he Minnesota Vikings currently hold 9 selections throughout the 7 rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft, and they could pull a fast one on the NFL.
- Round 1, Pick 18
- Round 2, Pick 49
- Round 3, Pick 82
- Round 3, Pick 97 (compensatory)
- Round 5, Pick 163 (via Eagles)
- Round 6, Pick 196 (via Colts)
- Round 7, Pick 234
- Round 7, Pick 235 (via Panthers)
- Round 7, Pick 244 (via Texans)
Most notably, Minnesota has 4 selections in the first 100 total of the draft. The popular opinion is that the Vikings will look to infuse their defense with young talent with the majority of the selections.
Leading the draft is interim GM Rob Brzezinski, whom the Vikings have confidence in. They could look to shock the world in the first round.
Vikings Could Go Tackle in 1st Round of 2026 NFL Draft
GettyCHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 08: J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates with Brian O’Neill #75 and Ryan Kelly #78 after a touchdown in the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on September 08, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
ESPN’s Benjamin Solak recently shared his opinion on where the Vikings could go at 18th overall, and it wasn’t the safety position.
“It’s a deep safety class with a few Day 2 options coordinator Brian Flores will love for their football IQ — USC’s Kamari Ramsey, TCU’s Bud Clark — so I wouldn’t mind the team passing on the position in Round 1.
That clears the Vikings to go for “best player available” at No. 18, which feels great. A tackle to provide insurance for Christian Darrisaw‘s health and Brian O’Neill‘s contract would be an excellent pick.”
Minnesota going tackle would certainly surprise. However, it would show just how tight the organization is sticking to its “best player available” appraoach.
Darrisaw played injured all year in 2025, and O’Neill isn’t getting any younger. He is also due a contract extension soon.
Minnesota Gets Major Message About Kyler Murray
GettyGLENDALE, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 16: Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals looks on during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at State Farm Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
Abhimanyu Chaudary of PFSN recently shared words from PFSN’s Jacob Infante on Football Debate Club.
“As much as I hate to say it as a Bears guy, I’m going to say Kyler Murray to the Vikings. I mean, I look at it like Minnesota went 9-8 last season with terrible quarterback play. J.J. McCarthy finished 37th in the NFL in PFSN’s QB Impact scoring.
Kyler, on a smaller sample size, finished 21st, and he graded 11th in 2024, so I think if he can stay healthy, with Kyler throwing to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson, I think that’s going to boost both Kyler and Minnesota’s offense. And they’re only paying him $1.3 million this year, too. They upgraded at quarterback for super cheap.”
It’s hard to argue with the logic, as Murray could be viewed as an immediate upgrade. It’s assumed that Murray will be the starter Week 1, which would immediately raise the floor of a Vikings offense needing to win now.
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