The Minnesota Vikings concluded an eventful three days of the NFL Draft that included just a few trades, together with Jonathan Greenard, the drafting of 9 gamers, and the signing of 19 undrafted free brokers.
It was largely a defensive draft for the Vikings, with the primary three picks going for defensive gamers and 4 of the primary 5. And whereas that emphasis corresponded with the Vikings’ roster wants, the elevated affect of newly prolonged defensive coordinator Brian Flores could possibly be felt. The outcomes additionally present some perception on how the teaching workers view their present roster, and slightly into their drafting course of and roster priorities.
Brian Flores and the Vikings Draft Course of
This low season has seen the elevation of Brian Flores when it comes to affect inside the Vikings group. The Vikings have been keen to increase his contract, however Flores allowed it to lapse as he thought of any head teaching alternatives. However in January he additionally expressed a insecurity within the course of the entrance workplace, that means common supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. That reached possession of their season-end evaluations in mid-January, with Flores nonetheless unsigned, and led to the unusually timed firing of Adofo-Mensah on the finish of January after possession had an opportunity to overview the state of affairs and in the end resolve to half methods with him. The Wilfs hadn’t deliberate to fireside Adofo-Mensah on the finish of the season, in any other case they’d have executed so earlier in January, instantly after the season was over, which is the customary timeframe for such strikes. However when Flores raised his dissatisfaction, the Wilfs fired Adofo-Mensah. It wasn’t till after Adofo-Mensah was fired that Brian Flores agreed to an extension that reportedly makes him one of many highest paid coordinators within the league, if not the very best.
Clearly that sequence of occasions speaks to how properly Flores is regarded within the Vikings group. And it comes after Flores didn’t see eye-to-eye with Assistant Head Coach Mike Pettine final yr, which resulted in Pettine switching to the offensive teaching workers (though he had all the time been a defensive coach) and his retirement after final season. Head coach Kevin O’Connell clearly values Flores’ enter and having him as his defensive coordinator as he has all the time spoken extremely of him and just about permits him to run the protection his means.
However it’s also obvious that Flores, a former scout who nonetheless enjoys scouting gamers, has a few of his personal concepts about scouting and personnel points. Concepts that didn’t mesh with Adofo-Mensah’s apparently. And so with Adofo-Mensah’s dismissal, and interim common supervisor Rob Brzezinski not having a background in participant analysis or scouting, somebody needed to fill the void. And whereas a few of that will have been stuffed by O’Connell and the scouting workers, evidently loads of it was stuffed by Flores and his strategy. I don’t get the impression that has been an unwelcome improvement, though it’s notable that assistant common managers Ryan Grigson and Demitrius Washington appear to have been sidelined to a point in comparison with final yr.
Kevin O’Connell’s place has, if something, turn into stronger as a figurehead for the franchise central to football-related decision-making, however he appears comfortable to defer to Flores on choices associated to the protection, together with drafting choices. Rob Brzezinski stays mainly the wage cap man, commerce and contract negotiator, and consensus builder. He runs the draft, however notably on the defensive facet, it seems to be like Flores abroad the pre-draft course of and actually units the parameters for the gamers the Vikings draft.
Completely different Course of from the KAM Period?
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was speculated to be the analytics GM, as a result of that was his background. Usually concerning draft picks, together with undrafted free brokers, that translated into picks that nearly all the time had good or nice manufacturing as measured by PFF grades. That will or might not have been the metric used internally, however there’s outstanding consistency in KAM’s draft picks in that regard.
The opposite key element in measuring prospects is their bodily traits, usually summarized by their Relative Athletic Rating or RAS. There wasn’t almost as a lot consistency with KAM’s picks in that regard. For instance, the Vikings’ 2023 class had no gamers with an RAS of 8.00 or above. Within the 2025 class, all draft picks had an RAS above 8.00. Different KAM draft lessons had combined RAS scores.
In the course of the KAM period, the Vikings sometimes met with high draft picks in a High 30 go to, however not a lot with later spherical prospects. Nonetheless, they did use High 30 visits as a recruiting instrument for undrafted free agent prospects with some effectiveness.
