Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Banks is chosen by the Minnesota Vikings because the quantity 18 choose through the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Kirby Lee-Imagn Photos
Certainly one of my favourite elements of coaching camp in my NFL entrance workplace years (and now in my media work) has been to carefully watch the workforce’s draft picks and venture their potential affect as rookies. These younger gamers are the shiny new toys for coaches as they decide if they’ll belief the rookies to see the sphere when the common season comes.
As I’ve watched practices this week—particularly the absolutely padded periods on Monday and Wednesday–I’ve been impressed with the potential of this Vikings draft class. Time will inform as we received’t actually understand how impactful these gamers will probably be in Yr 1 till the common season and maybe a number of weeks into the schedule. It actually seems that lots of the 9 2026 draftees will contribute as backups and good particular teamers and a number of other might begin.
We’ll have loads of time to interrupt down the quarterback state of affairs the place Kyler Murray will seemingly be named the starter earlier than the joint practices with the Ravens on August 19-20. For this week, I’ll depart from the QB dialogue and provides my early impressions of the 2026 draft class.
The GM & The Vikings Draft Class
Nov 29, 2025; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators defensive deal with Caleb Banks (88) celebrates recovering a fumble through the second quarter in opposition to the Florida State Seminoles at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Bob Kupbens-Imagn Photos
Like many rookies, Banks is up and down. I noticed him dominate in one-on-ones on Monday after which look common or worse when taking over two blockers in a drill on Wednesday. He’s going to be a piece in progress and maybe must get in higher form to play persistently in the summertime warmth however the instruments are there and the coaches need to be a bit affected person however nonetheless push him laborious. A wholesome Banks ought to begin at defensive deal with as he perfects the scheme and makes use of his dimension and energy to be a power inside.
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Jake Golday: He’s a future starter on the Vikings protection, whether or not as an edge participant or an inside linebacker. Golday is athletic, versatile and appears easy wherever he strains up. The second-round choose ought to be the third edge rusher as a rookie, offering aid for Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner and maybe lining up with them as move rushers at occasions. He seems destined to be a Van Ginkel clone who can rush the passer, cease the run and drop successfully into protection.
With Blake Cashman, Eric Wilson and Ivan Tempo at inside backer, it’s obvious Golday’s biggest affect this season will probably be if he’s that third edge rusher/OLB and doing it effectively. He’s been lining up each inside and out of doors in camp so he has loads on his plate in studying a number of positions.
Golday positively ought to be a high particular teamer instantly and I anticipate him to make some massive performs in that space. The Vikings personnel folks and coaches clearly thought extremely of him as they handed up high quality facilities and safeties to take Golday as a better rated participant on their draft board. It received’t shock me if he winds up as the perfect participant on this Vikings draft class.
Domonique Orange: “Big Citrus” is the prototypical run-stuffing nostril deal with/defensive deal with who actually seems to be the half as a 3rd spherical choose who ought to contribute this season and maybe be a future Vikings starter. He didn’t apply on Monday with a minor damage however to his credit score, he was again at apply Tuesday and Wednesday and had the defensive coaches extremely excited by one in all his reps in one-on-ones. Orange’s dimension and energy ought to be an enormous assist to the run D this season.
Caleb Tiernan: What struck me in first seeing him is his dimension and particularly his top at 6-7. He seems to be like he has good toes and the phrase is he can play guard even when he seems to be greatest suited at deal with.
Nov 23, 2024; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines defensive finish Cameron Brandt (91) rushes on protection at Northwestern Wildcats offensive lineman Caleb Tiernan (72) within the second half t Michigan Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Photos
The third-rounder in all probability received’t play this season except accidents hit the O-line as vet Ryan Van Demark appears headed for the swing deal with backup function. It’s laborious to know at this juncture a couple of younger O-lineman however I believe Tiernan has a superb Vikings future forward and it received’t be a shock if he’s a starter someplace on the offensive line by his third season.
He’s a participant to observe in Vikings preseason video games when Brian O’Neill and Christian Darrisaw get only a few snaps with a view to hold them wholesome.
Jakobe Thomas: He’s a assured wanting security with good dimension and instincts to presumably begin if Harrison Smith doesn’t return. The coaches will watch the third rounder carefully this month and he’ll get a number of play time in preseason video games with the chance to push his method into an enormous function as a rookie.
Even when Smith comes again, I believe Thomas has a strong probability to be the third security forward of Theo Jackson and Jay Ward. Thomas must be the protection who can run with receivers going deep and play the beneath routes in opposition to tight ends whereas additionally being a run stopper.
The Vikings want extra interceptions from their safeties after having solely 4 from the 2 security spots final season (two every by Smith and Josh Metellus). Thomas had 5 picks final season for Miami together with 3.5 sacks so he can cowl and blitz. He additionally performed the run effectively with 76 tackles. He ought to be a future starter and might be a rookie starter at a place of want.
Max Bredeson: He’s constructed strong at 6-2, 252 kilos and he’s a bodily blocker at fullback who has good arms. I noticed him make a pleasant catch within the flat in a workforce drill this week. He steps into the C.J. Ham function as a powerful lead blocker, dependable move catcher within the flat and glorious particular teamer. I anticipate the Vikings fifth rounder to see the sphere a good quantity this season.
Charles Demmings: This fifth-round choose is making an affect together with his bodily protection abilities at coaching camp, He comes out of small faculty Stephen F. Austin however I’m impressed that he’s not intimidated in his first NFL camp which we noticed when he put an enormous hit on vet WR Jauan Jennings in apply this week.
Demmings might push vet free agent signee James Pierre for the third nook or no less than turn out to be the fourth nook who will get play time in sure defensive schemes and within the occasion of damage to the opposite corners.
He’s a 4.4 man with good dimension at 6-1, 193 kilos who can run with broad receivers and may be capable of play the run. Demmings will get good battle testing making an attempt to cowl the Vikings gifted WR corps in camp and he’ll be price watching when he performs loads in preseason video games. He ought to be one other particular groups standout. There have been a number of late-round corners who wound up being nice gamers. Maybe Demmings could be such a participant.
Demond Claiborne: He’s an consideration grabber in camp together with his blazing velocity (4.37 within the 40) which makes him the Vikings’ quickest working again and a possible sixth-round steal. He was a twin menace participant at Wake Forest however he’s had a couple of drops early in camp so he must high-quality tune his focus within the passing recreation. He additionally was a superb kick returner in school and will probably be within the combine for a return function.
Nov 23, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons working again Demond Claiborne (1) runs with the soccer in opposition to the Miami Hurricanes through the second quarter at Exhausting Rock Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Sam Navarro-Imagn Photos
Claiborne will play loads within the preseason video games because the workforce limits the play time of Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason. It will likely be enjoyable to see how Claiborne performs and if he is usually a viable choice as a change of tempo again this season with a attainable greater function sooner or later.
Gavin Gerhardt: He’s most definitely a developmental participant this season who must work laborious to make the workforce and will wind up on the apply squad if he can’t beat out Michael Jurgens because the Vikings’ No. 2 heart. It’s too quickly to inform if he has an NFL future however Gerhardt will get snaps within the preseason video games.
Middle was a necessity place going into the draft however the Vikings took higher-rated gamers at different positions and waited till the seventh spherical to pick out Gerhardt who had loads of beginning expertise in school at Cincinnati. Beginning heart Blake Brandel was a sixth rounder in 2020 so it’s actually attainable for a late spherical choose to emerge on the O-line.
Jeff Diamond is a former Vikings GM, former Tennessee Titans President and was chosen NFL Government of the Yr … Extra about Jeff Diamond
