Two Minnesota Vikings rookies, Caleb Banks and Jake Golday, are being considered as dark horse candidates for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. This follows the team's record-setting draft of four defensive players before Round 4.
Key points
Two Vikings rookies are dark horse candidates for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Caleb Banks and Jake Golday are the players being considered.
The Vikings set a franchise record by drafting four defensive players before Round 4.
No Vikings player has won Rookie of the Year since 2009.
Two Vikings Listed as Dark Horse Candidates for Rookie of the Year
Jeffrey Becker
The Minnesota Vikings drafted four defensive players before the end of Round 3 in the 2026 NFL draft, the most such selections before the start of Round 4 in franchise history. Now, according to ESPN, two of those rookies have outside chances of winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year award: defensive tackle Caleb Banks and linebacker Jake Golday.
Banks and Golday already have outside attention before playing a snap.
No Vikings player has won rookie of the year since 2009, when wide receiver Percy Harvin brought home the hardware.
Minnesota’s Defensive Youth Movement Gets Early Buzz
Do you think Banks and Golday have a shot at DROY glory?
Caleb Banks celebrates after recovering a fumble during a Florida vs LSU game. Vikings rookie of the year candidates.
Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Banks celebrates a takeaway during second-half action, with Nov 16, 2024 centered at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville as he secures a fumble recovery against LSU, energizing the defense and swinging momentum in a physical SEC matchup late in the contest. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Q&A
Who are the Vikings' dark horse candidates for Rookie of the Year?
Caleb Banks and Jake Golday are the two Vikings rookies listed as dark horse candidates for the Defensive Rookie of the Year.
When was the last time a Vikings player won Rookie of the Year?
The last Vikings player to win Rookie of the Year was Percy Harvin in 2009.
What is significant about the Vikings' 2026 NFL draft?
The Vikings drafted four defensive players before the end of Round 3, marking the most such selections in franchise history before Round 4.
What positions do Caleb Banks and Jake Golday play?
Caleb Banks plays defensive tackle, while Jake Golday plays linebacker.
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ESPN Names Banks a ‘Longshot” Contender for DROY
Ben Solak analyzed the Rookie of the Year chase at length last week, and on Banks, he noted: “No defensive tackle has won Rookie of the Year since Aaron Donald in 2014, and the only other tackle to do it this century was Ndamukong Suh. Banks is that sort of talent and an enticing bet accordingly. But he has a foot injury that’s impossible to overlook.”
“He also plays in a Brian Flores defense that doesn’t allow defensive tackles to play the sort of unhinged, penetration-oriented style that leads to sacks. Sure, the Vikings spent an early pick on Banks — but as head coach of the Dolphins in 2019, Flores used the No. 13 pick on Christian Wilkins, and he had two sacks as a rookie. It’s hard to see the path for Banks.”
Banks broke a bone in his foot at the NFL Combine in late February, so fans will monitor whether he will be ready for Week 1, let alone contend for DROY.
Golday, Too
Calling Golday, a 2nd-Rounder from Cincinnati, an even longer long shot, Solak opined, “Golday is an off-ball/on-ball tweener who will be stuck behind established starters at both positions: Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner at outside linebacker; Eric Wilson and Blake Cashman at inside linebacker.”
“He will undoubtedly have flashy plays in subpackages, but he simply will not see enough snaps — barring injury — to contend for this award.”
Jake Golday hits a pad during Cincinnati spring football practice at Nippert Stadium. Vikings rookie of the year candidates.
Cincinnati Bearcats linebacker Jake Golday works through contact drills during a spring session, with April 12, 2025 placed at Nippert Stadium as he strikes a pad in practice, focusing on technique, strength, and readiness while preparing for the upcoming college football season in a controlled training environment. Mandatory Credit: Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Many consider a Golday a “raw” prospect, and with the Vikings showcasing tremendous ILB depth, it’s unclear if Golday will carve out a meaningful role on defense as a rookie. Stay tuned.
The Other Contenders
From the Vikings’ rookie haul, four other men have outside chances of contending for OROY or DROY:
Domonique Orange (NT)
Jakobe Thomas (S)
Charles Demmings (CB)
Demond Claiborne (RB)
The league doesn’t typically acknowledge nose tackles for DROY, but in theory, if Orange logged 5-7 sacks as a rookie, he could move the needle. Thomas probably won’t win a starter’s job this summer, but if he pulled off that feat, he could, in theory, raise eyebrows.
On Demmings, if Byron Murphy Jr.or Isaiah Rodgers fell injured this summer, Flores could tap him on the shoulder to start as a rookie, casting his profile into a national spotlight.
Overall, after Banks, Claiborne is probably the most likely Viking to contend for OROY. If one pretends that he barnstorms the summer, so much so that he cannot be denied the RB1 job, he could turn heads in an offense tailor-made for offensive creativity.
On the whole, Banks is the favorite Viking to win the award, assuming his injured foot is ready for Week 1.
A Draft Class That Must Hit
The firing of former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in January can be traced directly to the draft.
His draft success rate remained persistently low. Since 2022, only about 18% of Minnesota’s draft picks have proven successful, leaving too many gaps on a roster that desperately needs inexpensive, young talent. A stagnant draft pipeline forces reliance on costly free agency, which explains why the Vikings increasingly depended on older players to remain competitive.
Caleb Banks chats with reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Vikings rookie of the year candidates.
Florida defensive lineman Caleb Banks speaks with media members during a pre-draft event, with Feb. 25, 2026 set inside the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis as he outlines preparation, mindset, and expectations while meeting with reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine ahead of the upcoming draft. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The unsustainable approach eventually catches up. The next general manager, whether Rob Brzezinski or an external candidate, faces one critical mandate: the draft must yield results. Minnesota urgently needs an influx of starting-caliber players on rookie contracts to stabilize the roster and reset its long-term trajectory. The draft is only place in the NFL to find players for free.
The success of this strategy hinges on current prospects as well. Players such as Banks, Golday, Orange, Thomas, Demmings, and Claiborne must develop into legitimate contributors. If this group delivers, the roster will become younger, faster, and more sustainable. If not, the Vikings will remain trapped in the same cycle — absolutely required to win in free agency across the board to cleanse the draft sins. In 2024, that strategy worked. A year later, it flopped.
A fancy rookie of the year trophy would be the cake topper.
