2026 Mock Draft Tracker: The Latest Vikings Predictions From the Experts

The Vikings have been in offseason mode for nearly a month now after a disappointing 9-8 season. Minnesota enters the offseason with plenty of needs to fill, but leading up to the draft in late April, that list will narrow as the Vikings add players through free agency and potential trades.

As the NFL world moves through the next three months to the draft, plenty of mock drafts will hit the landscape, projecting who Minnesota will take with the No. 18 overall pick. Below is a running tracker of notable mock drafts and who they have the Vikings selecting in the first round.

3/12 - FOX Sports - Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

FOX Sports' Bucky Brooks sees the Vikings taking Dillon Thieneman, who continues to pop up as an increasingly popular pick at No. 18. Brooks says Thieneman is a safety with "outstanding ball skills" and a "linebacker-like" tackling ability. He notes that the Oregon safety would be a perfect fit to fill Harrison Smith's role in Brian Flores.

3/9 - The Athletic - Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

College football insider Nick Baumgardner sees Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman as a "perfect fit" for Brian Flores' defense. Baumgardner writes that the Oregon safety is a "disciplined back-end ball hawk who isn’t afraid to thump in the box."

3/9 - PFF - Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

The consensus continues to solidify around the idea that Minnesota will go with a defensive back in the first round. PFF's Max Chadwick sees Clemson corner Avieon Terrell as an ideal fit to help the Vikings' secondary.

3/4 - The Athletic - Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

Draft expert Dane Brugler has the Vikings taking Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman at No. 18 in his latest mock draft. After a strong combine, Brugler notes that Thieneman solidified himself as a mid-first round pick.

3/3 - NFL.com - Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

Like Zierlein on Monday, NFL Network's Charles Davis sees Minnesota taking Dillon Thieneman at No. 18. Davis said Thieneman could be the "perfect replacement" for Harrison Smith, if he decides to retire.

3/3 - ESPN - Caleb Banks, DT, Florida

In his post-combine mock draft, ESPN's Jordan Reid sees the Vikings staying put at No. 18 and landing their Javon Hargrave replacement in Florida DT Caleb Banks. Reid calls Banks a "towering presence" that could give Minnesota a "key player inside."

3/2 - NFL.com - Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

In his second mock of the season, NFL Network's Lance Zierlein has the Vikings taking ultra-athletic Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman at No. 18 overall. Zierlein hailed Thieneman's combine performance as "incredible," noting that it will be "hard for the Vikings not to see the next Harrison Smith" in the Oregon safety.

3/2 - PFF - Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

Trevor Sikkema has the Viking sticking at No. 18 and taking corner Jermod McCoy. The Tennessee corner didn't work out at last week's combine as he's still working back from an ACL injury that forced him to miss all of the 2025 season. Despite the injury concerns, Sikkema says McCoy is "an elite cover cornerback and worthy of a first-round pick if healthy."

3/1 - TRADE - Yahoo - Caleb Banks, DT, Florida

In their latest mock, the draft analysts at Yahoo see the Vikings trading down six spots in the first round and taking a defensive tackle. Coming out of the Combine, Yahoo sees Minnesota executing a trade with the Cleveland, to trade down to No. 24 to select Florida DT Caleb Banks. Noting that Banks "isn't a finished product," the Yahoo analysts say Minnesota takes a swing on a guy who is "a lot more polished than most designated projects and was incredibly disruptive in the three games he played this season."

2/24 - NFL.com - Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

In his second mock of draft season, NFL.com's Bucky Brooks sees the Vikings taking Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in the first round. Brooks says McNeil-Warren is a "long, rangy playmaker" and an "ideal fit" for Brian Flores' defense.

2/24 - The Athletic - Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

The Athletic's college football experts got together to put together the publication's latest mock draft, in which they have the Vikings taking Clemson corner Avieon Terrell at No. 18. Terrell's numbers don't jump off the chart, but The Athletic's Scott Dochterman explains why, saying that "opponents smartly stayed away from him." Despite that, he still brock up nine passes and forced five fumbles.

"He makes some plays that are reminiscent of former LSU safety Tyrann Mathieu, only Terrell can do it at corner," wrote Dochterman.

2/24 - ESPN - Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

After projecting the Vikings to take LSU's Mansoor Delane in his first mock, ESPN's Mel Kiper is sticking with the secondary but has Minnesota taking Dillon Thieneman at No. 18 overall. Kiper calls the Oregon safety a 'Harrison Smith clone' that would be a "seamless fit in the Vikings' defense."

"Thieneman might not have Smith's 6-foot-2 size (he's 6-foot), but he reads the QB well and is savvy," wrote Kiper. "That matters a lot in defensive coordinator Brian Flores' defense, which asks a lot of rookies. Plus, Thieneman has versatility to move around the alignment, is a force against the run and had a six-INT season at Purdue back in 2023 before transferring to Oregon."