There didn’t appear to be any consistency with different components, akin to solely drafting Energy 4/5 convention gamers, age, and many others. All through the KAM period, the mantra of drafting robust, sensible prospects with whom soccer is essential was constant. Additionally, after KAM’s first draft, he by no means took a participant with important recognized harm threat.
On this first draft of the post-KAM period, the identical mantra has continued, however at the least based mostly on this primary draft, there are some variations.
Each school manufacturing (measured by PFF grades) and bodily traits (measured by RAS) are vital. PFF grades of all drafted gamers stay good or higher and RAS are all at the least 7.50.
Total, this draft class appears to have a extra clearly delineated minimal for each manufacturing and bodily traits than was obvious within the KAM period. There might have been some minimal necessities within the KAM period, however there have been both exceptions or a decrease threshold in some circumstances.
The opposite side of the draft course of that has at the least some visibility from the surface is the usage of prospect conferences. All however one of many gamers the Vikings drafted this yr had High 30 visits with the group. A number of weren’t publicly reported previous to the draft however have been subsequently talked about by the group or participant after they have been drafted. The Vikings met informally with Caleb Tiernan on the Mix and once more at his Professional Day, however he was the one draft decide in 2026 not invited for a High 30 go to.
The Vikings’ Director of Faculty Scouting Mike Sholiton talked about throughout his post-draft press convention that the Vikings used the High 30 visits to assist construct consensus inside the group for the decide. After all most prospects invited for High 30 visits weren’t picked, so that would have additionally helped construct consensus to not decide a prospect too.
One other side of assembly with gamers, notably in additional substantial High 30 visits, is to get a greater learn on the prospect’s character, soccer IQ and talent to course of. Brian Flores talks concerning the ‘want to’ as certainly one of his components in analysis prospects. A suitable prospect for him will need to have the dedication and willpower to place within the work essential to get higher, which is critical for all school gamers getting into the NFL. Assembly in individual may help measure a few of these psychological points.
It’s additionally a option to guard in opposition to Lewis Cine-type busts. There was no option to anticipate both Lewis Cine’s freak harm or his full bust. Each his school manufacturing within the SEC and bodily traits have been excellent, and he had no important harm historical past. However aside from having his rookie season derailed resulting from a freak harm (which I feel the timing of harm makes it that rather more tough to reach the NFL), Cine proved to be one thing of a loner who didn’t work together a lot along with his teammates. That doubtless contributed to his not understanding with the Vikings or the Eagles (who had loads of former Georgia defensive gamers on their roster). The Vikings traded down earlier than choosing Cine and there are not any reviews that they’d a High 30 go to with him. In future drafts the Vikings had High 30 visits with at the least their high draft picks.
On this draft, the Vikings additionally drafted a prospect in Caleb Banks with a recognized harm problem with a fractured foot. The Vikings haven’t drafted a prospect with recognized harm points since Andrew Sales space Jr., KAM’s second decide who was additionally a bust. Sales space had a quad harm that prevented him from doing predraft exercises, and had a historical past of sports activities hernia and knee accidents. Sales space was positioned on IR in November of 2022 after having began just one recreation that season and was launched after the 2023 season.
Rob Brzezinski mentioned the Vikings’ medical doctors did their due diligence on Banks’ fractured foot and weren’t involved about it. Banks’ physician additionally put out a letter to NFL groups indicating that he’s on observe to be absolutely cleared for soccer actions in June. He has no different important harm historical past aside from the foot fractures.
Whereas I’ll go right into a extra detailed evaluation of every draft decide in future breakdowns, there are some common insights on the Vikings’ draft picks value mentioning.
Banks is extensively considered a attain for the Vikings at #18 and was a shock decide. A part of the rationale he was a shock decide despite the fact that defensive sort out was an enormous want for the Vikings was as a result of there was no reported curiosity in Banks within the type of conferences with the Vikings (there was an unreported High 30 go to nonetheless, amongst others) and since he was anticipated to be drafted within the second spherical based mostly on consensus boards.
