On the Draft and Mixed Emotions

That’s a wrap on the 2026 NFL Draft, and here are the newest members of the Minnesota Vikings: 1(18): Caleb Banks, DT, Florida 2 (51): Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati 3 (82): Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa State 3 (97): Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern 3 (98): Jakobe Thomas, S, Miami 5 (159): Max Bredeson, FB, Michigan 5 (163): Charles Demmings, CB, SFA 6 (198): Demond Claiborne, RB, Wake Forest 7 (235): Gavin Gerhardt, C, Cincinnati The Vikings entered draft weekend with four picks in the Top 100. They ended up with five, and given how it all unfolded, the positional priorities of those picks made sense at a 30,000-foot level. Here are my main takeaways.

The result? Mixed emotions. Feel free to drag me in the comments.

NO RISK, NO REWARD AT #18 (THERE IS DEFINITELY RISK) In my previous article, I advocated for Rob Brzezinski going defensive line at #18. I did not include Caleb Banks among those options. Even though I sometimes have trouble remembering what I had for dinner the previous night, I *think* I saw Banks mocked a few times in the first round.

However, it was not the consensus view. It was also not for lack of talent. Banks is an absolute freak of an athlete, and it’s not hyperbole to say the upside is off-the-charts.