The Vikings are preparing for the draft with potential backup plans if their desired players are unavailable. Key targets include safety Dillon Thieneman and defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, but they may need to pivot to other options like Cole Wisniewski and Domonique Orange.
Key points
Vikings preparing for the draft with backup plans
Key targets include Dillon Thieneman and Kayden McDonald
Potential pivots to Cole Wisniewski and Domonique Orange
Vikings Need a Backup Plan for the Draft
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
āThe Vikings will draft (insert guess here), and it will be the (best player available/player of need). Book it!ā Famous last words of everyone on the Internet banging out mock drafts, trying to either just have some fun speculating or trying to be a āTemuā Mel Kiper Jr.
I go with the first option for myself, but Iām not going to stay quiet if Iām right! Hey, even the experts get it wrong from time to time, so why not brag a little when someone like me guesses right? Kevin OāConnell and the entire Vikings staff are going to take their best stab at players in just a few days.
Contingency Paths Could Tilt Minnesotaās Draft Strategy
No matter how sure many of us and the experts are that the Vikings are going to draft Dillon Thieneman if heās there, it doesnāt mean they will or even have the opportunity to if a team ahead of them thinks highly of him or another team jumps ahead of them for the same reason.
What do the Vikings do if the player they covet in a position theyāre looking to fill is gone? Just like last yearās offensive line and quarterback, theyāre going to have to go to the backup. That doesnāt necessarily mean a different position at their pick, but a hole they need to plug somewhere in the draft with the next guy in line that they can snag.
Vikings draft backup plan
Sep 13, 2025; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders defensive safety Cole Wisniewski (5) looks to the sideline in the first half during the game against the Oregon State Beavers at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images
Last year, many people thought the team might get a chance at Grey Zabel until the Seahawks took him as he moved up draft boards for every team. The Vikings did take a guard, , at 24, who is a solid starter and most fans are happy with.
With that solid pick last year, it filled a need and took that position off the board for a āneedā pick. We also donāt have to wait as long this year (18) as last year (24), but some of the spots we need to fill are similar.
Hitting on these positions and finding a solid player doesnāt matter what round you get them in, but some obviously have better skills and pedigree than others, with less risk in footballās biggest guessing game. Once again, Iām going to be clear that the team is NOT settling for a player just because they didnāt get the cream of the crop, but rather players similar to the consensus best player to choose at pick 18 in the draft.
**Want: Safety ā Dillon Thieneman (Oregon)**
**Draft: Cole Wisniewski (Texas Tech)**
Letās get this out of the way right off the bat. The Vikings need a smart, versatile safety to run Brian Floresā scheme who can see the entire field and set the defense on the back end. may come back for one more year, but the future may be now.
Thieneman was seen as a 2nd round pick for quite a while until he started gaining steam based on film and shot up boards. If he gets out of the Vikingsā reach, they may need to see who else is available at a different position and fill that role, and save safety for later. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is also in that vicinity to be picked at 18, but he seems to jump between the 1st Round and the 2nd on most expertsā opinions.
That may be a scenario where they trade back and get better value for the position. If they go a different position, they may take Wisniewski in the later rounds. He was a combine snub but has been on several Top-30 visits, including one with Minnesota. Maybe like Thieneman, heās a player who was overlooked, and teams see him as a late-round steal based on the tape.
Heās bigger than Smith and Thieneman, at 6ā3ā³and 219 pounds. In North Dakota, he had 8 interceptions two years ago that didnāt necessarily translate to Texas Tech, but he held his own in the tackling department. If Smith grinds out one last year, he would be a great person to bring along the younger talent.
**Want: DT ā Kayden McDonald (Ohio State)**
**Draft: Domonique Orange (Iowa State)**
Theyāre not āThe Purple People Eatersā or even āThe Wiliams Wall,ā but the interior is pretty solid due to great late-round drafting and going outside of the league. has become a solid interior run defender with strong push, and is set to become a well-known NFL name for his ability to sack quarterbacks and make tackles in the backfield.
and are great rotational players who splashed last year at times. The Vikings need a big man who makes it tough to move the line of scrimmage. McDonald should be there at 18, along with Clemsonās Peter Woods, but they should also be available later in the 1st, if not at the beginning of the 2nd.
If they trade back to snag one and miss out, they have a guy later in round 3 or 4 in Orange, also known as āBig Citrusā. Thatās a fun nickname! More than that, he can plug the middle and absorb double teams, which should free up everyone else to mind gaps and rush the passer. He doesnāt have pass-rush upside, but who cares if teams get so one-dimensional and frustrated because they canāt run on them?
Sep 6, 2025; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defensive lineman Domonique Orange (95) celebrates after a play against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the second half at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
He is truly a player the Vikings might be targeting later in the draft, no matter what happens earlier on, and they can get him in, possibly even in the 5th round, if they donāt move back up into the 4th.