2/19 - NFL.com - Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

Considering the Vikings' run game issues the past couple of seasons, this would be a home run pick at No. 18. The problem is whether Love falls that far or not. NFL Network's Charles Davis has that happening in his first mock of the season, noting that the Vikings "cannot pass on a top-three talent in this year’s draft."

2/19 - The Athletic - Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

The individual beat writers over at The Athletic got together and put together their firs beat writer mock of the season. At No. 18, Alec Lewis has the Vikings taking Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods, the first time he's popped up on our tracker this year. Woods registered five sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss in three years at Clemson, while adding 54 total pressures. In his first two seasons he had PFF defensive grades of 87.6 and 83.7 but saw a dip last year down to 72.5.

2/17 - NFL.com - Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

Daniel Jeremiah has the Vikings taking a new name at No. 18. Jeremiah says Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman is an "excellent replacement for Harrison Smith." The versatile safety grabbed six interceptions in 2023 as a freshman. He had the second-highest PFF defensive and coverage grades in the nation in 2025.

For more on this mock, and how Thieneman would fit, click here.

2/11 - ESPN - Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

In his first mock since the Super Bowl, ESPN's Field Yates has the Vikings taking cornerback Brandon Cisse with the No. 18 overall pick. Cisse played one year at South Carolina after two seasons at North Carolina State. In his lone season in the SEC, Cisse recorded seven pass breakups, which was tied for third-most in the conference. Yates wrote that Cisse is "one of the most unique prospects in this class, as he's a cornerback with uncommon strength and athletic ability."

For more on this mock, and how Cisse would fit, click here.

2/9 - NFL.com - TRADE - Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

Now you know we've really reached mock draft season, when we've got mocks projecting first round trades. NFL.com's Chad Reuter has the Vikings dropping back five picks and still landing a top cornerback prospect. Reuter says that while Terrell doesn't possess the biggest size, his "aggressive nature and ball skills" might remind Vikings fans of Antoine Winfield.

We're not always going to cover the later round picks of those mocks that do decide to get a little wild and go past the first-round. However, since it's the day after the Super Bowl, why not? Reuter has the Vikings taking Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. in the second-round, Then in the third-round Minnesota lands Clemson wide receiver Antonio Williams, Nebraska running back Emmett Johnso, and Michigan defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny.

2/9 - Yahoo! - Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

Tice and McDonald once again have the Vikings selecting Ohio State interior defensive lineman Kayden McDonald. The duo say that McDonald "would make a lot of sense as a true nose tackle talent" and that he would help create "more opportunities for Flores to put his players in the best positions possible for them to break games."

2/9 - CBS Sports - Colton Hood, CB Tennessee

CBS' Mike Renner is our second analyst to have the Vikings taking Hood at No. 18 overall. Renner likes Hood's physicality at the line of scrimmage and says that he "boasts some of the best deep speed at the position in the class."

2/9 - FOX Sports - Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Tulane

With his first mock of the season, FOX's college football analyst Joel Klatt has the Vikings going safety in the first round. Klatt sees the Vikings landing Tulane safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren at Nol. 18, saying, "McNeil-Warren was probably the top non-power conference player this season, logging nine forced fumbles and five interceptions in his career"

2/9 - McShay Report - Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

In his 2.0 mock, former ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay has the Vikings going corner and taking Colton Hood. The Tennessee corner had three interceptions in three years across three different schools during his collegiate career. He recorded eight passes defended in the SEC in 2025. McShay says that while Hood is still "developing his consistency when the ball is in the air," the young corner has all the traits, "length, speed, hip fluidity, foot quickness, toughness, competitiveness, and confidence," to be a top corner.

2/9 - The Athletic - Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner has Minnesota snapping up LSU's Mansoor Delane with the No. 18 overall selection in the draft. "Delane is one of the most competitive on-ball coverage players in this class and was among the most disruptive man-coverage corners in the country the past two seasons," wrote Baumgardner in his first post-Super Bowl mock draft.

2/2 - NFL.com - Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

In his first mock of the season, NFL.com's Lance Zierlein sees Minnesota selecting Clemson corner Avieon Terrell with the No. 18 pick. Zierlein says Terrell is a "sticky, man-cover cornerback" who has the ability to bother receivers at the catchpoint.

2/2 - PFF - Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

Minnesota could rework their defensive line again this offseason with Jalen Redmond shining and veterans Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave not exactly living up to billing. Enter Ohio State's Kayden McDonald at No. 18, predicts PFF's Trevor Sikkema, who writes that McDonald is "one of the best run defenders in the country."

2/2 - ESPN - Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Tulane

ESPN's Matt Miller is the latest to see McNeil-Warren taken by Minnesota at 18, though he does note there is a "good chance" the Tulane safety doesn't fall that far.

