The 2026 NFL Draft is less than 24 hours away, and there isn’t much excitement about what the Minnesota Vikings can do. They have the 18th overall pick in the first round, and nine selections overall, the most they have had since 2022, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s first season on the job.
But this time Adofo-Mensah will not move forward. Interim general manager Rob Brzezinski will have the final say on the team’s draft selections, but you can rest assured that head coach Kevin O’Connell and defensive coordinator Brian Flores will have a heavy influence on the team’s decisions.
While many projections have the team likely to be a similar defense in the first round, the Vikings will need to address other needs as well. Below are our best takes on the 2026 Minnesota Vikings mock draft, projecting every pick from Nos. 18 to 244.
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First round, No. 18 overall – Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
I know it’s a little boring, only because every Vikings mock draft projects Dillon Thieneman, but we just don’t envision Kenyon Saadiq or Spencer Fano dropping to 18. Still, Thieneman should excite Vikings fans as a prospect, as he boasts freak speed (4.35-second 40 time) and is a versatile piece who can make an impact at the line of scrimmage, in depth, or at nickel. He would be a human chess piece for Coach Flores.
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Second round, No. 49 overall – Jake Golde, LB, Cincinnati
Linebacker isn’t an immediate need, but is adding competition to a group that only has Eric Wilson under contract through 2026. Meanwhile, the 6-foot-4 Golde has impressive sideline-to-sideline agility, reaching speeds of up to 22 mph. The former edge rusher will continue to improve in coverage, but Golde will consistently record over 100 tackles at the next level.
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Third round, No. 82 overall – Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa State
After releasing Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, the Vikings have a need in the trenches. Jalen Redmond is developing into an excellent pressure threat, but Domonique Orange or “Big Citrus” could make life easier as an excellent run-stopper with immense strength. Still, with only one sack in college, he needs to continue developing as a pass-rusher at the next level.
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Third round, No. 97 overall – Sam Hecht, C, Kansas State
Last offseason, the Vikings signed Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly because he was known for not only being good but also incredibly smart at his position. This off-season, Kelly retired due to high frequency of injuries. While Blake Brandel replaced him admirably in 2025, bringing in more competition is necessary. A former walk-on guard, Hecht has established himself as an above-average center who plays with high IQ and strong instincts.
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Fifth round, No. 163 overall – Jeff Caldwell, WR, Cincinnati
A rare size-speed freak as a 6-foot-5 receiver who clocked a 4.31-second 40-yard dash. Caldwell is not only an on-field Blazer, but he also has experience playing on special teams, and he also blocked two punts in college.
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Sixth round, No. 196 overall – Eli Heidenreich, FB, Navy
Vikings fullback and special teams captain C.J. Hamm retired. The Vikings could consider replacing him with Navy’s all-time leading receiver. He’s used to all kinds of trick plays at Navy, but there’s no doubt that Heidenreich is an excellent pass-catcher, but the 6-foot, 198-pound athlete will need to gain weight to become a fullback/tight end. Still, with his 4.44 speed, there is a possibility he could develop into a unique weapon in Coach O’Connell’s offense.
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Seventh round, No. 234 overall – Domani Jackson, CB, Alabama
In need of more defensive back depth, it’s worth it to take a Flyers 6-foot-1 corner with 4.4 speed in the seventh round. Especially considering that Domany was one of the top five recruits coming out of Jackson High School. Still, after losing valuable development time due to injury, Jackson would benefit from NFL coaching and patience, but he has the qualities to excel in his potential special teams role early on.
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Seventh round, No. 235 overall – Jaime Miller, RB, Alabama
Chances are, the Vikings will address the RB position before the seventh round, but with the return of Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason, it’s not an immediate need for 2026. This way, they can afford to take a chance on a lotto ticket like Jaime Miller later. The 5-foot-10, 209-pound player undoubtedly needs to improve in pass protection after totaling 40 receptions in his college career. Still, there’s something good here for an athlete Disappointed 4.42 with 40 time.
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Seventh round, No. 244 overall – David Gusta, DT, Kentucky
We could wrap up the draft class with another offensive lineman, a tight end to compete for TE3 duties, or even a punter to battle Johnny Hecker, but instead, we come back to a defensive line that has struggled to impress players. Thus, gambling a late-round scratch ticket on a 6-foot-3, 310-pound lineman who had shown explosiveness (4.88 40 time) on tape and in athletic testing seems like a worthy risk. Gusta is another nose tackle who plays with an average rhythm, and he will definitely compete for snaps at times.
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#Sevenround #projection
