5 Draft Clues the Vikings Have Already Revealed
It’s nearly showtime for the Minnesota Vikings and the NFL draft, getting underway from Pittsburgh on April 23rd. The Vikings will have a 1st-Rounder, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and three 7ths this go-round, hoping to nail a draft for the first time in five or six years. Thankfully, the team has already provided some clues about how it will proceed.
Minnesota has already tipped its hand a bit.
Most expect the Vikings to select a defensive player at Pick No. 18. Here’s what clues suggest overall.
The Signals Pointing to Minnesota’s Most Likely Draft Path
Rob Brzezinski is about to run his first-ever drafts as the head boss.
Clue No. 1: A Center Is Likely on the Way
Blake Brandel may start out of the gate at center in 2026, but head coach Kevin O’Connell wasn’t shy last week about expressing his fascination with rookie centers.
“I do think that’s a position that’s got some really unique names in the draft,” O’Connell opined about youngsters at the position.
Couple that quote with the fact that 2025 starting center Ryan Kelly retired, and you have a nifty draft clue.
Clue No. 2: Vikings Have Met with Multiple Day 2 WRs
Throughout the draft lead-up process, the Vikings have met with WRs Antonio Williams (Clemson), Ted Hurst (Georgia State), and De’Zhaun Stribling (Ole Miss). That’s not an accident.
The club’s third wide receiver from the last couple of seasons, Jalen Nailor, left town for Las Vegas in March, and the only other option at WR3 would be Tai Felton, a rookie who barely played last year. Remember, O’Connell is fully in charge of the Vikings, and by trade, he’s an offensive thinker.
Minnesota is meeting with so many Day Two wide receivers that it might be strange if it doesn’t draft one by the end of Round 4.
Clue No. 3: Brzezinski Wants the Best Player Available
Brzezinski told Vikings.com last week, “I think it’s the biggest reason why a lot of players fail in this business. You force a need. And for a lot of reasons it doesn’t work out, and you pass on a player of higher ability for a position of need… it may be old school, but if you get your board set right, and look for the best player available, I think it’s going to lead you down the right path.”
While many anticipate the Vikings drafting a defensive tackle or defensive back in the first round, Brzezinski suggests they may be considering other positions, leaving all options open.
Embracing BPA could leave the Vikings with these options, depending on how wacky the board falls:
- Caleb Downs (S, Ohio State)
- Dillon Thieneman (S, Oregon)
- Jermod McCoy (CB, Tennessee)
- Jordyn Tyson (WR, Arizona State)
- Kenyon Sadiq (TE, Oregon)
- Makai Lemon (WR, USC)
- Mansoor Delane (CB, LSU)
- Monroe Freeling (OT, Georgia)
- Olaivavega Ioane (IOL, Penn State)
- Spencer Fano (OT, Utah)
Clue No. 4: Jonathan Greenard Is Not Untouchable
No Vikings executive or coach has called Greenard “untouchable” this offseason. O’Connell claimed he believes Greenard will be a part of the 2026 Vikings, but stopped short of ruling out a trade during the draft.
“Yeah, I expect him to be part of our team. I know there’s always conversations. There’s conversations this week. There’s conversations throughout the offseason, and we’ll continue to kind of attack things at the different phases. We’re getting ready to really jump heavily into draft meetings when we get back,” he said.
“But at the same time, we’re always going to try to do what’s best for our team and also what we think is best for each one of our individual players. And that’s an ongoing thing throughout every offseason.”
Trades often begin with statements from coaches like, “I expect him to be on our team.”
Clue No. 1: It’s Time for an RB
There’s a circumstantial case for this one.
Minnesota has met with Emmett Johnson (Nebraska), Jonah Coleman (Washington), and Demond Claiborne (Wake Forest), among other running backs, in the last month. And consider this stat:
RBs Drafted in First 4 Rounds by Vikings,
Since 2017:
2025: Zero
2024: Zero
2023: Zero
2022: Zero
2021: Zero
2020: Zero
2019: One
2018: Zero
2017: One
The Viking Age‘s Brad Berreman wrote this week, “As the draft fast approaches, the Vikings seem to be firmly in the market for a running back — as they should be. The question is what kind of draft capital will be invested in the position, but it surely won’t be their first-round pick unless Jeremiyah Love inexplicably falls a lot.”
The Vikings are meeting with prominent rookie tailbacks, and they’re overdue to draft one. Don’t overthink it.
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