Florida defensive lineman Caleb Banks (DL02) addresses reporters throughout a media session on the NFL Scouting Mix on Feb. 25, 2026, contained in the Indiana Conference Middle in Indianapolis, discussing his preparation and draft outlook as evaluators gathered for the annual pre-draft occasion. Obligatory Credit score: Kirby Lee-Imagn Photos.
I say each April, after the NFL draft, that I believe it’s ridiculous when so-called draft analysts within the media give grades to staff drafts instantly afterward. The truth is that it takes at the very least two to 3 years to actually consider how a staff did on draft day.
Instance A — Tom Brady as a sixth-round choose in 2000 when he was a thin QB out of Michigan. Instance B — when the Chiefs traded their twenty seventh total choose and a third-rounder in 2017, plus their 2018 first-round choose, to maneuver as much as No. 10 total and choose Patrick Mahomes in a transfer that was thought of dangerous for a “raw” prospect who performed for Texas Tech within the then-no-defense Huge 12.
Then there’s Joe Montana and Russell Wilson as third-rounders turned prime QBs and Tremendous Bowl champs.
Jeff Diamond Sees Upside — and Danger — in Vikings Draft
With 15 Tremendous Bowl titles, 11 Tremendous Bowl MVPs and 39 Professional Bowls between them, these picks turned out fairly, fairly good (as Larry David would say on Curb Your Enthusiasm) for the Patriots, Chiefs, 49ers and Seahawks. Their drafts would’ve been graded A+ a few years later simply because they discovered their ultra-successful franchise quarterbacks.
Nearer to residence, Fran Tarkenton was a third-round choose in 1961, and it was laborious to foretell he would lead the Vikings to 3 Tremendous Bowls and turn out to be an NFL MVP, nine-time Professional Bowler, and Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer.
If J.J.McCarthy and Dallas Turner flip into All-Professionals who sometime lead the Vikings to the promised land, we’ll give the 2024 draft an A+ for the Purple after they picked McCarthy and Turner within the first spherical. Sixth-rounder Will Reichard already is an All-Professional kicker from that draft class.
So whereas I can definitely give the Vikings’ 2022 draft, which has no gamers nonetheless with the staff, a powerful F, I’m not going to grade the Vikings’ just-completed 2026 draft for a few years. What if Caleb Banks stays wholesome and is the subsequent Chris Jones or Kevin Williams as a giant, dominating defensive lineman? What if a number of of the remaining picks turn out to be starters, and a pair flip into prime gamers?
Time will inform, however I do have a number of reactions as follows, and I’ll go round-by-round and hit on the Jonathan Greenard commerce that I used to be not thrilled by:
Caleb Banks — DL, Florida — Spherical 1:
I respect and agree with all the time choosing the most effective participant obtainable no matter place (except it’s a quarterback and the staff already has a “franchise QB”). So I’ve no downside with the Vikings choosing Banks as the highest participant on their draft board at No. 18 total if he stays wholesome and is a productive starter.
Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Banks (88) shakes arms with followers in the course of 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 Sun]
My downside is along with his current harm historical past: a damaged foot that price him all however three video games final season at Florida, adopted by breaking the identical foot on the Mix, which he mentioned occurred as he was practising begins for the 40-yard sprint the evening earlier than he ran it.
The staff medical doctors clearly signed off on Banks as a participant who will get well from his current foot surgical procedure and have a protracted, wholesome profession (they higher have finished that). An enormous, robust run-stuffing D-lineman is nice for the Vikings, who slipped final season from No. 2 to No. 21 on run protection. If Banks can present an inside cross rush to push the pocket a la Chiefs’ All-Professional Chris Jones or Kevin Williams (five-time All-Professional for the Vikings within the 2000-2009 decade), we’ll all name this an excellent choose.
Maybe Banks will flip into an elite participant, however I consider it’s too dangerous to make use of a first-round choose on a 330-pounder with a current historical past of foot issues (that’s a variety of weight on his toes). I’d’ve taken a safer participant, similar to security Dillon Thieneman (or whoever they’d the very best grade on on the time who didn’t have harm questions).