**Want: C ā Sam Hecht (Kansas)**
**Draft: Jake Slaughter (Florida)**
2026 is not a strong year for centers. There isnāt one seen as a 1st-round pick, and maybe not even one in the 2nd. Sam Hect is a solid technician at the position and doesnāt come with any injury baggage like Connor Lew from Auburn. Hecht could be snagged in the 3rd round or beyond, and no one would blink an eye.
jumped in mid-season and was pretty solid at the position, with playing well when given the chance. If they want a true center, they may take Hecht and have him compete with the others, or give him time to develop. If they go a different direction or he gets snagged before they pick, the team could look to Slaughter.
The top three centers are ranked very similarly, and some say they could go in any order depending on team schemes. If the run doesnāt start until late, the team could steal one in the 6th or 7th Round, where, if they quickly develop into a starter, the team could look like drafting wizards. They could realistically think they already have the position covered, but competition is never a bad thing for a team or its players.
**Want: RB ā Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame)**
**Draft: Emmett Johnson (Nebraska)**
I never say never, but the chances of getting Love in the natural progression of the draft or by trading up are becoming less than 5% at this point if the experts are reading the tea leaves correctly. Love is generational, and the drop-off to the next level is significant, including his main backup, Jadarian Price. Why didnāt I name him?
He should be available at the 49th pick and maybe even in the 3rd at picks 82 and 97. I donāt think he fits the team scheme at this point for the type of player they need. is getting old by running-back standards, and is better known as a power back. Johnson is the quick twitch, make a cut, or even three, and get loose for a long run.
Nov 22, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers running back Emmett Johnson (21) jumps to avoid a tackle from cornerback A.J. Harris (4) during the first quarter at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OāHaren-Imagn Images
Heās not going to bowl people over. Heās going to outmaneuver them and leave them grasping at air. He had a great number coming out of Nebraska, both on the ground and through the air. Having a threat coming out of the backfield where teams have to keep an eye on Jefferson, Addison, and TJ Hockenson can open up underneath routes for a speedy, shifty guy like Johnson to cause major damage catching or on delayed handoffs.
He gives or a great option to check down to or use in run/pass option plays. Being from Minneapolis and a Vikings fan who recently said the team better draft him or pay for it for the next ten years is a nice sense of professional confidence that teams appreciate when you can back it up.
Those who remember having David Palmer as a change-of-pace running back will appreciate a player like Johnson, who makes the offense that much more dangerous. He needs to improve his pass protection if he wants to be a serious rotational player or starter, as OāConnell covets that skill.
**Want: CB ā Mansoor Delane (LSU)**
**Draft: (San Diego State)**
Delane may be a target of the team, and he could reach them naturally, or the Vikings could trade up if itās just a few picks. Letās say heās gone, and the other corner choices donāt fit . They decide they can find a player in the 2nd Round, and that player is Johnson.
Sep 6, 2025; Pullman, Washington, USA; San Diego State Aztecs cornerback Chris Johnson (1) celebrates after a play against the Washington State Cougars in the first half at Gesa Field at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images
He is a bigger corner, which Flores likes in his system. At 6ā0ā³ and 193 pounds, he fits the bill and is a solid tackler, which means runners donāt get far, and receivers either get the pass knocked away or are stopped in their tracks. Getting him at 49 in the 2nd Round might be tough, but if heās there, he might be the best player available.
Last year, the team flirted with having only two viable starters, and the backups were either flops or questionable if they had to start regularly due to injury. They made it through unscathed, but they need an infusion of youth and true depth to lean on. Johnson can be that guy and should be able to play inside or outside when needed. They canāt risk it a second year, hoping no major injuries happen and thereās a big drop-off.
Q&A
Who are the Vikings' top draft targets for safety and defensive tackle?
The Vikings are targeting safety Dillon Thieneman and defensive tackle Kayden McDonald in the upcoming draft.
What happens if the Vikings miss out on their preferred draft picks?
If the Vikings miss out on their preferred players, they may pivot to other positions or trade back to secure better value.
What is the significance of the Vikings' draft strategy this year?
The Vikings' draft strategy is crucial as they aim to fill key positions and ensure they have a solid backup plan to address any unexpected changes.
How does Brian Flores' scheme influence the Vikings' draft choices?
Brian Flores' scheme requires a smart, versatile safety, which influences the Vikings' focus on players like Dillon Thieneman who can effectively run the defense.
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Sep 6, 2025; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defensive lineman Domonique Orange (95) celebrates after a play against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the second half at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
Nov 22, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers running back Emmett Johnson (21) jumps to avoid a tackle from Penn State Nittany Lions cornerback A.J. Harris (4) during the first quarter at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OāHaren-Imagn Images
Sep 6, 2025; Pullman, Washington, USA; San Diego State Aztecs cornerback Chris Johnson (1) celebrates after a play against the Washington State Cougars in the first half at Gesa Field at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images