Vikings Players Who Could Be Demoted after the Draft
The Minnesota Vikings will add at least nine new players from the 2026 NFL Draft, barring trades, a significant jump from the number last year, when the purple team had just five picks entering the event. And because nine newcomers are on the way, some existing players may be demoted sooner rather than later.
Several Vikings could lose ground when the rookie class arrives.
Here’s a look at the players hoping to avoid demotions, listed in alphabetical order.
Current Minnesota Players Facing the Most Draft Pressure
Job security is at risk.
Blake Brandel | C
Ryan Kelly retired a few weeks ago, and the Vikings signed zero center replacements in free agency. For now, the starting job appears to belong to Brandel, though third-year center Michael Jurgens might contest that this summer.
But if the Vikings draft one of these men in the draft’s first four rounds, Brandel could be back to his do-everything OL role:
- Connor Lew (Auburn)
- Sam Hecht (Kansas State)
- Jake Slaughter (Florida)
- Logan Jones (Iowa)
- Parker Brailsford (Alabama)
It’s worth noting that Brandel improved each week last season at center in relief of Kelly.
Tai Felton | WR
Felton played 46 offensive snaps as a rookie, used primarily as a special teamer, which is fine, but most onlookers thought a 3rd-Round wideout would be used on offense. No cigar.
The Vikings didn’t re-sign Jalen Nailor, as the speedster vamoosed for Las Vegas, his hometown, to be the Raiders’ WR1 or WR2. That leaves Felton in a league of his own at WR3. There is no other wide receiver on the depth chart to even remotely compete for the WR3 job.
Still, if Minnesota drafts one of these men, Felton could be on notice, at least as far as the WR3 job is concerned:
- Makai Lemon (USC)
- Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana)
- Denzel Boston (Washington)
- Kevin Concepcion (Texas A&M)
- Chris Bell (Louisville)
- Chris Brazzell (Tennessee)
- Germie Bernard (Alabama)
- Zachariah Branch (Georgia)
- Antonio Williams (Clemson)
- Malachi Fields (Notre Dame)
- Elijah Sarratt (Indiana)
- Ted Hurst (Georgia State)
- Skyler Bell (UConn)
- Bryce Lance (North Dakota State)
- Deion Burks (Oklahoma)
- Ja’Kobi Lane (USC)
Minnesota met with Hurst from Georgia State this week.
Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins | DT
Like Nailor leaving for the Raiders, Ingram-Dawkins’s DT teammates, Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, found new homes with the Cincinnati Bengals and Green Bay Packers, respectively.
But just like Felton, if the Vikings draft one of these defensive tackles next month, Ingram-Dawkins may remain a reserve commodity:
- Peter Woods (Clemson)
- Kayden McDonald (Ohio State)
- Caleb Banks (Florida)
- Lee Hunter (Texas Tech)
- Christen Miller (Georgia)
- Domonique Orange (Iowa State)
- Gracen Halton (Oklahoma)
- Darrell Jackson Jr. (Florida State)
- Dontay Corleone (Cincinnati)
- Zane Durant (Penn State)
- Zxavian Harris (Mississippi)
- DeMonte Capehart (Clemson)
- Chris McClellan (Missouri)
- Kaleb Proctor (Southeastern Louisiana)
- Tim Keenan III (Alabama)
Ingram-Dawkins saw defensive action on roughly 250 snaps as a rookie, a worthwhile amount for a late-round rookie.
Zavier Scott | RB
Scott probably has the shakiest job security on the list. By trade, he’s a practice squader who was promoted to the active roster last year. That may not last long.
Minnesota has 31-year-old Aaron Jones back for another run, and Jordan Mason is tentatively expected to fill the RB1 job. Most fans agree that Kevin O’Connell’s team needs an early-round running back from the draft for the first time since the Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison days. All signs point to Minnesota acquiescing to the fans’ request.
If you see the Vikings draft one of these tailbacks, that could be the end of the road for Scott on the 53-man roster:
- Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame)
- Jadarian Price (Notre Dame)
- Mike Washington Jr. (Arkansas)
- Jonah Coleman (Washington)
- Emmett Johnson (Nebraska)
- Nick Singleton (Penn State)
- Demond Claiborne (Wake Forest)
- Kaytron Allen (Penn State)
- Kaelon Black (Indiana)
- Seth McGowan (Kentucky)
The Vikings have formally met with Washington Jr. and Johnson via pre-draft visit.
Jay Ward | S
If Harrison Smith retires — he probably would’ve announced that by now, so most assume Smith will be back for Year No. 15 — Ward’s job security will rocket to the heavens. Ward was surprisingly effective in 2025, even snatching Theo Jackson’s starting job in December.
But like all the men on this list, Ward must dodge the draft selection of one of these safeties:
- Caleb Downs (Ohio State)
- Dillon Thieneman (Oregon)
- Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (Toledo)
- A.J. Haulcy (LSU)
- Kamari Ramsey (USC)
- Genesis Smith (Arizona)
- Zakee Wheatley (Penn State)
- Jalon Kilgore (South Carolina)
- Bud Clark (TCU)
Thieneman is a massive draft darling for the Vikings at the moment. After you close this article, type into Google “NFL mock draft,” and we’re willing to bet that article connects Thieneman to Minnesota with the 18th pick.
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