The Vikings’ Firepower, The 2026 NFL Draft, and The Cost of a Bold Trade Up
So far, the Vikings’ firepower hasn’t been put to use. Put differently, Rob Brzezinski hasn’t pulled off a trade since taking over as the top decision maker in the front office (even with rumors swirling around Jordan Addison, Jonathan Greenard, and others).
The Vikings are moving into the 2026 NFL Draft with nine selections. Good chance, folks, that there’s some shuffling before it’s all said and done. The most valuable pick (by far) is Minnesota’s 1st, which comes in at No. 18. Does the team have enough extra ammo to jump up the board for a formidable talent? If so, how much would be needed?
The Vikings’ Firepower Going into 2026 NFL Draft
Consider a cluster of three players who are elite prospects and who fill positions of need in Minnesota:
- RB Jeremiyah Love
- S Caleb Downs
- LB Sonny Styles
On a yearly basis, high-end talent drops down the board. Based strictly on the current outlook, though, none of these players are going to be there at No. 18. Maybe that’s fine, resulting in a pivot toward an option such as Dillon Thieneman, the Oregon safety with a blistering forty time. Sitting back to let a tremendous talent fall has a ton of merit; patience and wisdom are rewarded in the draft.
Nevertheless, there are times when moving up is obviously the correct decision.
In what now feels like ancient history, the Vikings did business with the Ravens in the 2012 NFL Draft. Doing so was to choose a talented safety coming out of Notre Dame. His name was Harrison Smith and he seemed to have some snarl. How did that trade end up working out?
If, for instance, there’s strong conviction that one of the tumbling talents is special, then the Vikings could make a push up the board.
Keep things simple by highlighting the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 10. One of the aforementioned trio — Love, Downs, and/or Styles — is available and the Vikings want to climb. Consider how the number nerds quantify the chasm between the Vikings’ No. 18 pick and the Bengals’ No. 10 pick:
- Over the Cap: 298 Points
- Jimmy Johnson: 400 Points
- PFF: 0.2684 Points
Admittedly, those values are abstract and therefore tricky to understand. Making things concrete means noting that the Vikings’ No. 82 selection (3rd Round) is given more than enough value to bridge the numerical gap on OTC. For the Johnson chart, there would need to be No. 49 selection (2nd) to get the job done. Finally, PFF sees No. 82 as being a touch light whereas No. 49 would be an overpay.
So, trading is imprecise, somewhat of an art even if science is constantly applied. Whoever is constructing trades in the draft therefore needs to be comfortable with a biologist’s microscope and with the poet’s pen.
Clarifying a touch further would mean uplifting the Dallas Turner example, an aggressive move that has yet to pay off. Going from No. 23 to No. 17 meant sending over an added 3rd, 4th, and 5th. That’s a major win for Jacksonville based on the draft charts.
An important takeaway: teams will do silly things — at least as it relates to the draft chart insights — if a special player is out there.
Bringing all of that to bear on the consideration here means that the Vikings’ firepower is ample enough to jump up the board if there’s a desire to do so. What would be needed is No. 18 to partner with No. 49, No. 82, No. 97, and/or some of the picks later on. Whether the cost is worth it is an open debate, but Minnesota could certainly get frisky if there’s some boldness left in the front office.
Of the above listed players, Caleb Downs would be the best fit. Sending Cincinnati a 1st and 3rd to get Downs at No. 10 would be a massive win for Minnesota. Almost certainly, the trade cost would be higher.
The 2026 NFL Draft takes place from Thursday, April 23rd to Saturday, April 25th. The Minnesota Vikings are desperate for an excellent draft class.
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