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The Minnesota Vikings are preparing for the NFL draft on April 23rd, holding multiple picks including a 1st-Rounder. Clues indicate they are likely to select a defensive player with their 18th pick.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea
Itās nearly showtime for the Minnesota Vikings and the NFL draft, getting underway from Pittsburgh on April 23rd. The Vikings will have a 1st-Rounder, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and three 7ths this go-round, hoping to nail a draft for the first time in five or six years. Thankfully, the team has already provided some clues about how it will proceed.
Minnesota has already tipped its hand a bit.
Most expect the Vikings to select a defensive player at Pick No. 18. Hereās what clues suggest overall.
Rob Brzezinski is about to run his first-ever drafts as the head boss.

Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Michael Jurgens (65) holds his ground at the line of scrimmage during preseason action against the Houston Texans, Aug. 9, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium, as the rookie center demonstrates technique and awareness while Minnesota evaluates depth and cohesion along the offensive front. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Clue No. 1: A Center Is Likely on the Way
Blake Brandel may start out of the gate at center in 2026, but head coach Kevin OāConnell wasnāt shy last week about expressing his fascination with rookie centers.
āI do think thatās a position thatās got some really unique names in the draft,ā OāConnell opined about youngsters at the position.
Couple that quote with the fact that 2025 starting center Ryan Kelly retired, and you have a nifty draft clue.
Clue No. 2: Vikings Have Met with Multiple Day 2 WRs
Throughout the draft lead-up process, the Vikings have met with WRs Antonio Williams (Clemson), Ted Hurst (Georgia State), and DeāZhaun Stribling (Ole Miss). Thatās not an accident.
The clubās third wide receiver from the last couple of seasons, Jalen Nailor, left town for Las Vegas in March, and the only other option at WR3 would be Tai Felton, a rookie who barely played last year. Remember, OāConnell is fully in charge of the Vikings, and by trade, heās an offensive thinker.
Minnesota is meeting with so many Day Two wide receivers that it might be strange if it doesnāt draft one by the end of Round 4.
Clue No. 3: Brzezinski Wants the Best Player Available
Brzezinski told Vikings.com last week, āI think itās the biggest reason why a lot of players fail in this business. You force a need. And for a lot of reasons it doesnāt work out, and you pass on a player of higher ability for a position of need⦠it may be old school, but if you get your board set right, and look for the best player available, I think itās going to lead you down the right path.ā
While many anticipate the Vikings drafting a defensive tackle or defensive back in the first round, Brzezinski suggests they may be considering other positions, leaving all options open.
Embracing BPA could leave the Vikings with these options, depending on how wacky the board falls:
Clue No. 4: Jonathan Greenard Is Not Untouchable
No Vikings executive or coach has called Greenard āuntouchableā this offseason. OāConnell claimed he believes Greenard will be a part of the 2026 Vikings, but stopped short of ruling out a trade during the draft.

Arlington, Texas, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard celebrates with teammates Eric Wilson and Andrew Van Ginkel following a defensive stop against the Dallas Cowboys, Dec. 14, 2025, at AT&T Stadium, as the Vikings defense rallies together during a key moment in the NFC road matchup. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
āYeah, I expect him to be part of our team. I know thereās always conversations. Thereās conversations this week. Thereās conversations throughout the offseason, and weāll continue to kind of attack things at the different phases. Weāre getting ready to really jump heavily into draft meetings when we get back,āĀ he said.
āBut at the same time, weāre always going to try to do whatās best for our team and also what we think is best for each one of our individual players. And thatās an ongoing thing throughout every offseason.ā
Trades often begin with statements from coaches like, āI expect him to be on our team.ā
Clue No. 1: Itās Time for an RB
Thereās a circumstantial case for this one.
Minnesota has met with Emmett Johnson (Nebraska), Jonah Coleman (Washington), and Demond Claiborne (Wake Forest), among other running backs, in the last month. And consider this stat:
RBs Drafted in First 4 Rounds by Vikings,
Since 2017:
2025: Zero
2024: Zero
2023: Zero
2022: Zero
2021: Zero
2020: Zero
2019: One
2018: Zero
2017: One

Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies running back Jonah Coleman (1) carries the football against the UC Davis Aggies during first-quarter action at Husky Stadium, Sep 6, 2025, as Coleman looks for running lanes while the Huskies offense establishes rhythm early in the game. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
The Viking Ageās Brad Berreman wrote this week, āAs the draft fast approaches, the Vikings seem to beĀ firmly in the market forĀ a running back ā as they should be. The question is what kind of draft capital will be invested in the position, but it surely wonāt be their first-round pick unless Jeremiyah Love inexplicably falls a lot.ā
The Vikings are meeting with prominent rookie tailbacks, and theyāre overdue to draft one. Donāt overthink it.
The Minnesota Vikings have a 1st-Rounder, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and three 7th-round picks in the 2024 NFL draft.
The NFL draft for the Minnesota Vikings starts on April 23rd, 2024.
Most expect the Vikings to select a defensive player with their 18th pick in the draft.
The Vikings have not nailed a successful draft in the past five or six years.

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