The 2026 NFL Draft is about 2 months away, and mock draft season is fully here.
After recently completing an in-depth 7-round mock draft that took over 20 hours to complete, I’ve picked a few select teams to expand upon my rationale for each pick.
The Minnesota Vikings enter the 2026 offseason in an interesting position. After a horrible start to the season, they finished the year strong and somehow rebounded to a winning record. They missed the playoffs but certainly showed some light in what originally felt like a complete disaster of a season.
They’ve had very little draft capital in recent years, and their overall hit rate has been arguably the worst in the league. This led to the firing of GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, and beginning what the Vikings hope will be a change of direction in the draft room.
Due to the lack of drafting success, the Vikings have a need at most positions. Even if they don’t need a starter at a given spot, they desperately need depth and an infusion of youth across the board.
The 7 round mock draft you will read here is a No Trade Mock Draft. No trades were made for any team. Projected compensatory picks were also used since the NFL has not officially released the list yet.
If you want to see the full 7 Round Mock Draft results for every team, click here.
Minnesota Vikings 7 Round Mock Draft
The Vikings enter the 2026 NFL Draft with 7 standard picks, plus an expected 3rd round compensatory pick.
The standard 7 picks includes two 7th round picks but no 4th round pick, which was dealt to Jacksonville in the Cam Robinson trade.
Round 1, Pick 18: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
The Vikings begin their draft with Avieon Terrell, the cornerback from Clemson.
Cornerback is an interesting need for Minnesota. The Vikings had the 2nd best pass defense in the NFL last season, and were especially strong to close out the season. Still, the cornerback room was absolutely devoid of depth.
Byron Murphy has had plenty of good moments with the Vikings, but was much less effective in 2025 than he was in 2024. Across from him, Isaiah Rodgers also had some moments but was more of a fringe starting-caliber player.
Jay Ward had to kick outside to corner a bit where he wasn’t too horrible, but he isn’t good enough to be a long term answer.
With Avieon Terrell being available here in a No Trades scenario, the Vikings decide to bet on his scrappiness, and especially quick mirroring ability.
Avieon is the younger brother of Falcons starting CB AJ Terrell, but he’s much more than just the family connection. Avieon’s tape shows him getting all around the field, playing full speed on every play to trigger towards the line of scrimmage. He’s a good tackler and has a nose for forcing fumbles, leading all draft-eligible corners with 5 forced fumbles this past season.
His versatility, high-motor, and quick feet should allow him to step into a starting role early in his career, and give Brian Flores the depth at corner necessary to move Byron Murphy around more, which helped him succeed in 2024.
Round 2, Pick 49: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
The Vikings decide to double up defensive backs, taking safety Dillon Thieneman out of Oregon with their second round pick.
With the expected retirement of Harrison Smith, lack of growth from Theo Jackson, and desire to play Josh Metellus as a big slot instead of a true safety, the Vikings enter the 2026 NFL Draft with safety as arguably their biggest need.
Thieneman has been a dominant college football player from Day 1. He was an All-American as a true freshman at Purdue, and continued the same high level of play after transferring to Oregon. He finished his 3 year career with over 300 tackles and 20+ passes defended.
He has the size, athleticism, and most importantly the instincts to translate his high level of play to the next level.
Both DBs the Vikings got in these first two rounds are intelligent enough to play early in the complicated scheme that Brian Flores runs, and they add much-needed youth and playmaking to a position group that wasn’t nearly as strong as the passing defense statistics made them look.
Round 3, Pick 82: Brian Parker II, C, Duke
The offensive line was a story of “what could have been” for the Vikings in 2025. Injuries hit the room very hard this past season, but they could potentially take a big step forward this next year if Darrisaw and O’Neill stay healthy.
Still, there’s likely to be a glaring positional need open up at Center, as Ryan Kelly is expected to retire or otherwise move on following a year of multiple concussions.
The Vikings grab Brian Parker out of Duke to fill that hole.
Parker played tackle in college but is better suited for the interior at the next level, and is expected by all NFL teams to be a center when it’s all said and done. Despite not having the length to stay outside as a pro, it didn’t hurt him much in the ACC where he was a two-time All-Conference honoree.
Parker has quick feet for his size, and is a very physical run blocker who consistently opens up running lanes.
His frame and power will allow him versatility to kick over to guard if needed, and he should be ready to step in as a starting center right away as a rookie.
Round 3, Pick 97: Deontae Lawson, ILB, Alabama
With their compensatory selection, the Vikings decide to dip into a deep linebacker class by drafting Deontae Lawson from Alabama. This makes 3 defensive selections in the first 3 rounds.
The Vikings run a variety of defensive formations, but at their core they’re a 3-4 defense and will primarily give reps to two inside linebackers.
They love Minnesota native Blake Cashman, but that’s about where the linebacker room ends.
Eric Wilson had a revelation of a season at the age of 31, but he is a free agent and not getting any younger. Ivan Pace was the other option but he fell out of favor this past year and is also a free agent.
