🏈 Vikings NFL Draft Predictions 2026: Expert Mock Draft Picks, Team Needs, Best Fits & 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 tonight 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 tonight:
| 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 |
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📝 Vikings mock draft consensus picks
I went through the final mock drafts from 10 top experts across the industry and gathered their NFL mock draft consensus picks for the Minnesota Vikings' first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Here's who they expect Minnesota to draft:
| Expert | Pick |
|---|---|
| Mel Kiper (ESPN) | Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon (No. 18) |
| Peter Schrager (ESPN) | Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon (No. 18) |
| Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) | Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee (No. 18) |
| Lance Zierlein (NFL.com) | Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon (No. 18) |
| Todd McShay (The Ringer) | Peter Woods, DT, Clemson (No. 18) |
| Dane Brugler (The Athletic) | Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon (No. 18) |
| Mike Renner (CBS Sports) | Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon (No. 18) |
| Tice & McDonald (Yahoo) | Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State (No. 18) |
| Albert Breer (Sports Illustrated) | Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon (No. 18) |
| Rob Paul (Sportsbook Review) | Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon (No. 18) |
🎯 Vikings first position drafted
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Minnesota needs to replace Harrison Smith at safety, and the industry has been connecting Dillon Thieneman to the Vikings for weeks. Most draft experts project Thieneman at No. 18, making it the third-strongest consensus pairing in the entire draft behind Mendoza to the Raiders and Bailey to the Jets, and the market has clearly caught on with defensive back as the top pick before Round 1.
I broke down the latest NFL draft position odds for all 32 teams ahead of the first round.
🔮 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
One of the most popular player-team mock draft picks in the entire NFL draft, Dillon Thieneman can be the Harrison Smith replacement for Brian Flores' defense. Flores is the most blitz-happy coordinator in the league, and he needs a safety who can protect the backend with his range while still also being a willing downhill run defender. Thieneman has the versatility to line up all over, too, playing 53.5% of his snaps in the box at Oregon in 2025 but 71.2% of his snaps as a true free safety in two years at Purdue.
🏈 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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