2026 NFL Draft Grades: Minnesota Vikings

Save for the Kyler Murray veteran minimum signing, the Vikings didn't do a lot in free agency. The biggest changes might have been releasing Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen on the interior of the defensive line in cap-saving measures. Jalen Redmond had a six-sack campaign in 2025, but defensive tackle was definitely an issue coming into the draft.

Caleb Banks is a good player. He can wreak havoc on opposing linemen and has legit burst to affect the quarterback in the pocket as an interior pass rusher (4.5 sacks in 2024). He's at his best as a run stuffer, closing gaps with his 6-foot-6, 327-pound frame, and he brings scheme versatility to the table. But his left foot has been a major problem.

He broke it early last season and was limited to three games. Then he broke it again at the combine, requiring surgery and putting him on the sideline until at least June. That was enough to push him down the Big Board a little bit. I had him ranked 62nd, so taking him at No. 18 was too rich. I was mostly surprised Minnesota passed on safety Dillon Thieneman, but even among the defensive tackles, I had four guys ranked higher, starting with Peter Woods and Kayden McDonald.

Minnesota did take a safety in Jakobe Thomas late in Round 3, and he can create takeaways, with five INTs in 2025. It doubled up on defensive tackle with Domonique Orange and picked up linebacker depth with Jake Golday. But my favorite pick of Day 2 was Caleb Tiernan. I had him ranked 47 spots higher than his draft slot, and he is a massive 6-foot-8, 323-pounder with a ton of experience (44 starts, mostly at left tackle).

The Vikings made four picks on Day 3, and my favorite of the bunch is Charles Demmings. He ran a 4.41 in the 40 at the combine, and with nine interceptions and 35 passes defensed in college, he's a ball hawk. But overall, Minnesota just didn't do enough to move the needle.

They're in a weird spot, especially with a substitute teacher in the GM's chair — which isn't intended as a shot at Rob Brzezinski. And this draft almost surely will be more productive than ousted predecessor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's hauls. Yet first-round DT Caleb Banks might have felt like something of a reach under optimal circumstances, but the broken left foot he suffered at the combine — which is a recurring injury for a very big man — is quite a red flag for a player taken 18th overall. Third-round S Jakobe Thomas could be this year's most impactful rookie if S Harrison Smith doesn't return. Yet it feels like Minnesota might not get a ton out of this class in 2026, even as the Vikes vie to get back in the thick of the NFC North race in what might be QB Kyler Murray's only year in the great white north.

Best Pick: Second-round linebacker Jake Golday will likely play on the outside, but a lot of scouts think he could someday play inside. Wherever he plays, he's a tough football player.

Worst Pick: They took Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks a bit too high. At times, he looked like the next Chris Jones at Florida. But at other times, the inconsistency showed up.

The Skinny: Without a true GM after the firing of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, they focused on defense with their first four picks. They landed some good players, but this draft has to be about Banks becoming a dominant inside player.

Interim general manager Rob Brezinzski and head coach Kevin O'Connell put together one of the more entertaining and intriguing draft classes in the NFL.

After moving on from veterans Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen, the Vikings added two prospects who might prove immediate upgrades in Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange, sandwiched around a do-it-all linebacker in Jake Golday, whose size and speed could make him a star in Brian Flores' system. Safety Jakobe Thomas gives Florida a foursome of possible rookie standouts with each offering undeniable upside. Each also, however, carries significant risk, with Banks struggling with durability, Golday and Thomas flashier than finished products, and Orange a bit of a one-trick pony as a run-specialist.

Similarly, while I like OL Caleb Tiernan's toughness and think he has the core strength to handle the anticipated move inside, it will be hard for Kyler Murray (or JJ McCarthy) to throw over the top of him, given his nearly 6-foot-8 frame. This is a class that could pay off big — or completely flop.

Brian Flores might've taken control of the war room here, but I don't think that's a bad thing.

