Nov 24, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Bo Richter (98) reacts after recovering a fumble towards the Chicago Bears in the course of the second half at Soldier Area. Obligatory Credit score: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Photos
One of many extra enjoyable articles from VikingsTerritory every year after the draft, we current the potential breakout gamers for the 2026 Minnesota Vikings. The draft is over; so is free company. Let’s have a look at the boys with alternatives to bust out into stardom.
Minnesota’s roster has improved, which implies a number of holdovers are working out of excuses.
Annual reminder: rookies usually are not included on this article as a result of, after all, rookies have their first likelihood to emerge in 12 months No. 1.
The Strain Has Shifted to Minnesota’s Latest Investments
The gamers beneath are ranked ascendingly (No. 1 = almost certainly to interrupt out).
Minnesota Vikings huge receiver Tai Felton warms up earlier than a preseason matchup towards the New England Patriots at U.S. Financial institution Stadium, with Aug. 16, 2025, in Minneapolis capturing pregame preparation as Felton labored via drills and positioning forward of reside motion throughout a key analysis stretch. Obligatory Credit score: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Photos
4. Tai Felton (WR)
No, Felton didn’t play a lot on offense as a rookie. Sure, he’s the WR3 by default proper now.
There’s an opportunity the Vikings drafted Felton in 2025, deliberate for a full redshirt 12 months as a rookie, and are prepared for him to erupt in 2026. After all, these are best-laid plans, however they should be talked about for full disclosure. If some other staff within the NFL had drafted a Spherical 3 huge receiver and let the present WR3 stroll in free company (Jalen Nailor), that staff’s fan base would simply assume the Third-Rounder was on deck for the job.
However Felton was a decide by Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, so onlookers don’t know if he essentially stinks or is simply taking some time to develop.
Maybe Vikings followers haven’t proven sufficient endurance with Felton. The time is now for him to grab the WR3 by the neck.
The Viking Age‘s Nik Edlund on Felton: “The Vikings recently met with free-agent wide receiver Juaun Jennings, and signing him would likely eliminate Felton from having any chance at WR3, but if they were to draft a receiver, his career in Minnesota would’ve been over.”
“Like him or hate him, Felton was a big-time reach by former Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in the 2025 NFL Draft. He was projected as a mid to late Day 3 pick, and Minnesota traded down a few times and ended up taking him with the last pick of the third round.”
If Felton does emerge, he definitely has the pace for the job: 4.37 on the 2025 NFL Mix.
Edlund added, “Felton rewarded them with that risk by looking so far from contributing in camp that the team felt they had to go out and waste a fourth-round pick to get a local hero who was washed in Adam Thielen.”
“With the lack of a draft pick at the position, Felton’s spot on the depth chart is likely safe for at least one more year. So now he can still call himself an NFL player for one more season.”
3. Bo Richter (OLB)
Earlier than the draft, Minnesota arguably had one of many NFL’s deepest OLB rooms. That modified after the Jonathan Greenard commerce to the Philadelphia Eagles. Of us are left questioning if the Vikings will signal a veteran, resembling Jadeveon Clowney, for the OLB3 spot — or simply roll with in-house contributors.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Bo Richter strains up throughout an NFC Wild Card matchup towards the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium, with Jan. 13, 2025, in Glendale displaying postseason depth as Richter contributed on protection throughout a high-stakes playoff surroundings. Obligatory Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Photos
If the answer already lives on the roster, Richter is the following man up. Just like the Felton instance, the Vikings might already know that Richter is an undercover baller able to take advantage of his alternative.
2. Jay Ward (S)
Ward quietly yanked Theo Jackson’s job away late in 2025, electrifying followers with gritty and aggressive security efficiency. He has one 12 months left on his contract, and if he desires an extension, the time is now for Ward to take the following step.
For his sake, the trail to taking part in time might already be clear with Harrison Smith not on the present roster. Smith’s full-time security snaps should go someplace, and the Vikings didn’t draft Dillon Thieneman or Emmanuel McNeil-Warren final week. The whole NFL mock draft group anticipated Minnesota to select Thieneman. Minnesota didn’t.
Subsequently, the fallback plan is a man like Ward or a newcomer, resembling Third-Spherical security Jakobe Thomas from Miami.
In order for you Ward to obtain extra taking part in time, he’s not removed from that task.
1. Dallas Turner (OLB)
The commerce of Greenard to Philadelphia altered Turner’s outlook. Quite a bit.
Minnesota despatched the veteran exterior linebacker to the Eagles for 2 Third-Spherical picks, successfully clearing the trail for Turner to start out in 2026. Whereas Turner noticed first rate taking part in time late in 2025 with Greenard sidelined, the commerce now offers him a everlasting beginning position to Turner fairly than only a fill-in alternative.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner takes the sphere throughout an NFC Wild Card recreation towards the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium, with Jan. 13, 2025, in Glendale highlighting his position in a playoff setting because the rookie defender gained helpful postseason expertise. Obligatory Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Photos
For 2 seasons, Brian Flores struggled to discover a constant full-time spot for Turner, the Vikings’ 2024 first-round decide. With Greenard’s departure, that problem is now addressed.
Come September 2026, Minnesota will lastly see whether or not Adofo-Mensah’s important commerce funding in drafting Turner proves worthwhile.