Jake Golday — LB, Cincinnati — Spherical 2:
I like that Golday brings dimension and flexibility as a defender who performed inside linebacker and edge rusher in school. He will probably be a high quality choose within the second spherical if he generally is a run-stopping inside backer, good cowl exterior LB, and/or the third edge rusher with Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner, and be a projected alternative for Greenard (which I doubt he’ll be as efficient at the very least this season).
I’ve to marvel if the Vikings ought to have taken highly-rated security Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (who went No. 58 to Cleveland) at Golday’s No. 51 spot to fill a giant want place (once more, if McNeil-Warren graded out at about the identical stage as Golday; if not, then I say go together with the higher-rated Golday). Or take a middle at one other large want place since two highly-rated facilities went after Golday within the second spherical–Logan Jones to the Bears at No. 57, and Jake Slaughter was picked at No. 63 by the Chargers.
Once more, I don’t advocate for choosing a lower-rated participant at a place of want over the most effective participant obtainable within the first three rounds. However will probably be fascinating to observe the gamers I discussed above that the Vikings handed on.
Domonique Orange — NT, Iowa State — Spherical 3a
It’s nice to have a rotation of high quality defensive linemen. Many championship groups have used that components. The Vikings ought to have a superb rotation of run-stuffers and pocket pushers. Orange definitely seems to be like he’ll be nice in opposition to the run and assist unlock inside backers Blake Cashman and Eric Wilson to make a variety of performs.
Domonique Orange stands for a photograph throughout Iowa State Soccer media day at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. © Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK.
In my early years with the Vikings, our terrific participant personnel execs, Jerry Reichow and Frank Gilliam, all the time prioritized choosing prime defensive and offensive linemen early within the draft, so we have been robust within the trenches. I just like the Orange choose to assist with that.
Caleb Tiernan — OT, Northwestern — Spherical 3b
I noticed sufficient of backup tackles David Quessenberry and Justin Skule the previous two seasons—and so apparently did Kevin O’Connell—to know the Vikings wanted a greater backup OT with elite tackles Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill lacking time as a result of accidents and the Vikings’ QBs not being effectively sufficient protected by the replacements.
Tiernan is one other large man at 6-8, 323 kilos, and he could possibly play guard too if wanted. Once more, if he was their highest-rated participant at No. 97 over a middle or large receiver (to compete for the third WR spot after Jalen Nailor’s free company departure they usually did choose a security at No. 98) and he’s a high quality O-lineman who could be developed into a greater lineman than Ryan Van Demark who was signed this offseason, then I’m on board with Tiernan because the swing deal with/guard and as a doable future starter with O’Neill turning 31 in September.
Jakobe Thomas — S, Miami — Spherical 3c
Thomas was clearly a necessity choose, and because the Vikings’ third choose within the third spherical, I’ve no downside going want right here. We’ll see if Thomas pans out as a security who’s similar to Thieneman or McNeil-Warren. I like his school manufacturing, with 5 picks and just one TD allowed in protection final season, on a Miami staff that made it to the title recreation. He was additionally an efficient blitzer, which inserts what DC Brian Flores desires out of his safeties.
I believe the Vikings nonetheless want Harrison Smith to return and have Thomas as a probably higher cowl security than Josh Metellus, Theo Jackson, or Jay Ward. He ought to definitely be a very good particular groups participant in his rookie season, and the Vikings hope he can turn out to be a high quality starter sooner somewhat than later. O’Connell praised Thomas as “a very, very highly intelligent player,” which bodes effectively for him to earn a beginning spot in 12 months 1 or 2 on the newest.
Max Bredeson — FB/TE, Michigan — Spherical 5a
With C.J. Ham’s retirement, Bredeson may have the chance to step into Ham’s fullback and particular groups position and get on the sphere in his rookie yr, presumably taking part in 20-40% of the offensive snaps relying on the opponent and the way the sport goes, and he ought to play on most, if not all, of the particular groups. He is a wonderful blocker and ought to be good in cross safety, which might assist the run and cross recreation. Bredeson appears to be a very good fifth-round choose.
Charles Demmings — CB, Stephen F. Austin — Spherical 5b
There’s so much to love about Demmings’ potential as a 3rd or fourth nook and particular teamer. He’s quick and athletic, as proven by his 4.41 40 and 42-inch vertical soar on the Mix. The query will probably be how shortly he can regulate to the NFL and canopy receivers who’re a big step up from these he lined in school for a smaller faculty—Stephen F. Austin.
