Two Vikings defenders mentioned as contenders for Rookie of the Year

The 2026 NFL Draft class showed emphasis on the defensive side of the ball for the Minnesota Vikings , as their first three picks were on defense, and five of their nine total picks resided on defense. Caleb Banks, Jake Golday, and Domonique Orange all have a chance to play a major role in their rookie season, but could one of them be a candidate for a Rookie of the Year award? According to Benjamin Solak of ESPN , not just one, but two Vikings defenders have a chance to take home hardware at the end of the season.

Solak named Banks and Golday as players who could win Defensive Rookie of the Year. Solak named Banks as a long shot and Golday as a longer shot. Should Banks enter year one with a clean bill of health, he should be viewed as one of the favorites, as he is a seamless fit for this Brian Flores defense.

Golday could be a rotational piece early, but should he work his way into a starting spot, there's a chance he puts up the stats to warrant the award. This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Caleb Banks and Jake Golday mentioned in Rookie of the Year talks