This opens up a need for a player who can at least compete for LB2 next season.
Lawson doesn’t get nearly enough buzz considering all he did for one of the best programs in all of college football. The former 5 star high school recruit has prototypical physical traits for the position, standing 6’2” 230+ with good length and fluid movement.
He was a multiple-time team captain, wore the green dot for the defense, and consistently produced.
The Vikings most recently drafted a linebacker at this stage of the draft in 2022 (Kwesi’s first draft), when they took Brian Asamoah. Lawson is literally better than Asamoah at every single trait you could want in a linebacker, other than age.
Round 5, Pick 161: DeMonte Capehart, DT, Clemson
After not having a selection in the fourth round, the Vikings next pick at 161st overall.
At this stage in the draft, you shouldn’t care at all about positional need. The vast majority of players drafted at this point are dart throws, and you don’t expect them to contribute from day 1.
The Vikings took a big swing in free agency this past year, trying to solidify the defensive line by giving big contracts to Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. It didn’t work out. They are both options for contract restructures or to be traded, and odds are at least one will be gone next year.
The Vikings saw a breakout campaign from Jalen Redmond, but could really use some additional youth around him. For clarity, Redmond has an expiring contract but is an Exclusive Rights Free Agent, so the Vikings will have no issues retaining him at least for 2026.
Capehart would be a good compliment with a high ceiling as a run stopper, something the Vikings were desperately missing this past year.
His stats aren’t flashy, but the 6’5” 315 pounder has played a ton of football for Clemson and is able to occupy two gaps and open up opportunities for linebackers working downhill. He does a ton of the dirty work that doesn’t often show up in the stat sheet, and he’s a surprisingly good athlete for a big DL.
Capehart is good enough as a rotational run-stopper to actually improve the team in 2026, while most WRs or RBs you could draft here (which I know the fans would want) wouldn’t actually be good enough to improve the team.
Round 6, Pick 195: Keyshawn James-Newby, EDGE, New Mexico
You can never have too many edge rushers, and Keyshawn James-Newby is one of the most underrated pass rush specialists in the class.
He’s undersized, but his first step is electric, and the Minnesota Gophers across town certainly noticed that when they faced New Mexico in the Rate Bowl this past season.
Across the past two seasons Newby has combined to make over 110 tackles, 29.5 tackles for loss, and 19.5 sacks, some of the best numbers in the draft class and 1st Team All Conference recognition this past year.
What excites me about his fit with the Vikings is he also has enough open field athleticism to drop back in coverage, allowing him to do similar things to how they envision Dallas Turner is ultimately used.
Sitting behind Greenard, Van Ginkel, and Turner wouldn’t give many reps for James-Newby early on, but that’s okay for a 6th rounder. He has plenty of upside to work with at this spot in the draft.
Round 7, Pick 235: Caleb Douglas, WR, Texas Tech
Wide receiver is a big question mark for the Vikings, and might end up being a need depending how the next couple months go.
Justin Jefferson is obviously a star and isn’t expected to go anywhere. Jordan Addison is pretty good on paper, but maturity issues have popped up and led to some trade rumors. Meanwhile Jalen Nailor is coming off a breakout season, but is expected to demand a fair bit of money in free agency.
They selected Tai Felton towards the end of the 3rd round last year, but he couldn’t work his way into the rotation at all in 2025.
All of this makes you consider taking a receiver earlier, but the board didn’t fall that way. They’re now taking a shot on a high ceiling receiver in Caleb Douglas who will likely be a depth piece.
Douglas has a chance to outperform that draft position, being the leading receiver for a dangerous Texas Tech offense in 2025.
Douglas is a legitimate 6’3” who had a strong Senior Bowl showing, with good hands to high point in jump ball scenarios and enough athleticism to be dangerous on deep or intermediate routes.
Round 7, Pick 241: Max Bredeson, FB, Michigan
CJ Ham has retired after 10 years with the Vikings organization, but that doesn’t mean the fullback position has to retire with him.
Max Bredeson has the size and technique to be an inline blocking tight end when needed, but he’s a fullback through and through. He’s an elite run blocker, good special teamer, team captain, and has decent hands when asked to be used as a receiver.
Despite putting up very little statistical production, his blocking was respected highly enough to earn him 3rd team All-Big 10 anyway.
The Vikings have struggled to convert 1 yard to go situations in recent years, and removing the fullback from your offense despite that just doesn’t seem smart.
Minnesota Vikings Mock Draft Recap
In this 7 round mock draft the Minnesota Vikings immediately upgraded their defense across the board.
Their defensive backs are revamped, they added a player with a chance to contribute right away at linebacker, a player with a situational skill to improve their run defense, and an athletic project at edge.
They didn’t grab the dynamic skill position talent until the end of the draft, but they solidified the trenches with a young center who should be a day 1 starter.
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below.
Check out how other teams picked in the same 7 round mock draft here.
