ESPN Nominates Best Vikings Draft Pick

Q: Who is Caleb Tiernan and why was he nominated as the best Vikings draft pick?

Caleb Tiernan is a third-round draft pick for the Minnesota Vikings, nominated for his potential as a long-term solution for the offensive line, ranked 34th in ESPN's top 100 picks.

Q: What are the concerns regarding Caleb Tiernan's physical attributes?

Concerns about Caleb Tiernan include his arm length, which some scouts believe may hinder his effectiveness as an offensive tackle.

Q: How does Caleb Tiernan fit into the Vikings' offensive line strategy?

Caleb Tiernan is seen as a potential long-term plan at right tackle, especially as the team evaluates the future of current players like Brian O’Neill.

Q: What impact could Caleb Tiernan have on the Vikings' offensive line in the future?

Caleb Tiernan could provide depth and versatility to the Vikings' offensive line, potentially serving as a starter or backup at tackle or guard as the team navigates contract decisions.

Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; April 25, 2025; A wide shot captures the stage video board displaying “The Pick Is In” for the Minnesota Vikings during the third round of the NFL Draft, as fans and team personnel await the announcement inside the draft theater in Green Bay. Mandatory Credit: Perry Knotts-Getty Images Minnesota’s haul in this year’s draft included nine new players. First-rounder Caleb Banks was a controversial selection, as he comes into the building with two significant foot injuries on his resume, but also with a ton of physical talent. Seemingly less controversial was the Vikings’ addition of third-rounder Caleb Tiernan. The offensive lineman was ranked 34th on ESPN’s top 100 pick rankings, assembled by draft analyst Matt Miller. No Viking received a better ranking. Though perhaps not an immediate contributor given the state of the offensive line, the Northwestern pickup might pay huge dividends in the future.

Nov 23, 2024; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines defensive end Cameron Brandt (91) rushes on defense at Northwestern Wildcats offensive lineman Caleb Tiernan (72) in the second half t Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images Miller wrote, “A value pickup at the end of Round 3, Tiernan should be viewed as the long-term plan at right tackle. is still a very good player at 30 years old, but the team must make a decision on his expiring contract after this season. Drafting Tiernan might give us a hint about Minnesota’s long-term plans.” can still play, without a doubt, but he will turn 31 in September and has missed some time in recent years. His contract is up and the Vikings either need to hand him a new one or say goodbye to their veteran next March. Furthermore, ’s knee issue remains a topic of conversation. His health was a huge problem in 2025, a year after suffering a torn ACL and it cannot be taken for granted moving forward. Having a backup plan for either tackle position is a smart move. Cross-training Tiernan at guard could also be in the franchise’s best interest. Miller added, “A six-game starter at right tackle (38 at LT), Tiernan has experience on the right side and a frame many scouts think projects better to that side or at guard. He’s worth monitoring in training camp to see where and how Minnesota plans to use him.” Tiernan doesn’t possess the prototypical arm length teams are looking for in an offensive tackle. Therefore, guard has been floated as an idea for the 6’7″ blocker. Mar 1, 2026; , IN, USA; Hawkin Dynamics specialist Trent Bassingthwaite (right) records force plate measurements of Northwestern offensive lineman Caleb Tiernan (OL50) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images About his arms, he said in his , “A lot of those [doubts] come from people who probably don’t know football that well. You know, obviously I’m a football player and there’s no — it’s not an arm length competition on the field. It’s a physicality competition. And, you know, I feel like I’m really good at that. And I feel like that’s kind of what allowed me to kind of succeed.” Whether it will ultimately hinder his play at tackle remains to be seen. It is a fact that elite pass rushers can take advantage of any physical disadvantages. He added, “I’d love for someone to say I got beat here or I didn’t do as well here because my arms are too short — kind of going to be pretty tough to find. But yeah, you know, obviously arm length, some teams harp on it. Some fans love it. Some guys hate it. I’m just a football player at the end of the day.” At guard, the Vikings have a long-term starter on the left side in last year’s top pick, . On the right side, enters his second campaign as Minnesota’s starter. He signed a massive deal last offseason, and the Vikings could decide to move on next year, which would present another path to the starting unit for Tiernan. The rookie has some solid athletic tools and his football IQ has drawn praise in the pre-draft process. *The Ringer*‘s Todd McShay : “Early in his career, Tiernan could fill a swing tackle role while also providing guard depth as he develops into a potential starter. Players like , , and have overcome similar length limitations to stick at tackle.” “There’s also a Northwestern precedent for shorter-armed tackles moving inside and thriving — is already among the league’s best. If Tiernan follows that path, is a strong stylistic comparison. Tiernan is an athletic, experienced, and versatile offensive lineman who may need to transition from tackle, where he played in college, to guard in the NFL.” Detroit Country Day defensive back Marcus Sheppard, standing, and defensive lineman Caleb Tiernan are dejected after their team lost to Grand Rapids Catholic Central 44-0 in the Division 4 championship game. © Jose Juarez, Special to Detroit News, USA TODAY via Imagn Content Services, LLC. The Vikings might not need Tiernan to block defenders anytime soon, but once there’s an injury or another roster shakeup, having a talented third-rounder waiting in the wings is what smart franchises do. Tiernan ranks 34th among Miller’s best draft picks of the year. The selections of Caleb Banks (43rd), Domonique Orange (68th), Max Bredeson (83rd), and Demond Claiborne (85th) also made his top 100 list. *Editor’s Note: Information from , , and helped with this article.*