The 5 Best Draft Options for the Vikings at No. 18

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The 2026 NFL draft will kick off on April 26 in Pittsburgh, with Minnesota scheduled to select in the first round with the 18th overall pick. Sitting in the middle of the pack, the Vikings’ draft is in a bit of no man’s land.

A Pivotal Draft Slot Brings Multiple Directions into Play for Vikings

The more I look at this year’s draft, the more I think trade talks should be happening in Minnesota. That could be an aggressive move up the board for starting running back Jeremiyah Love, although I think that is unlikely. A trade down looks like the safer bet and could make a lot of sense for the Vikings, given what the team potentially needs on its roster, with safety, defensive tackle, and linebacker as positions that stand out.

The talent for those positions that should be on the Vikings’ radar is potentially going to be available late in the first round or on Day 2 of the draft. It wouldn’t surprise me to see the Vikings trade back from 18 and get an extra pick.

Nov 22, 2025; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver Makai Lemon (6) catches a pass for a touchdown during the first half against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

However, should they stick and pick at 18, who should they be looking at? For me, with player ability, draft placement, and positional value taken into consideration. Five players would work at 18 on the Vikings draft.

Makai Lemon (WR) – USC

Spending a first-round pick on a WR3 feels like a bit of a luxury, but Makai Lemon is the first of two WRs on this list. If there were really obvious answers to positions of need on the table at 18, I wouldn’t be looking at this position. I don’t think there are with the safeties and defensive tackles often linked with the team in the build-up to this draft, having too many doubts hanging over them for my liking.

At 5’11” and 195 pounds, Lemon is an excellent route runner with electric play speed, sharp footwork, and impressive body control that allow him to create consistent separation.

He would give the Vikings a dynamic run-after-catch option that the team sometimes lacks and operate primarily out of the slot with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison out wide. It would be quite a sight, seeing the three of them working together.

Jordyn Tyson (WR) – Arizona State

The second option at WR is Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson, who would give the Vikings a bigger, catch-dominant WR – that they lack on the roster – but is still an excellent route runner. At his size (6’2 and 200 lbs) he’s an effortless accelerator who’s athletic and speed jumps off the screen.

He has the route-running skills to go with the athletic traits and has the potential to be a top-end WR1 caliber player. The biggest question mark of Tyson’s evaluation is his durability. He never played through a full season at the collegiate level and has a torn ACL, MCL, and PCL. That’s what could see him slide to 18 when his talent level should see him go higher.

Jermod McCoy (CB) – Tennessee

The Vikings signed James Pierre in free agency to go with Byron Murphy and Isaiah Rodgers. It leaves Minnesota in a position where they aren’t desperate for a CB, but a young lockdown outside corner would still be nice.

Tennessee offensive lineman Cooper Mays (63), wide receiver Bru McCoy (5), and quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) surround running back Dylan Sampson (6) in celebration after Sampson’s touchdown during an NCAA college football game against Alabama on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Knoxville. Tenn. © Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

Despite missing the entire 2025 season amidst his recovery from a torn ACL, Jermod McCoy could be that guy. Without that injury, he almost certainly goes before the Vikings pick at 18. It has been some time since the Vikings had a CB who you could stick on the opposition’s best WR and be confident he can hold his own.

The potential to do that in a Brian Flores’ defense that is giving QB’s a headache at the line of scrimmage is an enticing one. McCoy is slightly short at 5’11 but has solid proportional length, to go along with elite explosiveness, long-strider acceleration, and hyper-elite hip fluidity. He’s an instant closer with the potential to be a star at the CB position if he can return from his injury without issues.

Keldric Faulk (EDGE) – Auburn

Suppose the much-talked-about Jonathan Greenard tradedoes come to fruition. Then the Vikings could certainly look at an edge defender, but even if they don’t, I still believe Keldric Faulk is worth rolling the dice on as a long-term prospect.

Faulk has drawn a Danielle Hunter comparison, with people drawing on potential physical attributes rather than a history of success as a pass rusher in college. Hunter proved that your pass rush repertoire can be built on at the pro level when you have freakish natural athleticism, and that’s what the team that drafts Faulk will be banking on. It’s a risk that I’d be willing to take for a potential star at one of the game’s premium positions.

Kenyon Sadiq (TE) – Oregon

TJ Hockenson is staying in Minnesota for this season, but perhaps no longer than that, as a reworked deal allowed the Vikings to save money and let Hockenson hit free agency. Drafting Kenyon Sadiq would be a case of why wait to solve a future problem when you can do it now.

Dec 20, 2025; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks tight end Kenyon Sadiq (18) looks on before the game against the James Madison Dukes at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

At 6’3″ and almost 250 pounds, Sadiq has a hyper-dense and muscular frame, which he combines with elite explosive athleticism, fluidity, and seam-splitting speed. Minnesota needs another option in its passing attack, and Sadiq can provide that in Year 1 while being given time to take on full TE1 duties for when Hockenson eventually leaves.

An impressive blocker for his size, with a high degree of natural leverage, range, physicality, and alignment versatility, Sadiq can be an important player for the Vikings this year and in the future.