It is going to be fascinating to see Demmings line up in opposition to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison in OTAs, minicamp, and coaching camp, after which watch him in preseason video games to see how NFL-ready he’s.
Demond Claiborne — RB, Wake Forest — Spherical 6
Claiborne is a really intriguing late-round choose. He brings big-time velocity (4.37 within the 40 because the third-fastest time on the Mix) and a twin risk as a high quality receiver out of the backfield. If he can cross defend, Claiborne ought to have alternatives to contribute as a rookie since Aaron Jones often misses just a few video games.
Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Wake Forest operating again Demon Claiborne (RB03) in the course of the NFL Scouting Mix at Lucas Oil Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Kirby Lee-Imagn Photos
I like his potential to be an even bigger contributor in future years. He is also a very good kick returner along with his elite velocity and operating capability. The Vikings would like to see Claiborne turn out to be the subsequent Terrell Davis, a sixth-round operating again steal by Denver in 1995 who went on to turn out to be an NFL and Tremendous Bowl MVP and a Corridor of Famer.
Gavin Gerhardt — C, Cincinnati — Spherical 7
Gerhardt brings loads of school expertise (49 begins) and will wind up because the Vikings’ beginning heart sometime, nevertheless it was disappointing that the Vikings waited till the seventh spherical to draft the place I believed was their most important want following the retirement of the often-injured Ryan Kelly. The Vikings additionally didn’t signal a prime heart when a number of have been obtainable in free company.
Blake Brandel is the projected beginning heart this coming season, and he’ll must step up his recreation at a place he performed in just a few video games final season when Kelly was damage. Gerhardt ought to be capable to win the backup heart job over Michael Jurgens, who has struggled in his restricted play time during the last two seasons.
Different Vikings Draft Reactions and thumbs down on the Greenard commerce
As I mentioned, I’d’ve favored to see a middle drafted earlier and a large receiver picked within the third or fifth spherical to compete for the third large receiver position. It is going to work out superb for this yr if final yr’s third-rounder, Tai Felton, makes a giant soar in his second season or if the Vikings can signal Jauan Jennings, who performed effectively for the 49ers the previous two seasons (132 catches, 1,618 yards, and 15 TDs over 2024 and 2025). Jennings is a free agent who’s reportedly set to go to the Vikings this week.
On the Greenard commerce: I didn’t like buying and selling probably the greatest edge rushers within the league for 2 third-round picks. I believe the Vikings ought to’ve held out for a second-rounder, or, higher but, saved Greenard for at the very least yet one more yr to see if he can return to his 2024 manufacturing, when he had 12 sacks and was a Professional Bowler.
He had two years left on his contract, and I believe an answer to his contract calls for for a brand new deal (that the Eagles gave him with a $25 million per yr extension, an improve from his $19 million per yr Vikings deal) might’ve been to offer him a giant incentive package deal that might kick in if he returned to double-digit sacks. Since he solely had three sacks final season, something over three sacks would unlikely be earned and wouldn’t depend in opposition to the wage cap.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard celebrates with teammates Eric Wilson and Andrew van Ginkel in the course of the first half in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Dec. 14, 2025. The trio gathers after a defensive cease because the Vikings protection rallies in the course of the NFC matchup on the street. Obligatory Credit score: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Photos.
That was what we did in Tennessee for Jevon Kearse when he had outplayed his rookie contract by his fourth season in 2002, and it simply so occurred that Jevon’s agent was Drew Rosenhaus, who additionally represents Greenard, so there was precedent for placing such a compromise in place with Rosenhaus.
The underside line is the Vikings could be a greater staff popping out of the draft if they’d saved Greenard and brought McNeil-Warren at security as a substitute of Golday within the second spherical, and maybe Golday would’ve made it to the third spherical after they drafted Thomas at security. However possibly Golday and Thomas will show to be nice gamers, and Greenard will get damage once more.
If Greenard stays wholesome, he’s a confirmed nice participant, and drafted gamers are projections, however we’ll must see the way it all performs out.
Subsequent week: I’ll analyze all 4 NFC North groups after free company and the draft.
Jeff Diamond is a former Vikings GM, former Tennessee Titans President and was chosen NFL Government of the 12 months … Extra about Jeff Diamond
