As I come down from the percocet-like euphoria that envelops my soul every year during the NFL Draft, I am jonesing for that next hit of dopamine. Full on dragon chasing. While nothing can come close to the most beautiful 3 days of the year, I’ll take my draft methadone in the form of grading every single pick my Minnesota Vikings made. An exercise we all know to be flawless and without any potential of coming back to haunt us. I mean when has making snap decisions on shit we can’t conclusively prove for years ever not worked out? I choose to look at it like believing in a deity. Sure, I cannot prove that I’m correct but you also cannot conclusively prove I’m wrong.
The Vikings made nine (9) selections in the 2026 NFL Draft. Let’s get into it.
Round 1 Pick 18 – Caleb Banks DT – Florida
I love this pick. Mostly because so many of the national draft ‘experts’ hate it and deem it a ‘reach’. They usually cite his injury history as the reason. I guess this is a world where HIPAA doesn’t exist and guys like Mel Kiper have the same medical information as the Vikings. I, shockingly, do not have this same information. I do, however, trust that the Vikings have done their proper due diligence. While not a perfect organization, over time, they have proved to me that they fall into the competency column of NFL ownership/front offices. With that assumption being made, Caleb Banks is a fantastic pick at 18. He’s an absolute freak and without any injury concerns, he’s a top 10 pick. There is certainly some risk you take on here but he isnt there for you to take without it. I reiterate, I love this pick.
Grade: A-
Round 2 Pick 19 – Jake Golday LB – Cincinnati
I also love this pick. Might need to find another verb because this is a developing theme. My lacking vocabulary aside, Jake Golday at this spot fucking rules. I’ve seen a lot of Andrew Van Ginkel comparisons and while I think much of that is just lazy ass ‘oh he’s another athletic linebacker who is also white’ it doesn’t mean it’s totally incorrect. He is those things. He’s also not. Stuff can be two things. Golday is an off ball linebacker who can function as an edge while AVG is an edge who can function as an off ball linebacker. I’m incredibly excited to see how Brian Flores uses Golday. He has the physical talent to be deployed in numerous ways. If he has the mental faculties to master them all, skies the limit, if not, he’s still probably going to be a solid traditional linebacker. High floor high ceiling type guy. Perfect for a second round selection.
Grade: 9.2 out of 10
Round 3 Pick 18 – Domonique Orange DT – Iowa State
BIG FUCKIN CITRUS. That dope ass nickname aside, this dude can ball. He’s a massive human who shouldn’t be able to move the way he does. Iowa State used him, and all of their defensive line, as a people eater. Occupy as many people as possible for backers to get free run. It doesn’t lend itself to box score scouting but is wildly important. Flores’ defense needs players like this, open up the A or B gap for blitzing linebackers to make the splash plays. Seemingly something they missed last season after inexplicably dumping Harrison Phillips to the Jets. Orange had 1 sack during his time at ISU. That’s more of a product of the system they ran. Guy has the strength and quickness to potentially develop into more than just a space eater. We will see what they ask of him but this is a fantastic addition mid round 3.
Grade: 4 out of 5 Williams’ Walls
Round 3 Pick 33 – Caleb Tiernan OT – Northwestern
Your initial thought might be, why are they taking a Tackle this early? Isnt that position settled?? Sure, for now. Christian Darrisaw is great, when healthy. Brian O’Neill is 31 and in the final year of his contract. I thought they would have worked out an extension by now for O’Neill, and very well still could, but this position is not as solidified as it may appear. Caleb Tiernan is a big big boy. Coming in at 6’8” and 323 lbs. He also offers solid technique. His biggest knock is short arms. The Vikings may want to develop him as depth or an eventual RT but a move to guard isnt out of the question. They dont have a need there either but it is worth noting that they can get out of RG Will Fries’ contract after this season. Good value here for a solid player.
Grade: Pass/Fail – Pass
Round 3 Pick 34 – Jakobe Thomas S – Miami
This pick was acquired as a result of trading Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles (also received a 3rd rounder in 2027). I did not initially take this well. I still don’t feel great about it but I won’t let that influence how I view Thomas. Jakobe Thomas was, admittedly, not on my radar. After diving into some tape and learning a bit more about him, he probably should have been. I am in the camp of believing Harrison Smith will be returning but we are on borrowed time with our future Hall of Fame Safety, planning for the future is a must. This felt like the right time to address that. Thomas is really interesting to me because he thrived last year on the National Championship contending Hurricanes even though his previous stops were unremarkable. He is a very aggressive defensive back and with Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor reeking havoc in offensive backfields, this worked quite well. He seems to me like a player that wont elevate a subpar defense around him but can ball out when surrounded by stars. On paper, that sounds a lot like the Vikings presumed front seven next year.
Grade: .5 Jonathan Greenards out of 1
Round 5 Pick 19 – Max Bredeson TE/FB – Michigan
Look, this dude played like 20% of the Wolverine’s offensive snaps last year (I don’t know this for sure but I’m confident I’m close). He’s a blocker through and through. He amassed a whopping 12 receptions over his entire collegiate career. This is their CJ Ham replacement. Round 5 seems high for that but after seeing MY QB 1 post the below, it may not have been early enough.
Grade: Two Thumbs Up
Round 5 Pick 23 – Charles Demmings CB – Stephen F. Austin
I am back on my love train bullshit. This kid rules. He comes from a small school so his production has to be weighted as such but he seems to have the proper mindset and athletic talent to be a real contributor going forward. It might take a couple seasons but even if he’s CB4 this year, I feel good about that room.
Grade: ☑️ +
Round 6 Pick 17 – Demond Claiborne RB – Wake Forest
I was beginning to get worried that the Vikings wouldn’t address the RB position after they balked at the opportunity in the first 5 rounds. No way there would be anyone available in the 7th, where they were scheduled to pick next. Smash cut to a trade up to the 6th round and those concerns were fully abated. Claiborne isn’t a complete back like Love but he’s got some juice. He brings the big play potential that the Vikings have been sorely lacking since Dalvin Cook graced the backfield. He’s not a bruiser or even an every down type guy but should thrive in a time share. If he learns how to pass protect, this could end up being an enormous steal.
Grade: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Round 7 Pick 19 – Gavin Gerhardt C – Cincinnati
Hand up, never heard of this guy. I immediately plugged his name into the PFF search bar and nothing came up. That’s fine. They brought him in on one of their 30 visits and apparently fell in love. Cool. Ya’ll do you. It’s round 7, nothing matters, fish don’t even use money.
Grade: 13/10 Would Pet
Final Draft Grade:
6 Who Fucking Knows out of 12
P.S. – Anyone who tells you their grades immediately after the draft matter is lying to you.
Baseball's Bastard Son 