Banks fell out of the primary spherical resulting from his on-going foot fracture historical past. He broke his foot early final season however performed just a few video games on it, then had surgical procedure and (in all probability) got here again too quickly afterward. It’s unclear what bone he broke in his 2025 foot harm, however he broke his fourth metatarsal the night time earlier than his Mix exercise, probably by carrying the incorrect cleats. Anyway, his physician despatched a letter to NFL groups just a few days earlier than the draft indicating that he’s on-track to be absolutely cleared for soccer actions in early June, which is according to the restoration timeline for that harm. Banks was requested about it and mentioned this:
“It’s the fourth metatarsal, so a fourth metatarsal break,” Banks mentioned. “It didn’t fully break through, it was like a little crack on the side of the bone, so it wasn’t nothing too crazy. But they just went back in and repaired it, put a bigger plate in there. So, I’m all good now.”
Nonetheless, after the harm was reported, it might be regular for groups to dock Banks a half to a full spherical on their draft boards or probably extra to account for the harm threat. That additionally precipitated him to slip on consensus board rankings and mock drafts. However the Vikings had their medical doctors do their due diligence on Banks’ foot harm and didn’t have considerations, which cleared the best way for the Vikings to draft him at #18.
Nonetheless, if all the opposite groups had a second-round grade or decrease on Banks, why didn’t the Vikings commerce down earlier than drafting Banks? Taking him at #18 seems to be like a attain.
We might by no means know the reality, however there might have been a number of groups concerned about drafting Banks on the finish of the primary spherical or starting of the second spherical. A type of groups might have been the Vikings’ division-rival Bears, who have been regarded as wanting so as to add to the defensive position and have been choosing at #25, and the Chiefs who drafted defensive sort out Peter Woods at #29 however had Banks in for a High 30 go to. The Cardinals, Raiders, and Titans all had Banks in for a High 30 go to as properly. All of them picked on the high of the second-round. The letter Banks’ physician despatched out was only a couple days earlier than the draft and so didn’t have a lot impression on the consensus board, which is an combination of dozens of rankings and/or mock drafts going again just a few months. In any case, Banks completed ranked #37 on Arif Hasan’s consensus board. Donovan Jackson was ranked #37 final yr on the consensus board when the Vikings drafted him at #24. The Vikings taking Banks at #18 was the second-largest attain relative to the consensus board within the first spherical after the Rams taking Ty Simpson at #13.
Whether or not or not it was actually a attain relies on whether or not the Vikings’ medical doctors are proper concerning the severity of Banks’ foot accidents. If wholesome, Banks was simply the very best passing speeding defensive sort out within the draft, with the very best ceiling, and people are valued a lot greater than the strictly run-stuffing varieties.
Getting Larger within the Trenches
Caleb Banks, Domonique Orange, and Caleb Tiernan are throughout 320 kilos. That makes it clear the Vikings need to get larger within the trenches. They’ve smaller defensive tackles on the roster aside from Taki Taimani who might be final on the depth chart, all of them being 305 kilos or much less, so including a few 320+ pounders will definitely assist anchor their defensive entrance. The league is mostly transferring towards larger linemen and heavier formations on offense, with larger use of 12 and 13 personnel, which the entire Vikings’ NFC North rivals use loads of. So the Vikings have responded by including extra measurement and finishing what could possibly be fairly a formidable defensive entrance in opposition to the run or go. Even the middle the Vikings took within the seventh round- Gavin Gerhardt- is listed as 309 pounds- one of many larger facilities on this draft class.
Blake Brandel and Tai Felton
The Vikings didn’t take a middle till the seventh spherical (Gavin Gerhardt), which looks as if a powerful indication that they like Blake Brandel as their beginning middle. Brandel had eight begins final season at middle, and aside from a tough recreation in opposition to the Eagles in his second begin, fared fairly properly giving up a median of 1.5 pressures per recreation. Gerhardt might problem Michael Jurgens for the backup spot, nonetheless, as Jurgens has been underwhelming since being drafted two years in the past.
And maybe the Vikings are happier with Tai Felton’s improvement than we find out about. He didn’t play a lot as a rookie exterior of particular groups with Jalen Nailor and Adam Thielen on the roster a lot of the season, however he was a third-round decide final yr with elite sub-4.4” velocity and explosion. And he was productive his final season at Maryland. From the surface it’s inconceivable to know a lot about participant improvement once they’re not on the sector. Then again, the draft might have merely unfolded in a means that prevented a focused large receiver from being drafted. The Vikings met with a number of receivers within the pre-draft course of, nonetheless, suggesting curiosity in including to the place, which can nonetheless be executed through free company now that the draft is over.
