The Draft Solved 3 Big Mysteries for the Vikings

In addition to a negligible 7th-Round pick, the Minnesota Vikings offloaded outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles on the second night of the draft, getting two 3rd-Round picks in return.

Greenard had requested a contract extension from the Vikings, and Minnesota evidently didn’t have the dough on hand after spending too freely during 2025 free agency. Now, the Vikings must find an extra outside linebacker for insurance behind Andrew Van Ginkel or Dallas Turner — or have big plans for Bo Richter or Tyler Batty.

The Vikings are clearly in win-now mode. Signing Kyler Murray suggests a roster poised for a deep postseason run. If truly rebuilding, Minnesota would have simply handed the offense to 23-year-old J.J. McCarthy, letting him mature and develop. The win-now approach makes the decision regarding Greenard particularly puzzling.

Super Bowl contenders always prioritize pass rushers, investing heavily to acquire and retain them via drafts, trades, and free agency. Yet, Minnesota allowed its best pass rusher to leave rather than commit $100 million over four years.

Perhaps the contract demands were excessive, or the team prioritized financial flexibility for other roster needs. Regardless, replacing an elite EDGE rusher is exceptionally difficult. So, all attention now turns to Turner. He must immediately emerge as a game-changer, as the defense desperately requires a primary threat off the edge.

It also makes outside linebacker a top priority for next offseason’s draft. The Vikings can only recover from Greenard’s departure if Turner excels and the front office quickly secures another high-impact player at that position — or Van Ginkel proves to be ageless.

**The Mystery: How Many RBs and WRs Would Minnesota Draft?**The Resolution: Just One — in Round 6.

The Vikings extensively scouted running backs and wide receivers before the draft: Jonah Coleman (RB, Washington), Emmett Johnson (RB, Nebraska), Ted Hurst (WR, Georgia State), and Antonio Williams (WR, Clemson), to name a handful.

Surely, the franchise would leave the early-to-mid rounds of the draft with one or two, right? Incorrect.

When the draft ended, the Vikings had Demond Claiborne in the basket from Round 6, and he’s now the one big hope for youth in the running back room. The Vikings also drafted zero wide receivers, nominating last year’s rookie, Tai Felton, for WR3 duty by default. It was the first time in 24 years that the Vikings drafted no quarterbacks, wide receivers, or tight ends in a draft (if one assumes that Max Bredeson is a fullback).

Wake Forest running back Demond Claiborne celebrates a touchdown during first-half action against NC State at Carter-Finley Stadium, with Oct. 5, 2024, in Raleigh capturing a burst of scoring energy as Claiborne powered through the defense and energized his sideline during an ACC matchup. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

Many expected at least two shiny new playmakers from the draft. Minnesota rolled with a Round 6 flyer in Claiborne, and then that was it.

Our Cole Smith on Claiborne: “Minnesota was able to land speedy running back Demond Claiborne in the sixth round. Alec Lewis of The Athletic went on 9 to Noon and told Allen that some around the NFL refer to Claiborne as ‘Diet Coke De’Von Achane/Jahmyr Gibbs,’ which almost sounds cooler than regular Achane or Gibbs.”

“The Dolphins drafted Achane in 2023, and he has run 544 times for 3,057 yards (an absurd 5.7 YPC average) and 22 touchdowns. If the Vikings can get anything close to Achane in Claiborne, they will have gotten a steal. Minnesota isn’t just trying to build a roster that can win a variety of fights in 2026 and beyond.”

If Claiborne turns into the “next Achane,” fans will be utterly elated.

“They’re trying to change the way they call a football game. That doesn’t mean the Vikings won’t still try to get Justin Jefferson the football. Tyreek Hill caught 238 passes for 3,509 yards and 20 touchdowns with the Dolphins in 2022 and 2023,” Smith continued.

“But a true emphasis on ‘marrying the run to the pass’ may be mandatory moving forward, not just a phrase shared publicly but never put into practice.”

**The Mystery: Was It Really as Simple as Drafting Dillon Thieneman in Round 1?**The Resolution: No, that was an unfounded, media-driven theory.

VikingsTerritory understood why Thieneman was a popular mock-draft theory for the Vikings. Minnesota could use a starting safety for the long haul. What we didn’t understand? Why every single mock draft connected Thieneman to Minnesota.

Dillon Thieneman speaks with reporters during media availability at the NFL Combine, with 2026 in Indianapolis marking a key pre-draft moment as the defensive back discussed his development, preparation, and outlook while teams evaluated prospects ahead of the upcoming draft cycle. Mandatory Credit: Clark Wade-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

There was no intel from credible insiders or the team itself that it was “in” on Thieneman. The draft community simply thought Thieneman kind of looked like Smith, and with Smith perhaps retired, they collectively said to themselves, “Hey, this is a good fit — the Vikings will draft the guy who plays the same position and kinda looks like the other guy.”

That’s not a good formula for accurate mock-drafting, and in the end, Minnesota passed on Thieneman in favor of DT Caleb Banks from Florida.