How Week 15 needs to break for the Vikings' best possible draft pick

If the Vikings can't make the playoffs, the next best thing will be securing the highest draft pick possible.

Dec 7, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the second half at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images | Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

While a miracle path to the playoffs still exists, the more realistic outcome is that the Minnesota Vikings will miss the playoffs and be picking in the top half of the 2026 NFL Draft. Just how high will they pick?

If Minnesota isn't going to miraculously make the playoffs, losing out would bode well for the best possible pick in the first round of next year's draft. Knowing that, take a look at the teams the Vikings should be rooting for in Week 15.

Draft order	Record	Week 15	Preferred outcome	New record
1. NY Giants	2-11	vs. Washington	Loss	2-12
2. Las Vegas	2-11	at Philadelphia	Win	3-11
3. Tennessee	2-11	at 49ers	Win	3-11
4. Cleveland	3-10	at Chicago	Win	4-10
5. New Orleans	3-10	vs. Carolina	Win	4-10
6. Washington	3-10	at NY Giants	Win	4-10
7. NY Jets	3-10	at Jacksonville	Win	4-10
8. Arizona	3-10	at Houston	Win	4-10
9. Cincinnati	4-9	vs. Baltimore	Win	5-9
10. Atlanta (LAR)	4-9	at Tampa Bay	Win	5-9
11. Minnesota	5-8	at Dallas	Loss	5-9
12. Miami	6-7	at Pittsburgh	Win	7-7
13. Baltimore	6-7	at Cincinnati	Loss	6-8
14. Kansas City	6-7	vs. LA Chargers	Win	7-7

If everything happened perfectly, the top three picks would still belong to the Giants, Raiders, and Titans, but Minnesota would be in a three-way tie with Atlanta and Cincinnati, with all three only one game better than the teams picking 4-8: Browns, Saints, Commanders, Jets, and Cardinals.

Technically, Minnesota would be picking 10th in that scenario because they defeated Cincinnati and lost to Atlanta. That would give the Bengals the No. 9 pick, with Atlanta dropping to No. 11.

If the Bears beat the Browns in one of the early games on Sunday, the Vikings will be eliminated from playoff contention. At that point, winning will do nothing positive for Minnesota's draft positioning, so fans would be wise to root for good health, J.J. McCarthy development, and a loss. That's the best-case scenario at that point.

Remember, the Vikings want the highest pick possible if they're not in the playoffs. That's especially true if there's any merit to the idea of Joe Burrow asking the Bengals to trade him. If that happens, Minnesota will want the most valuable pick possible to include in a package for Burrow, assuming they'd have interest in going all-in for one of the NFL's best quarterbacks.

A pick inside the top 10 is still within reach for Minnesota, but going much higher is going to require the worst teams in the league winning some games down the stretch.