Domonique Orange and Caleb Tiernan Worth Picks?
Each Orange and Tiernan slide from their consensus board rankings- Tiernan a full spherical from 67 to 97- and Orange from 70 to 82 might have impacted the Vikings picks at 82 and 97- particularly Tiernan’s slide.
The Vikings had met with Orange on a High 30 and so his being out there at 82 seems to have been sufficient of a slide to place him as their greatest out there once they picked at 82. The Vikings hadn’t met with Tiernan- the one draft decide they didn’t meet on a High 30 visit- which can be a clue that they didn’t anticipate him to be out there that late into the third spherical. Tiernan’s brief arms for a sort out might have precipitated him to drop and he’s a candidate to slip inside to protect.
Then again, a few offensive prospects they’d met with- WR De’Shaun Stribling and TE Oscar Delp, went two rounds and one spherical greater than the consensus board rankings, placing them out of attain for the Vikings.
Jakobe Thomas Over Jalon Kilgore?
The Vikings had High 30 visits with each Thomas and Kilgore (Thomas’ was not reported), each safeties, however the Vikings opted for Thomas at 98 which was an enormous attain based on the consensus board, which had Thomas ranked 177. Kilgore was ranked 91.
However the Vikings weren’t the one group to go on Kilgore, who slide two extra rounds all the best way to about the place Thomas was ranked at 167.
Max Bredeson Seems Like a Massive Attain- However Was It?
H-Again varieties that may line up wherever and block went forward of the consensus board all through the draft. Most of those are listed as tight ends however are smaller than conventional tight ends at round 240 kilos and averaging round 6’4”. Type of a narrative about the place NFL offenses are going. Bredeson is larger at simply over 250 kilos, however shorter at 6’2” and is absolutely extra of a fullback than tight finish, though he by no means really had a carry at Michigan. He did have a grand complete of 12 receptions… over 4 seasons. So, no matter you need to name him, he’s a movable blocker and an excellent one which is turning into extra vital because the NFL developments towards extra heavy formations and hole scheme runs.
Bredeson was drafted at 159 however was exterior the highest 300 on Arif’s consensus board- I consider he was ranked round 371. Nonetheless, Riley Nowakowski one other fullback-type H-back ranked under Bredeson by the few analysts who rank fullback varieties, was drafted simply ten picks after Bredeson by the Steelers. So, general all through the draft I feel the consensus board didn’t recognize the rising worth of these kind of gamers to increasingly teams- many who haven’t carried them on their roster a lot previously.
Bredeson is an ready successor to CJ Ham and possibly an improve. He’s about 20 kilos heavier and some inches taller than Ham. He was additionally a two-time group captain and a particular teamer. He can wham block edge rushers, he can lead block, he can stalk block, he can block down field- and he’s actually good in any respect of them. I don’t assume I’ve ever seen such a formidable blocking spotlight reel.
Most fifth-round picks don’t add as much as a lot however I might see Bredeson as a fixture on the Vikings roster for the following ten years. The one hazard is that if sometime they eradicate the fullback place, however the pattern away from fullback varieties appears to be reversing.
It’s additionally notable that the Vikings might have drafted Emmett Johnson here- he was drafted simply two picks later- however opted for Demond Claiborne with their sixth-round decide.
Claiborne was ranked 144 on the consensus board however fell to the Vikings at 198. There was differing views of Claiborne amongst draft analysts. Some had him as excessive because the third-ranked operating again within the draft and others had him as little as seventh. Lots of that needed to do with how analysts view his measurement at 5’10”, 188 kilos, which is small for a operating again. And with small operating backs go sturdiness considerations and the way a lot of a load they’ll carry. However he was one of many few that has breakaway capacity, having the ability to speed up rapidly and with 4.37” velocity. Some analysts evaluate him to De’Von Achane, the star operating again for the Dolphins, who was listed as 5’8”, 188 kilos and ran a 4.32” 40 on the Mix.
