The Vikings’ Best Draft Pick Is Already Pretty Clear
Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The Minnesota Vikings 1st-Round draft pick from Thursday night, Caleb Banks, comes with some injury risk and an overall boom-or-bust profile. The team’s 2nd-Rounder, Jake Golday , might be a bit raw for Year No. 1 readiness, which is fine because the Vikings have plenty of off-ball linebacking depth.
What does this mean? Well, the 3rd-Round selection of Iowa State nose tackle Domonique Orange takes the cake from a post-draft standpoint. Minnesota needed a true interior run-stuffer, and Orange may have the cleanest rookie fit on the roster.
Big Citrus — his nickname because of his last name — is set up to succeed more than any Vikings draft pick in the immediate fallout of the event. A New Nose Tackle Option Has Entered the Chat The Big Citrus fan club has already begun. Domonique Orange reacts after a defensive play, showing energy and presence along the line for Iowa State during second-half action on Sep 6, 2025, at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames.
Wearing No. 95, the Cyclones lineman turns toward teammates as the rivalry matchup against Iowa continues with momentum shifting late. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images.
An Immediate Roster Opening So long as Orange doesn’t look like an idiot at training camp in July — he won’t — the large defender has a clear path to splash right away. On the pre-draft depth chart, 2024 7th-Rounder Levi Drake Rodriguez was slated for nose tackle duty in 2026. That all changed with the Orange selection.
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