The Vikings Have an Underrated Draft Class
Now that it has been a week, the Draft dust has started to settle a little bit. It will still be the primary talking point for a few weeks, as we enter the void that is May and June. The initial reaction wasn’t pretty for interim GM Rob Brzezinski and HC Kevin O’Connell, as many fans and analysts had Caleb Banks much lower on their board, mostly due to injury concerns. A very good Day 2 improved the initial analysis, which, coupled with some interesting Day 3 selections, bumped the Vikings’ grade.
Several Vikings Rookies Could Push for Real Roles Quickly
With more time to look at the players and the overall Draft class, I can comfortably say that the Vikings improved a lot, and the big picture is clearer as well. If we look at the past 5 Super Bowl champions and the teams in the Championship games in 2025, they all had a disruptor in the middle. Aaron Donald, Chris Jones, Jalen Carter, and Byron Murphy all helped lead their franchises to victories.
And, even though Jalen Redmond had a spectacular 2025 season, Caleb Banks has the potential to be one of these elite defensive tackles. Assuming the medical staff gave the green light, there’s a real possibility that we look back at this pick as a slam dunk.
Jake Golday was my favorite pick in this class. I’ve seen a lot of fans on social media comparing him to Andrew Van Ginkel, but to me, they are similar but opposites. While Gink is an edge rusher who also excels dropping into coverage, Golday is an off-ball linebacker who can excel as a blitzer.
With the possibility to learn from Cashman, Ginkel, and Wilson while being coached by Brian Flores, Golday can be a key player for the Vikings’ defense. And, if Golday impresses with his versatility, Dominique Orange does it with his ability as a role-defined player. He probably won’t see the field in passing situations, but he won’t leave it when teams are trying to run the ball, and Big Citrus dares teams to run over the middle.
Caleb Tiernan is arguably the only pick that no one wants to see on the field as a rookie. A safety pick, he will add much-needed depth in the offensive tackle position. There’s also a possibility that the Vikings give him snaps at either guard spot, as their super-sub, Blake Brandel, is likely to be the starting center. Tiernan can also be a future starter, considering that Brian O’Neill is scheduled to be a free agent in 2027.
Jakobe Thomas was the other pick that deviated from the Consensus Board, but he should fit this defense like a glove. He was highly productive in his lone season with the Miami Hurricanes, recording 5 picks and 3.5 sacks. A very versatile safety, he should make an early push to be a starter.
Max Bredeson was a weird pick to many, but it shows O’Connell’s commitment to improving the running game. Frank Smith, whom he brought from Miami to be the assistant head coach, used a fullback in 25% of the snaps, second only to the 49ers. As fullbacks don’t get used anymore, finding a true FB is very hard, and Bredeson was the best one in this Draft. If the Vikings plan to use heavier personnel, he’s a great option to fill C.J. Ham’s shoes.
Even though he’s a fifth-round pick, Charles Demmings has a clear path to an important role. He would be picked way higher if he played in the FBS, as he has the physical tools to be a starting cornerback in the NFL. His level of competition is the main problem, but holding his own during training camp can make him the primary backup in 2026 and maybe a starter as soon as 2027.
If you think Caleb Banks is a boom-or-bust player, meet Demond Claiborne. Over his final two seasons, he had 407 total carries, with 1956 yards and almost 5.0 per carry. He has that home-run threat that the Vikings’ running game has been lacking since prime Dalvin Cook, which is why the team selected him. But he also fumbled the ball 10 times, an absurd amount. If Claiborne can improve his ball security, his explosiveness can change this offense.
With their last pick, the team finally addressed the center position. I admit that I didn’t know Gavin Gerhardt before the Draft, but he’s a very experienced player with over 50 starts and 3000 snaps in college. He impressed the coaches during his Top30 visit, completing a full install with the coaching staff. With what should be an open competition at center, Gerhardt’s experience will give him a chance to challenge Blake Brandel.
The big picture that emerged after the Draft is a franchise tired of losing in the trenches. 2024’s defense was great against the run, but Phillips and Bullard’s ineffectiveness in pressuring the QB proved to be exploitable. Allen and Hargrave didn’t make the impact that the team envisioned, and the front got weaker against the run.
Big Citrus can help with the last problem, while Banks, if healthy, can form a strong, balanced duo with Jalen Redmond. Golday offers versatility and physicality in the front seven, while Thomas does the same in the backend. Offensively, the idea is that a better QB play will drastically improve what this team can do with the ball.
It may not have looked like it at the beginning, but the Minnesota Vikings are a better team now than they were a week ago.
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