Vikings 2026 NFL Draft takeaways: A big surprise in Round 1, so what comes next?

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With most of their picks, the Vikings selected prospects who climbed the college football ladder from the small time to the big time. Every player Minnesota took was a senior. This wasn’t a prerequisite, but it speaks to their commitment to reliability. “A number of these guys are multiyear captains,” Vikings college scouting director Mike Sholiton said Saturday. “These are veteran players who have a lot of experience, and you’re getting them an extra year into their development, so that might make them even more ready to step in and compete in their first year.” Not even interim general manager Rob Brzezinski downplayed the significance of this draft. The team viewed its five top-100 picks — more than the previous three years combined — as a foundational step toward building a sustainable future. Minnesota needed help everywhere. Receivers, running backs and centers were all in play, but the Vikings were determined not to take a player at those positions if they weren’t the primary targets. So, they didn’t. Instead, they revamped their defensive tackle depth. They added a versatile linebacker, a refined tackle and an instinctive safety. In the later rounds, they continued with the same themes, getting a physical fullback, a mature cornerback, an electric running back and an accomplished center. How about a fullback? The Vikings drafted Michigan’s Max Bredeson in the fifth round. He has the potential to pick up where C.J. Ham left off, providing serious contributions on offense and special teams. Minnesota’s offense is in a transition phase. The team added former Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith as its assistant head coach. With his arrival comes several new ideas. Notably, the 2025 Dolphins used a fullback on almost 25 percent of their snaps last season, the second-highest rate in the NFL. The Vikings hope to have found their version of Alec Ingold. Bredeson can line up at tight end and in the backfield. In college, he split time in different positional meeting rooms to master his many responsibilities. “I could kind of be a plug-and-play guy anywhere at Michigan,” he said. “Sometimes, I’d spend time with the running backs because I had pass protection responsibilities. Other times, I’d be with the receivers.” Expect Bredeson to contribute early and often. It’s even possible the Vikings lean into 13 personnel sets with him as a mover alongside tight ends T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver. This one is a no-brainer: first-rounder Caleb Banks. Most of the NFL Draft ecosystem expected Minnesota to take safety Dillon Thieneman with the No. 18 pick. Our final mock draft projected tight end Kenyon Sadiq. But once the Jets plucked him from the board ahead of the Vikings’ pick, Minnesota surprised even executives and scouts around the league by taking Banks. It’s not that the Vikings didn’t need a defensive tackle. The position was arguably their biggest need. It’s more that they rolled the dice on a 6-foot-6, 327-pounder coming off multiple foot surgeries. The upside is undeniable, but the Vikings are betting big on their organizational support, coaching, development and medical expertise. “Some things you can teach, and some things you can’t,” defensive coordinator Brian Flores said. “Size, speed and athleticism, you really can’t teach. So you take that, and you mention the world mold. All of these players are kind of like clay, and you’ve got to build the right habits so that they can improve every day.” The Vikings have been looking for a dynamic interior defender for years. In 2024, they targeted current Seahawks star Byron Murphy II in the first round. Banks is more of a dice roll. Minnesota’s appetite for the risk speaks to its feelings about his potential. Sixth-rounder Demond Claiborne is the guy here. His talent is eye-popping. The question is whether he can consistently perform all of the responsibilities required of an NFL running back. Claiborne fumbled five times in 2025. Pass protection will bring a steep learning curve. Even at Wake Forest, the Demon Deacons used some of their other backs when they found themselves in true pass situations. His acclimation to a professional environment is worth watching, too. In “The Beast,” Dane Brugler quoted an NFL scout who said Claiborne “rubbed some coaches and teammates wrong as an underclassman due to inconsistent emotions, especially with hard coaching. But his attitude was noticeably better as an upperclassman.” A low-calorie De’Von Achane: small, darting, electric. The Vikings poured a lot of time into this evaluation. Linebackers coach Mike Siravo attended his pro day, and running backs coach Curtis Modkins did his due diligence throughout the process. If Claiborne makes the transition well, the Vikings will have found themselves a potential gamebreaker in the backfield. One high-ranking NFC official said Claiborne has shades of Dolphins running back De’Von Achane. Three spots immediately stand out: wide receiver, center and safety. The Vikings have remained optimistic about Tai Felton’s development as a receiver. Still, the team explored drafting a player at the position early. Trading edge rusher Jonathan Greenard cleared some cap space, so Minnesota could target a free-agent addition in the coming weeks. How much would the team be willing to spend? If it’s enough, perhaps a player like former 49ers wideout Jauan Jennings could become an option. As for center and safety, coach Kevin O’Connell has reiterated his confidence in Blake Brandel. He’ll focus solely on the center position this offseason. Minnesota believed he could play the position full time before the 2025 season, when he got a taste. His progression will matter because it will be important to solidify the pocket interior for quarterback Kyler Murray. The team’s seventh-round pick, Gavin Gerhardt, will vie for a roster spot at the position along with current Viking Michael Jurgens. Meanwhile, Minnesota drafted Jakobe Thomas, an aggressive safety who should be able to make an immediate impact. Because Harrison Smith’s future remains up in the air, because Jay Ward is in the final season of his rookie deal and because Josh Metellus’ contract is only guaranteed through 2026, the Vikings will benefit from the additional depth. Soon enough, Murray and fellow quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy and Carson Wentz will find their way to the field for offseason workouts. These sessions will start to shape what is bound to be a fascinating training camp and 2026 season. The Vikings are betting big on internal development. While these early-offseason practices tend to be slower, the day-to-day improvement will be worth monitoring. There are other massive storylines to follow, too, such as left tackle Christian Darrisaw’s health and right tackle Brian O’Neill’s potential extension. How different will their practice work look with new offensive line coach Keith Carter? What types of new run schemes will the Vikings implement? How prepared is Dallas Turner to fill Greenard’s shoes at edge rusher? These are all critical layers as the Vikings push past the disappointment of 2025. They are all important variables as the team pursues its first playoff win since 2019. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms