Grading Day—Recapping the Vikings 2026 Draft

Vikings Territory Breakdown Podcast

The Vikings had nine picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. They made three trades, took five defensive players and four offensive players—including four linemen, two running backs, two in the secondary and no wide receivers (although grabbed four undrafted wideouts). They took a center with their last pick in the draft (which was arguably counterintuitive to their needs) and they selected an interior defensive lineman who has broken his foot twice in the past season. Just like we all drew it up, right?

Well, not exactly. Which is probably the overwhelming thought emanating from Purple Nation draftniks throughout the land. The Vikings came in with many needs—and as was the previous GM’s wont—maneuvered around the board trading picks and players. The biggest trade, and likely most expected, was the swapping of edge rusher Jonathan Greenard and a 2027 7th-rounder with Philadelphia for a 3rd-round pick in this draft and another 3rd-rounder in the 2027 draft. We knew it was coming, but that didn’t make it any easy to swallow.

So, was first-rounder Caleb Banks “money in the bank” or a risk too great to take? (After all, the team picked up another interior DL with the name of Domonique Orange and the moniker of “Big Citrus.” Perhaps Orange was taken as insurance against another broken metatarsal bone for Banks or, perhaps, scurvy.) Did their round selection of safety Jakobe Thomas from Miami come soon enough or will Harrison Smith have to return for another season to mentor him? Is running back Demond Claiborne from Wake Forest the homerun hitter they need in the backfield, and will fullback Max Bredeson from Michigan be a great replacement for or just a locker room pal to his former teammate ? Is punter , taken with the international player roster exemption as an undrafted player, the punter of the future or just another interesting story?