🏈 Vikings NFL Draft Predictions 2026: Mock Draft Picks, Best Prospect Fits, Team Needs & More
With Harrison Smith potentially headed for retirement and two starting defensive linemen released after just one season, the Minnesota Vikings hold the No. 18 pick and need to inject youth into a defense that Brian Flores has schemed into one of the league's most aggressive units.
As part of our NFL draft predictions for every team, we break down the Vikings' full draft picks, biggest team needs, ideal prospect fits, mock draft projections, and our prediction for which player Minnesota will draft in the first round, which begins Thursday at 8 p.m. ET live on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network.
📊 Vikings draft picks 2026
See where the Vikings rank by the latest Super Bowl odds for every team.
| Round | Pick(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | No. 18 |
| 2 | No. 49 |
| 3 | No. 82, 97 |
| 4 | No pick |
| 5 | No. 158, 163 |
| 6 | No. 196, 198 |
| 7 | No. 234, 235, 244 |
🆘 Vikings team needs entering draft
We break down every team's projected NFL win totals with our best Over/Under picks by division.
- Team needs: OL, DL, S, WR, CB
- Key additions: Kyler Murray (QB), Johnny Hekker (P), James Pierre (CB)
- Key departures: Jonathan Allen (DL, Bengals), Javon Hargrave (DT, Packers), Ryan Kelly (C, retiring), Harrison Smith (S), Jalen Nailor (WR, Raiders), Jeff Okudah (CB)
Minnesota released Allen and Hargrave after just one season, leaving the interior defensive line significantly thinner than it was a year ago. Smith's potential retirement leaves a massive void at safety - the six-time Pro Bowler has been the heartbeat of this defense for 14 seasons. Kelly's retirement opens a hole at center, too, and the receiver depth took a hit when Nailor signed with Las Vegas after tying for the team lead in touchdown catches last season.
🏈 Vikings draft prospect fits
I asked NFL draft expert Rob Paul to pick the Vikings' best prospect fit in a dream scenario, their safest pick, and their best upside pick for Thursday:
| Pick type | No. 18 pick | Grade | Paul's take |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌟 Dream pick | Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee | 7.25 | If not for a torn ACL costing him the 2025 season, McCoy might be considered in the top 10; instead, he might fall down the board and potentially give Brian Flores' defense a Pro Bowl caliber man-corner with sweet feet |
| 🛡️ Safe pick | Dillon Thieneman, SAF, Oregon | 7.15 | This is one of the most common player-team fits in the draft because of Thieneman's versatility, range, and instincts, making him a natural Harrison Smith replacement |
| 🚀 Upside pick | Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon | 7.20 | Though not a major need, Minnesota might have a hard time passing on Sadiq if he's available because of his athletic upside, which makes him a perfect F tight end to complement TJ Hockenson |
More scouting reports & player profiles
➡️ Arvell Reese draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Jeremiyah Love draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Carnell Tate draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Jordyn Tyson draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
📝 Vikings mock draft consensus picks
I went through the latest mock drafts from other top experts across the industry and gathered their predictions for the Vikings' first pick in the 2026 NFL draft. Here's who they expect Minnesota to draft at No. 18:
| Source | Pick |
|---|---|
| Mel Kiper (ESPN) | Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon |
| Chad Reuter (NFL.com) | Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee |
| Mike Renner (CBS) | Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon |
| Todd McShay (The Ringer) | Denzel Boston, WR, Washington |
| Dane Brugler (The Athletic) | Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee |
| Nate Tice (Yahoo) | Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State |
Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman is the most popular pick for the Vikings with two projections from Kiper and Renner - and he's Paul's safe pick, too, as one of the most widely agreed-upon player-team pairings in this entire draft. Brugler aligns with Paul's dream scenario in McCoy, while the other three mocks each go a different direction across cornerback, receiver, and defensive tackle. Paul ultimately sides with Thieneman in his mock as the Harrison Smith heir apparent.
🔮 Vikings draft prediction 2026
See Rob Paul's expert NFL mock draft for projections and analysis of all 32 first-round picks.
Paul's pick at No. 18: Dillon Thieneman, SAF, Oregon
- Pro comparison: Faster Xavier McKinney
- Measurables: 6'0" | 201 lbs | 21 years old | RAS: 9.71
There may not be a more popular pick outside of Mendoza to the Raiders than Dillon Thieneman to the Minnesota Vikings. The All-American can be the Harrison Smith replacement on Brian Flores' defense, with his range and athleticism allowing him to play as a deep safety and his aggressiveness and take-on skills making him an impact player in the box. Thieneman's suddenness and route recognition make him a perfect playmaker on Flores' blitz-happy defense.
🏈 NFL draft predictions by team
See the live NFL draft odds for the top picks from the best NFL betting sites.
Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, I broke down every team's full draft capital, their biggest needs and ideal prospect fits, the latest mock draft consensus from industry experts, and our draft prediction for their first pick this week:
AFC East: Bills | Dolphins | Jets | Patriots
AFC North: Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers
AFC South: Colts | Jaguars | Texans | Titans
AFC West: Broncos | Chargers | Chiefs | Raiders
NFC East: Commanders | Cowboys | Eagles | Giants
NFC North: Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings
NFC South: Buccaneers | Falcons | Panthers | Saints
NFC West: 49ers | Cardinals | Rams | Seahawks
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