reading routes; however, too many times for the Vikings last year, receivers were unchallenged for the ball if the pass rush didn’t get home, so this is an important addition for Flores’ defense.
– Jonathan Pye
Round 6, pick 198 – Demond Claiborne, RB, Wake Forest
The fact that the Vikings traded back up into the sixth round to take Claiborne tells you almost everything you need to know about this kid out of Wake Forest. He impressed at the Combine, running the third-fastest 40-yard dash out of all running backs, suggesting he could play the role of the lightning to Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones’ thunder.
He managed almost 2,000 rushing yards over his last two seasons at Wake Forest, and reached double-digit touchdowns in both, leading to a second-team All-ACC recognition in 2025. He’s also proven reliable in the kick return game, giving the Vikings a potential option to field kickoffs alongside Myles Price.
– Tom Parry-Jones
Round 7, pick 235 – Gavin Gerhardt, C, Cincinnati
The Vikings finally addressed their biggest need on the offensive line by taking Cincinnati center Gavin Gerhardt 235th overall. There’s clearly durability there – Gerhardt didn’t miss a single regular season game for the Bearcats in his last four years there, finishing with a school record 49 starts at his position.
Standing at 6’4″ and weighing 310lb, he’ll be a big body to shift on the offensive line, although it’s likely that Blake Brandel will start the season as the incumbent center despite still being relatively new to the position.
– Tom Parry-Jones
What do you think of the Vikings’ 2026 draft class? Steals, reaches and busts – let us know your thoughts via email at UKVikingsFanClub@gmail.com or send us a DM on any of our social media channels.