Mel Kiper Jr. gives the Vikings' 2026 draft class an average grade
ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. released his draft grades, and the Minnesota Vikings earned an average result.
The 2026 NFL Draft has come and gone, and as always, there are grades to be handed out. Not everyone will agree; some media members will have different opinions, and fans will certainly have their own feelings. One of the most prominent names in NFL Draft circles is ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.
, and he released his draft grades yesterday. The Minnesota Vikings would earn a C grade. Kiper would praise the selection of Caleb Banks, but question the decision not to go safety, specifically Oregon's Dillon Thieneman, at pick 18.
The selections of linebacker Jake Golday and defensive tackle Domonique Orange were fine value picks, but per Kiper, their best selection was offensive tackle Caleb Tiernan, who was ranked 47 spots higher than his draft spot. In the end, Kiper cited that Minnesota simply did not do enough to move the needle heading into 2026. Time will tell if the Vikings' picks during the 2026 NFL Draft were C players or if they can prove him wrong.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Mel Kiper Jr. awards the Vikings a C grade for the 2026 NFL Draft