Sep 6, 2025; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defensive lineman Domonique Orange (95) reacts after a play in opposition to the Iowa Hawkeyes through the second half at Jack Trice Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Reese Strickland-Imagn Photographs
As quickly because the 2025 season ended, all of us shifted to the draft and impatiently awaited its arrival. Most of us thought the Vikings draft could be a cavalcade of gamers destined to fill roster holes with the most effective participant accessible or one that every one the consultants stated could be there for the taking.
Everybody felt that this draft could be totally different from the final 4, with head coach Kevin O’Connell having a lot of the say, and defensive coordinator Brian Flores and interim common supervisor Rob Brzezinski supporting and serving to to make a plan. Most followers went in with a constructive outlook on this go-round, making an attempt to buffer in opposition to the horrible season that 2025 doled out.
Minnesota’s Draft Plan Seems Clearer after the First Response
The 2026 Draft wasn’t seen as a powerful yr for prime prospects. Reviews indicated that a number of groups had solely round 12 to twenty 1st-round-caliber picks. That’s by no means a great way to begin issues.
Not getting to choose till quantity 18 forged a shadow over the Vikings’ followers’ hopes. Because the draft approached, issues had been wanting up, as all of the pundits stated the crew would choose an ideal alternative for a Corridor of Fame participant.
Aside from the Raiders’ first choose of Fernando Mendoza being a lock, the one different one by all skilled and beginner mock draft nerds was Dillon Thieneman, a security, who could be the choose at 18. Harrison Smith might retire or, hopefully, stick round yet another yr as a mentor, and the crew wouldn’t miss a beat apart from a couple of rising pains. Protected, safe, secure choose to make most people joyful. All that modified in moments on April twenty third, 2026.
One other participant all of the aforementioned draftniks talked about was one to be averted attributable to accidents that restricted him to 3 video games final season.
Positive, he appeared like an absolute beast primarily based on tape from two seasons in the past, earlier than he acquired harm, and he dominated on the Senior Bowl. Once more, the damage bug bit on the NFL Mix, and he broke his foot. I actually wrote a “naughty list” of gamers to keep away from, the place I didn’t even point out him as a result of it appeared so apparent that he was going to tumble down the boards.
Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Banks (88) comes up the fumble through the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, November 16, 2024. The Gators defeated the Tigers 27-16. © Doug Engle/Gainesville Solar / USA TODAY NETWORK by way of Imagn Photographs.
The Vikings didn’t commerce down at 18. They didn’t hesitate. They didn’t take the security. When commissioner Goodell stepped to the mic, he referred to as out, “Caleb Banks”, and everybody went, “What?!” Even my spouse had a couple of colourful metaphors on the announcement, realizing of his damage historical past. This was the final man I wished them to take.
It was a intestine punch. Not as a result of I used to be mistaken on my guess, which everybody else additionally had. Who cares? It’s all a guess. It was greater than that; if it weren’t going to be Thieneman, it will be one other security, possibly a cornerback, a large receiver, or perhaps a totally different defensive deal with. I simply didn’t need it to be him.
I stewed on it after the choose and 1st Spherical ended that evening. Finally, my ideas turned to the following two days of the Draft, the place I figured they might make up for it with some impression gamers at spots that wanted shoring up.
The defensive position wanted extra impression earlier than they took Banks, and there was no motive they nonetheless couldn’t take one other lineman there, shore up the center linebacker place, or add to the huge receiver core with the upcoming picks. Nonetheless, choose after choose left me scratching my head, with gamers and positions in better want of consideration being handed up.
For essentially the most half, I had no drawback with the picks the teaching workers made as a result of they weren’t dangerous gamers. Jake Golday and Domonique Orange had been gamers I had seen on the prospects checklist, and I solely thought that Orange could be accessible and be picked by the crew.
I figured one other linebacker-hungry crew would take Golday earlier than we even had an opportunity at him. Offensive deal with Caleb Tiernan was nowhere on my radar, with deal with being a place I felt the crew had addressed in Free Company and already has Brian O’Neill and Christian Darrisaw on the roster. Jakobe Thomas was a security I noticed once in a while in my mocks, whereas Max Bredeson was a participant I solely knew as a result of he was the only fullback listed on NFL.com as a draft prospect.
CB Charles Demmings was a whole unknown, and operating again Demond Claibourne and heart Gavin Gerhardt had been gamers I solely noticed in flashes whereas learning. I admit I wasn’t overly impressed by the tip of the weekend. It didn’t assist that protection was destructive concerning the Vikings’ picks, and neither the NFL Community nor ESPN even talked about the Purple’s picks.
Of their recap montage of the primary spherical, which performed virtually on the prime of each hour after the primary spherical, the NFL Community skipped replaying choose 18. An final slap within the face.
