What the Vikings’ Draft May Look Like
The 2026 NFL Draft is just two weeks away and the Minnesota Vikings continue evaluating prospects and hosting Top 30 meetings as well. They met with a bunch of prospects this week and will likely continue to meet with prospects through at least mid-April. However, while there is still a lot of unknowns about the Vikings’ draft intentions- and likely some attempts at obfuscating those intentions- if we piece together roster needs, salary cap situation, prospect meetings, and draft picks, there appears to be at least an outline of how the Vikings may approach this draft and ultimately the positions and players they draft.
As a reminder, the Vikings have a first-round pick (#18), a second-round pick (#49), two third-round picks (#82 and #97), no fourth-round pick, a fifth-round pick (#163), a sixth-round pick (#196), and three seventh-round picks (#234, #235, and #244) in the upcoming draft. Let’s first review roster needs. Roster Needs The Vikings’ starting lineup this season is already pretty much set.
QB: Kyler Murray RBs: Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason OL: Christian Darrisaw, Donovan Jackson, Blake Brandel, Will Fries, Brian O’Neill TEs: T. J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver WRs: Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison EDGE: Andrew Van Ginkel, Jonathan Greenard, Dallas Turner DTs: Jalen Redmond, Levi Drake-Rodriquez LBs: Blake Cashman, Eric Wilson CBs: Byron Murphy Jr.
, Isaiah Rodgers, James Pierre Ss: Harrison Smith/Theo Jackson, Josh Metellus Specialists: K Will Reichard, P Johnny Hekker, LS Andrew DePaola We may see some of the early round picks a bit in rotation, and maybe the first-round pick more than that, but this draft is mainly about developing current draft picks into players who can start next year or later on to replace aging veterans, to build more quality depth, and perhaps add a missing but needed skillset here and there. Scheme evolution could impact draft pick selection. And positions where aging and expensive veterans predominate could be the focus of early round picks, particularly at higher-value positions.
In particular, both safety and cornerback position groups could be the target for early round picks, or potentially linebacker as well. All three groups have aging veterans that will need to be replaced at some point in the not-too-distant future and potentially this season if Harrison Smith retires or next year in some other cases. Interior defensive line would seem to be a need given the departures of Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen, but not sure if that will be the priority for either the first or second-round pick.
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