Nate Powalie’s Mock Draft for Vikings — Edition 1.0
As the off-season begins to heat up in Minnesota, that means the mock drafts are already starting to fire.
My name is Nate Powalie. An Ohio resident and Vikings supporter. This is the first edition of my mock draft to boost the Minnesota Vikings.
A pre-2026 edition by our own Josh Frey can be found here.
This will be a raw draft. All picks in order. No trades. But enough chat.
The First Mock Draft of 2026 from Nate Powalie
This is Nate Powalie’s Minnesota Vikings 2026 Mock Draft – Edition 1.0.
Round 1, Pick no. 18 – Mansoor Delane, Cornerback, Louisiana State University
Right away, let’s address one of Minnesota’s squad’s more pressing needs. The secondary. While the first four are pretty good, Harrison Smith’s retirement means they need help. The first choice immediately addresses the need with Mansoor Delane. With a tall, lanky frame (6-1, 187), he’s a speed threat who can roam the field without much issue. And Delane has good hands to boot, tallying a pair of interceptions and 11 pass breakups in his senior year at LSU.
He has the versatility to play as a nickel corner in packages, and he can be a dynamite plug-and-play guy from day 1.
Round 2, Pick no. 49 – Kamari Ramsey, Safety, University of Southern California
As mentioned earlier, Harrison Smith is retiring once the off-season hits, so the safety position is going to have a hole to be filled in 2026. The Vikings immediately look that way in round 2 with USC Trojan Kamari Ramsey. A unique blend in the defensive secondary, Ramsey has the speed and strength of a linebacker, with the high-level football IQ and play recognition skills of a cornerback.
He did see more limited action from 2024 to 2025, but when he’s out on the field, he could fall under the umbrella of a Harrison Smith protege, if you will.
Nate Powalie’s Round 3, Pick no. 82 – Michael Trigg, Tight End, Baylor
Recently, tight end TJ Hockenson has dealt with some injury struggles, and Nate Powalie’s endorsement leads to selecting Michael Trigg from Baylor. Trigg broke out nicely in 2025, tallying 50 catches for 694 yards and six receiving touchdowns.
At 6-4, 240 pounds, he has a wiry frame for a tight end. One question mark, as he develops, is how he can build upon his repertoire as a blocker in assignments. But he should pair nicely with Hockenson as he develops in the Minnesota scheme.
Nate Powalie’s Round 3, Pick no. 97 – Jadarian Price, Running Back, Notre Dame
While he might not have been the feature back the past three years at Notre Dame, don’t discredit the abilities of Jadarian Price. He set a personal best in rushing touchdowns as a junior in 2025 (11), and also put some new collegiate career bests in receptions (six) and receiving yards (87).
To me, his play style almost looks like a hybrid of Darren Sproles and Alvin Kamara. He’s a very creative and elusive running back. His hands are already solid, and as he continues to grow in the league, he can build more repertoire on his receiving skills. A sneaky good late-round 3 pick.
Nate Powalie’s Round 5, Pick no. 158 – Logan Jones, Center, Iowa
This guy is a true stud. A two-time winner of the Rimington Trophy for best collegiate offensive center, Logan Jones from Iowa, was someone who anchored one of the best offensive lines in the country over the past couple of seasons. He can be an immediate boost to an offensive line that has seen its fair share of question marks over recent memory.
Nate Powalie’s Round 7, Pick no. 232 – Evan Johnson, Cornerback, Brigham Young University
Getting toward the end, and another pick toward the defensive backfield. Evan Johnson could be a sleeper late-day 3 pick. He broke out to the tune of 47 total tackles (two for loss), five interceptions, a sack, and eight pass break-ups. He could prove to be someone with late upside.
Round 7, Pick no. 235 – Cameron Robertson, EDGE, Southern Methodist University
Back on the clock three picks later, eh? Alright, let’s round out the edge with Cameron Robertson. A sort of unique build. 6-4, 260. The more action he sees, the better he gets. 52 tackles over 10 games in 2025. 10 for loss. Five sacks, too. He looks like he could mesh well with Dallas Turner.
Nate Powalie’s Round 7, Pick no. 239 – Barion Brown, Wide Receiver, Louisiana State University
The Vikings, in my mind, need someone as an explosive slot receiver. For a day-3 find, how about Barion Brown? 53 catches for 532 yards and a touchdown. I like this guy.
Round 7, Pick no. 242 – Collin Wright, Cornerback, Stanford
Collin Wright is a wiry cornerback. He plays as a leader and can develop nicely in the defensive backfield.
And that brings an end to Nate Powalie’s first edition of the mock draft. More may be coming in the future. Enjoy for now.
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