The Vikings’ Best Cornerback Options in the Draft

Ken Ruinard / staff / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The 2026 NFL draft is fast approaching, so it’s time to start looking at the Vikings’ draft options. Having previously looked at safety and defensive tackle, we now turn our attention to a position that was a popular choice in the earlier mock drafts for the Vikings’ first round pick, but has cooled off the closer we have got to the draft – cornerback. How Minnesota Can Navigate the Board at Cornerback Cornerback is still a position I can see the Vikings looking to add to the roster during the draft.

The signing of James Pierre made the team’s position at CB less desperate, but unless Pierre surprises and is better than advertised. Everything at the position isn’t solved and still needs addressing. These are the options throughout the different rounds.

The First Round Certainties Several cornerbacks could fly off the board in the first round, with Mansoor Delane and Jermod McCoy the most highly rated. Both have the potential to go higher than 18 as genuine lockdown outside corners. If either is on the board at 18, they immediately become extremely strong candidates for the Vikings, who are in desperate need of a long, rangy shutdown CB.

Tennessee offensive lineman Cooper Mays (63), wide receiver Bru McCoy (5), and quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) surround running back Dylan Sampson (6) in celebration after Sampson’s touchdown during an NCAA college football game against Alabama on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Knoxville. Tenn.