The Vikings’ Complete Draft Shopping List for 2026

Dustin Baker   |  

Apr 11, 2026

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The Minnesota Vikings aren’t far from the NFL Draft — 12 days — where they have nine picks on the menu and a new general manager, interim boss Rob Brzezinski, running the show. So, it’s time to look at the Vikings’ shopping list.

Minnesota’s 2026 draft menu is wide, with multiple roster spots in play.

Here’s what the club needs roster-wise and who’s available.

Six Positions Stand Out on Minnesota’s Pre-Draft To-Do List

Familiarize yourself with the men most likely to turn purple.

Center

Minnesota lost 2025 starter Ryan Kelly to retirement last month after the poor guy sustained three concussions in one season alone.

Now they need a new center, assuming Blake Brandel isn’t the long-term solution. Rounds 2 through 4 are likely the sweet spot.

Cornerback

The Vikings didn’t particularly “care” about cornerback depth last year, and they got away with it, as Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers stayed upright and healthy for all 17 games. That may not happen again.

Needing a credible youth fix at CB, Brzezinski probably needs a corner before the end of Round 4 to avoid a lottery ticket from Round 5, 6, or 7.

Defensive Tackle

Minnesota said goodbye to starting defensive tackles in March: Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. That’s a smoking-gun sign that they plan to draft a rookie.

The Vikings haven’t used 1st-Round draft capital on a DT in 13 years. For this section, they likely need one before the end of Round 3 for that man to trend as a promising starter.

Running Back

Speaking of draft droughts, Minnesota hasn’t drafted a productive running back early since 2019, when Alexander Mattison was selected. Before that, Dalvin Cook worked out pretty damn well.

This go-round, the Vikings need a running back who can perhaps watch and learn in 2026 behind Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason but be ready for the RB1 job in 2027. That leaves about a half-dozen options.

Safety

The safety spot is different than many positions. Startable safeties can be easier to find. That is — if the Vikings draft one in Round 4, well, that guy could be the starter before too long. It’s a long way of saying safety isn’t considered a premium position.

For example, in free agency, a team can sign a good safety for $8 million. The same caliber EDGE rusher might cost $20 million.

Before the end of Round 4, these are Minnesota’s rookie safety avenues.

Wide Receiver

There’s no more Jalen Nailor on the Vikings’ depth chart; he’s a Las Vegas Raider, who might even hold the WR1 job on Klint Kubiak’s team.

Without Nailor, Minnesota will be forced to turn to Tai Felton, a 2025 rookie, who played about as much on offense as a house cat takes baths in the tub. It’s unclear if the Vikings trust Felton as the WR3 in 2026. If they do, this section of the article may be moot.

Still, O’Connell and Co. are doing their homework on WRs, meeting with several that possess Round 2 and 3 draft stock. A new receiver is probably on the way.

It’s also worth noting that Minnesota hasn’t drafted a wide receiver in Round 2 since Sidney Rice in 2007. Maybe it’s time to take the plunge.

By Dustin Baker

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His debut thriller, The Motor Route , is out now. He ... More about Dustin Baker