The Vikings handed on drafting Emmett Johnson as they have been in search of a speedier alternative for Aaron Jones. Vikings’ new run recreation coordinator Frank Smith additionally labored with Achane in Miami with nice success.
It’s a enjoyable indisputable fact that each defensive backs the Vikings drafted have the biggest arms at their place (one hundredth percentile). Massive arms might be a bonus, however often not a trait groups draft for in a defensive again. Demmings is a bodily nook who focuses on press-man protection and has the traits to finally turn into a starter. However coming from FCS, it might take him a while to regulate to NFL competitors. Brian Flores has been looking for a very good press-man nook who may do all the things else required, and Demmings seems to be like his newest try. He’s acquired all of the traits- measurement, velocity, size, explosion desired in a nook however did poorly on the agility drills, notably the 3-cone, which reveals up generally in his tape as being slightly sluggish in his actions at instances. However general, good traits to work with and good manufacturing in school, albeit on the FCS degree, for a nook taken this late within the draft.
Along with the 9 draft picks, the Vikings signed one other 19 undrafted free brokers. Final yr ten UDFAs made the roster. I’d be stunned if that many made the roster this yr, however there are just a few that stand out who’ve an honest or higher probability to make the roster.
Punter Brett Thorson is certainly one of them. He was considered the very best punter on this draft class and has a booming leg and is nice at each touchdown punts contained in the 20-yard line and never having them returned. The one problem is he hasn’t been used as a holder. The Vikings acquired veteran punter/holder Johnny Hekker, who’s now 36, in free company on a minimal contract. I wouldn’t be stunned in the event that they leveraged Hekker as a mentor to Thorson who in the end wins the punter/holder job. Maybe there’s an out of doors probability the Vikings retain Hekker as properly to be the holder if Thorson doesn’t work out in that function, however I’d contemplate {that a} small probability. It’s additionally attainable the Vikings check out a backup quarterback to be the holder. We’ll see. However I anticipate Thorson to have the within observe at profitable the job.
Offensive lineman Tomas Rimac performed each guard and sort out positions final yr at Virginia Tech however would doubtless be positioned as a guard and/or middle. He’s 6’5, 317 kilos with 34” arms and a 9.97 RAS at guard or 9.99 at middle. He performed most of final season at proper guard and had a clear sheet in 4 of his final 5 video games in go professional. He performed three seasons at West Virginia at left guard previous to transferring along with his offensive line coach to Virginia Tech.
Offensive sort out Tristan Leigh was given the utmost allowed assured quantity for a UDFA and drew loads of curiosity within the predraft course of. He’s a uncooked however prototypical sort out measurement however with some versatility to play guard. He had one begin at guard in school. He was a five-star recruit that didn’t reside as much as that standing in school however had loads of groups interested in doubtlessly unlocking that capacity. Watching his tape at left sort out, he doesn’t have the steadiness or motion abilities to compete in opposition to NFL edge rushers. He’s an enormous barrel-chested man however doesn’t have the lower-half bulk you’d prefer to see in an inside blocker, however he has extra of an opportunity at guard than sort out.
Scooby Williams is a well-rounded linebacker however standout in anyone side of the place. Has some capacity in protection that might be welcome if it may well develop to the following degree, good recognition which helps him get downhill rapidly in run protection and is an effective blitzer. He’s a contemporary linebacker in that he’s smallish at 230 kilos (like Eric Wilson) and will have extra bother shedding blocks on the subsequent degree.
Jacob Thomas, to not be confused with Jakobe Thomas, can be a security with glorious RAS of 9.19, 6’0”, 215 kilos with 4.44” velocity with a 6.84” 3-cone which is elite. He went to James Madison and was very productive in all phases- run protection, protection, and as a blitzer. Stays to be seen if he can do as properly in opposition to NFL competitors, however he has the traits.
Keenan McCardell likes his Maryland receivers (he used to teach there) and the Vikings signed one other one in Shaleak Knotts, the 6’3”, 196 pound receiver ran a 4.32” and 4.34” 40 at his professional day, though I’m undecided he seems to be fairly that quick on tape. In any case, perhaps that’s why they didn’t draft Ted Hurst or Jeff Caldwell, who they met with throughout the predraft course of, as Knotts is the same sort receiver.