"He has all the traits you look for in a safety at 6-foot-3 with great length to eliminate passing windows and the speed to match up down the field," wrote Miller. "And with eight interceptions over the past three seasons, McNeil-Warren has shown a consistent ability to make plays on the ball."

1/30 - NFL.com - Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Tulane

Eric Edholm is the second writer to have the Vikings select safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren with the No. 18 pick. The Tulane product could be seen as the replacement for Harrison Smith, if he indeed retires after 14 legendary seasons. Edholm writes that even if Smith returns, Minnesota "must upgrade" their safety position this offseason. Getting McNeil-Waren at 18 could

We don’t yet know ifwill return for another season, but either way, the Vikings must upgrade at safety. I’ll bet Brian Flores will love watching the highly impactful McNeil-Warren meet ball-carriers and make plays all over the field.

1/29 - The Athletic - Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

The running game has long been an issue in Kevin O'Connell's offense. Well, The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner and Scott Dochterman have Minnesota selecting exciting Notre Dame back Jeremiyah Love in the first round to solve those run game issues. Baumgardner and Dochterman call Love slipping to No. 18 "the steal of our mock" but not an entirely "unimaginable outcome."

The Vikings need help in the backfield, and Love could enter the Bijan Robinson-Jahmyr Gibbs-Christian McCaffrey tier before long.

1/28 - NFL.com - Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

In his first mock of the year, Bucky Brooks has the Vikings going down the Mansoor Delane route. Brooks says Delane's "versatility, instincts and awareness" make him the perfect fit for Brian Flores' defense.

1/28 - Yahoo! - Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

Yahoo once again has the Vikings taking a defensive tackle in the first round, this time it's Ohio State's Kayden McDonald. The 6-foot-3, 326-pound nose tackle registered nine sacks and 65 total tackles for the Buckeyes in 2025.

1/26 - NFL.com - Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Tulane

NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah unveiled his first mock of the season, and with it he has the Vikings filling a potential Harrison Smith-sized hole in their defense, taking Tulane safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. Jeremiah writes that he is high on the Tulane safety's "combination of size and explosive playmaking ability."

For more on this mock, and how McNeil-Warren would fit, click here.

1/21 - ESPN - Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

In his first mock of the season, ESPN's longtime draft expert Mel Kiper doesn't choose to diverge from the consensus and has Minnesota taking LSU corner Mansoor Delane. The LSU product brings "top-end ball skills and some really good coverage technique."

"Over the past two campaigns, Delane has six picks and 18 pass breakups. That's impact production, and coordinator Brian Flores would love to get a player such as Delane into his unit," continued Kiper.

For more on this mock, and how Delane would fit, click here.

1/19 - Yahoo! - A’Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon

NFL insiders Nate Tice and Charles McDonald go down a different path than everybody else so far, having the Vikings taking a top defensive tackle talent at No. 18. Listed at 6-foot-3, 330-pounds, Oregon defensive tackle A'Mauri Washington would provide Minnesota with a sizable young presence in the interior of their defensive line.

"Washington has emerged as another defensive tackle in this class who can hold the point of attack in the run game and bring some dynamic ability to get into the opponent’s backfield," wrote Tice and McDonald. "Pairing him with Jalen Redmond could create a fun interior duo that can be the tip of the spear for the Vikings’ defense for years to come."

1/15 - The Athletic - Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

In his first mock of the offseason, The Athletic's Dane Brugler has Minnesota grabbing Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq with the No. 18 overall pick.

"Sadiq is a big, freaky athlete with the adjustment skills to make difficult catches look routine and the mentality to be an asset as a blocker," wrote Brugler. "NFL teams believe he has the talent to be a top-10 pick."

For more on this mock, and how Sadiq would fit, click here.

1/12 - CBS Sports - Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

Mike Renner has Minnesota taking "versatile coverage weapon" Clemson corner Avieon Terrell in the first round. Terrell is one of a trio of corners heavily linked already with the Vikings.

"He can play in the slot, outside, zone or man -- you name it," continues Renner. "He's a great tackler and exceptional at filling in the run game. He's also recorded a ridiculous eight forced fumbles over the past two seasons."

1/12 - Pro Football Focus - Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

Max Chadwick over at PFF also has the Vikings taking Terrell in the first round. With Brian Flores returning as the team's defensive coordinator, loading up on defense would help an already-elite unit continue to improve.

"He’s the younger brother of Falcons corner A.J. Terrell, who was second among all cornerbacks in PFF grade back in the 2021 season," notes Chadwick.

1/12 - SI.com - Kenyon Sadiq – TE, Oregon

On SI's Nick Merriam also has the Vikings taking Sadiq with their No. 18 overall pick. With the potential for Minnesota to either release or trade T.J. Hockenson this offseason, grabbing Sadiq would give J.J. McCarthy a "physical target over the middle of the field to develop with," writes Merriam.

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