4 Biggest Draft Needs for the Vikings in 2026
The 2026 offseason arguably is the biggest one of the Kevin O’Connell/Kwesi Adofo-Mensah tenure.
Assuming the Vikings miss out on the playoffs, both the head coach and general manager will head into next year on warmer seats with a need to see big improvements during the 2026 season.
Particularly in the case of Adofo-Mensah, he needs to find a way to get players in the draft that contribute to the roster immediately. Heading into the offseason, Minnesota has a few major needs in that 2026 NFL Draft. Here is a look at a few of those biggest position needs.
1. Cornerback
Heading into the offseason, the Vikings have just two cornerbacks under contract: Byron Murphy and Isaiah Rodgers. Murphy is suited best by playing as a nickle cornerback, but he has been forced into more of a boundary role because of offseason flops like Jeff Okudah, and the departures of Akayleb Evans and Dwight McGlothern.
The Vikings really need to find a boundary cornerback who can start immediately this spring. There are a couple names who could fit that bill in this draft class, namely Mansoor Delane of LSU. This position should be at the top of Minnesota’s draft board in the first round.
2. Running Back
There is an argument for a running back being selected in the first round by the Vikings this spring, but I would push back a bit against that sentiment.
There are a couple reasons behind that. Firstly, the Vikings have proven that they are not entirely willing to lean on a running game throughout the Kevin O’Connell era. Even with J.J. McCarthy and Max Brosmer making their first NFL starts this season, the Vikings rank 30th in carries per game this year.
The most frustrating part of that leads into my second quarrel with taking a running back too early in this year’s draft. On the few occasions where the Vikings have run the ball with Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason in the backfield, it’s worked.
The Vikings are averaging 4.6 yards per carry this season, which ranks 11th in the NFL. That does make it enticing to see what could happen if Minnesota did commit to a young running back to completely revamp their offense, but they would have to actually use that running back in order to make the pick worth it.
There is a chance that Aaron Jones is a cut candidate next spring though, so the Vikings should at least bring in somebody through the draft this spring.
3. Safety
Camryn Bynum’s departure this past spring already left questions at the safety position for the Vikings. Now, Harrison Smith more than likely is set to enter retirement at the end of his age-36 season, leaving further questions as to who will start.
Obviously, Josh Metellus is still around, but he’s been forced to play more as a true free safety or nickel corner rather than the rover, do-it-all role that he has thrived in since vaulting into the starting lineup in 2023.
If the Vikings want to continue utilizing Metellus in that rover role with Theo Jackson in Camryn Bynum’s old role, they need to find themselves another safety this offseason. It probably won’t happen in the first round unless Caleb Downs falls all the way to the Vikings, but someone like Dillon Thieneman out of Oregon could be an interesting target in Day 2 if the junior were to declare for this spring’s draft.
4. Linebacker
Some fans might half-sarcastically say quarterback needs to be on this list, but even if J.J. McCarthy doesn’t improve, the more likely option is bringing in a veteran bridge QB to compete for the starting job. Tight end also could have a place here if T.J. Hockenson becomes a cap casualty.
One position that really needs to be addressed this offseason though is the linebacker spot. Eric Wilson is on a one-year deal in 2025, and Ivan Pace’s pretty alarming regression has allowed him to take over the starting role.
Wilson has seen a breakout year at the age of 31, but it’s probably smart to get another young player into that room, particularly with some of the injury troubles Blake Cashman has gone through. It’s not an urgent need, but prospects like Anthony Hill Jr. out of Texas or Jake Golday out of Cincinnati could be interesting fits in Brian Flores’ defense in the middle rounds.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
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