Was The Vikings Draft That Unhealthy?
At first look, I assumed this draft was questionable at greatest. I cherished the Orange choose! “Big Citrus” is such an enormous man, sturdy within the run recreation, and his teaming up with Minnesota’s veteran line was a recipe for a prime rush protection.
The Golday choose was a bit complicated at first, however he has performed each linebacker spot invented, which reveals his versatility. As soon as Johnathan Greenard was traded, it made much more sense for his pass-rushing skill. The Tiernan choose puzzled me essentially the most as a result of there was no point out of needing to interchange the present tackles, no matter their ages or damage histories.
They introduced in Ryan Van Demark from Buffalo as a swing deal with, and Walter Rouse has been serviceable in spot responsibility, with the facilities nonetheless on the board – a place that was alleged to be a goal; it simply didn’t make sense.
Taking Thomas at this level was anticipated, as the security place wanted to be addressed. He’s hooked up to the Greenard choose now and might want to have a powerful profession to indicate the commerce wasn’t a bust. Bredeson was once more a shock till the NFL broadcast confirmed he’s a hybrid again who might enhance run and cross blocking, and he was picked about the place most anticipated.
Feb 27, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Stephen F Austin defensive again Chuck Demmings (DB07) through the NFL Scouting Mix at Lucas Oil Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Kirby Lee-Imagn Photographs
I hoped for Emmett Johnson at this level, however the Chiefs took him a couple of spots later. Demmings was once more a shock, being from a smaller college. He’s additionally tied to the Greenard commerce and probably had the most effective crew interview after they picked him. Claiborne could also be a sneaky choose that pushes as a “steal of the draft” sort participant. Gerhardt fills the necessity on the backup heart, however he’s within the realm of being a coaching camp minimize or apply squad participant.
The unhappy factor is that the 2 stations protecting the draft gave the impression to be ignoring the Vikings altogether. Their picks had been glossed over, if barely talked about, apart from once they had been introduced. I actually needed to wait till KFAN personalities began speaking concerning the picks on social media or on the radio.
They had been equally not very impressed. Banks had everybody polarized with the damage points, however the thought is that if he’s wholesome, he may very well be dominant. Brzezinski made a fantastic level: the accidents helped him get right down to them. Reviews began trickling in that the Bears had been going to take Banks at 25, and the Chiefs and Texans had been making an attempt to commerce up with the Vikings to take him.
So, possibly groups had been extra than the skilled mock drafters knew, and he acquired drafted proper the place he was alleged to be. If wholesome, Banks, Orange, Levi Drake Rodriguez, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, and Jalen Redmond may very well be fairly the combination up entrance. Just like including Golday to the combination with Andrew Van Ginkel and the all of the sudden elevated Dallas Turner.
Thomas is on the sting of being a starter if he shines in coaching camp. The remainder are depth. Tiernan was thought of the highest deal with on the 2nd tier of prospects and may very well be the long run at proper deal with when O’Neill rides into the sundown.
It Was The Plan All Alongside
A priority because the draft went on was that it appeared overly defensive. As soon as we lastly acquired higher breakdowns of why these gamers had been chosen, issues started to clear up. This was the entrance workplace’s plan all alongside: follow your board and take the most effective participant accessible.
Vikings govt Rob Brzezinski speaks with Vikings.com’s Gabe Henderson throughout a sit-down interview on Feb. 17, 2022, discussing organizational philosophy, front-office technique, and the hiring of head coach Kevin O’Connell whereas outlining Minnesota’s management construction and long-term soccer operations imaginative and prescient in an in depth digital characteristic section. Necessary Credit score: YouTube.
They stated earlier than the draft that they had been going to take gamers who carried out effectively in faculty and never fear a lot concerning the analytics concerned. Not solely that, however these gamers match the crew’s schemes on either side of the ball. They did precisely as they need to have with this draft, contemplating it was top-heavy. There’s no assure that this draft course corrected every little thing the crew tousled on in earlier ones.
We received’t know its reasonable success till two to 3 years down the highway. After per week with higher data, I really feel significantly better a few draft I rated a C- and may transfer as much as a B-. Perhaps not instant assist at key positions, they usually’re taking dangers on a participant with damage historical past, however stable to shore up the place wanted, they usually didn’t attain for gamers in a panic.
Banks could also be a homerun if he performs as much as expectations, and the crew shall be lauded for taking the massive swing as an alternative of the protected choose. I’d have given the 2022 draft an A, nevertheless it has turn into an F. Those that gave this draft a low grade in anger might need to regulate the curve in a couple of years, if we’re fortunate.
I am a small-town boy with12 years in telecommunications and 13 years in radio however a lifetime as a Vikings … Extra about Tony Schultz