Banks looked like a top 15 pick coming into 2025, then he broke his foot before and after the season. He has the biggest ceiling of any defensive tackle in this class. Doubling up with Dom ‘Big Citrus' Orange in the third round ensures this run defense will improve from last year.

Jake Golday is a big linebacker who surprisingly played a lot of slot snaps in college. He covers a lot of ground with big strides and is a reliable tackler.

I think Caleb Tiernan will move to guard at the next level due to his lack of length, but he is very polished in pass protection and the zone run game.

I'm excited to see Demond Claiborne get a chance as a change-of-pace runner. He's an angle destroyer for defenders on the back end, giving him big-play ability.

Here's why: BEEF. The Vikings tried to add defensive linemen last year who could win on their own in Brian Flores' always-attacking scheme. Neither are still Vikings, if you needed any indication of how that went. Here comes the draft version of that same plan: Caleb Banks is an über-talented defensive tackle who has flashes of being a true mauler and disrupter in the middle. He has had a foot injury that can lead to consternation over his long-term health, but his upside is one of the highest of this year's draft class in his massive frame. Domonique Orange is another defender who lacked production in college, but that was mostly because of Iowa State's scheme rather than lack of ability. He is an easy mover in a big frame that can knock centers back, but has the light feet to be a valid defender on games and twists, something Flores loves with his defense.

Jake Golday is listed as a linebacker but he was more of a slot defender (or old school walked-out Will linebacker for those familiar with that nomenclature). He has great size and is a good athlete but sometimes doesn't play to that ability. I like him best going forward and near the line of scrimmage, but his tweenerness will be an asset under Flores, who asks his outside linebackers to do a bit of everything. Jakobe Thomas is a safety who wants to be aggressive on the ball, a style that can get a boost in this defense.

Demond Claiborne gives the Vikings juice in the backfield behind Aaron Jones (who typically will get banged up at some point during the season) and to complement Jordan Mason. He lacks size but runs with real vision and tempo to pair with his game-breaking speed. Hell, the Vikings even added a fullback for good measure in Max Bredeson. This is a team that wants to make sure it can keep running the ball when it needs to.

Most interesting pick: Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern

When healthy, the Vikings field one of the league's best offensive tackle duos. But that health, especially with left tackle Christian Darrisaw, has been hard to rely on. Tiernan is a large (but short-armed) technician who has experience playing at both tackle positions. His size, balance and clean hand usage give him real upside of a starter, even if his lack of length limits his ceiling. Tiernan is insurance for both tackle spots, something most teams can't say they have, while also having starter potential to keep honing. I really liked this pick at the end of Day 2.

The Vikings put together a high-protein draft class this year, focusing on the defensive side of the ball early. Defensive tackle Caleb Banks is a high-variance, risky pick because of his history with foot injuries. But if he can stay healthy, he brings immense upside as a chaos creator on the inside. He'll line up next to Domonique Orange, a.k.a. "Big Citrus," a space-eating interior lineman who stonewalls the run. Jake Golday is a well-built and rangy linebacker who brings experience playing all over the defensive formation, including plenty of snaps over the slot. And Caleb Tiernan brings starting upside at either tackle or guard, which helps solidify the Vikings offensive line. One guy from this class to keep an eye on is sixth-round running back Demond Claiborne, who plays with incredible explosiveness and speed at 5-foot-9, 189 pounds. He has a chance to find the field as a change-of-pace, relief option to Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason. Overall, I like that the Vikings focused on the trenches here, but I'm worried Banks will struggle to get and stay healthy.

Analysis: Clearly, the Vikings wanted to improve along the interior defensive line. Banks could have the most upside among the defensive tackles in his class, but the team took a big gamble on a player who has broken his left foot twice in the past year. The Vikings did, however, protect themselves a bit by selecting another interior defender, utilizing extra picks from the Jonathan Greenard trade with the Eagles. Orange offers a lot more than just his cool nickname of "Big Citrus." Banks is the better pass rusher, but Orange can make an impact in the running game. Minnesota waited until the third round to finally add a safety in Thomas, a ballhawk with five interceptions last year.