The Vikings additionally traded Jonathan Greenard throughout the draft, yielding decide #98 this yr and one other third-rounder subsequent yr. The Vikings additionally despatched the Eagles the final of their seventh-round picks. ESPN’s NFL insider Adam Schefter has since offered some additional element on the lead-up to the commerce, saying that the Vikings and Eagles had been in talks going again a month or so and that the Vikings wished a second-round decide whereas the Eagles had supplied a third-round decide. In the long run, the Eagles added a 2027 third-round decide to compromise whereas the Vikings kicked again their late seventh rounder this yr. He didn’t point out every other offers- at the least every other aggressive offers- having been made for Greenard.
In the end the Vikings acquired a third-round decide for every of the remaining two years on Greenard’s contract, the primary having been used to draft Jakobe Thomas. Greenard is an effective participant, but additionally wanting a increase that didn’t make sense for the Vikings to offer given they’ve Dallas Turner able to take over Greenard’s beginning job. On condition that, it made loads of sense for the Vikings to reallocate sources by buying and selling Greenard, who turns 29 subsequent month, releasing up wage cap area and including two high 100 picks by this time subsequent yr.
It’s unstated at this level, however the Vikings and Rob Brzezinski have been aggressively managing their wage cap area not simply to curtail the spending from final yr, but additionally to create space for a possible Kyler Murray extension.
How A lot of this Draft Class Will We See This Season?
I anticipate that Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange will work into the defensive sort out rotation when the season begins. I wouldn’t be stunned with 20-30 snaps per recreation for every and ramping up relying on how they do. Conditioning is a matter for each of the large males, so engaged on that this offseason and coaching camp ought to catch the attention of their improvement early on.
I’d additionally anticipate linebacker Jake Golday to get some reps too, perhaps 20 a recreation. It will likely be attention-grabbing the place he strains up. Kevin Seifert reported that he could also be behind Andrew Van Ginkel in that edge rusher/generally drop in protection function, however I might see him taking some reps as an inside linebacker as properly.
I additionally anticipate Max Bredeson to take over for C.J. Ham and maybe see extra snaps as an H-back in a barely new look offense with Frank Smith as run recreation coordinator. Bredeson also needs to have an enormous function on particular groups.
I don’t anticipate Demond Claiborne to get loads of reps with Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason forward of him, but when both get sidelined with an harm I anticipate Claiborne to step in. Exterior of harm, Claiborne might want to earn the reps he will get however I anticipate him to earn some. Most likely no more than ten per recreation, however we’ll see the way it goes.
Whether or not Jakobe Thomas sees the sector will rely some on whether or not Harrison Smith retires, however he’ll must beat out some guys to see the sector. The Vikings have Josh Metellus, Theo Jackson, and Jay Ward on the roster, and perhaps Smith, and Thomas will begin on the backside and must work his means up.
Caleb Tiernan and Charles Demmings shall be backups which might be unlikely to see the sector this yr exterior of accidents. Demmings wouldn’t be the first backup both. He might see just a few improvement reps in rubbish time conditions and he and Thomas will doubtless have important roles on particular groups.
With Blake Brandel at middle, Tiernan might find yourself being the first backup at guard- I anticipate that’s the place they may place him with solely UDFAs competing for the backup guard spot past Tiernan. Tiernan might problem Will Fries for the beginning proper guard spot subsequent season because the Vikings might transfer on from Fries’ contract if Tiernan works out. If Fries has a very good yr his contract might convey some first rate draft capital in commerce.
Gavin Gerhardt will compete with Michael Jurgens for the backup middle spot.
Total, this can be a draft class that can permit the Vikings to get youthful and fill in a number of place teams and finally substitute some getting older and dearer veterans with hopefully ascending gamers on rookie contracts. The Greenard commerce achieved that too with Dallas Turner poised to take over and having the ability to add Jakobe Thomas and one other rookie within the high 100 picks subsequent yr too. However whereas this draft isn’t notably flashy, it does seem to be a draft class that ought to have some longevity and hopefully yield some core gamers of the long run.
