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Vikings First Round NFL Draft Big Board: Live Look at MN's Top Options

These are the draft prospects to know for the Vikings at pick 18 (or after a trade down) on Thursday night.
Will Ragatz|
Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive back Dillon Thieneman poses on the red carpet before the 2026 NFL Draft at Point State Park.
Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive back Dillon Thieneman poses on the red carpet before the 2026 NFL Draft at Point State Park. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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Minnesota Vikings

The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft is underway in Pittsburgh.

The Vikings used the No. 18 pick in Thursday's opening round on Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks. Minnesota took Banks even though Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman was available, meaning the majority of the mock drafts got it wrong.

Below, we're tracking the top prospects that are even somewhat realistic options for the Vikings, making note as they come off the board. First, here are 13 players we ruled out with semi-confidence, which turned out to be correct, before the draft even started.

  • Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (DRAFTED NO. 1)
  • Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame (DRAFTED NO. 3)
  • Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State (DRAFTED NO. 5)
  • Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State (DRAFTED NO. 7)
  • David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech (DRAFTED NO. 2)
  • Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami (DRAFTED NO. 15)
  • Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (DRAFTED NO. 10)
  • Spencer Fano, OT, Utah (DRAFTED NO. 9)
  • Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama (DRAFTED NO. 12)
  • Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State (DRAFTED NO. 14)
  • Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State (DRAFTED NO. 4)
  • Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State (DRAFTED NO. 8)
  • Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama (DRAFTED NO. 13)

Vikings first-round big board: Overall Top 25

  1. Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State (DRAFTED NO. 11)
  2. Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU (DRAFTED NO. 6)
  3. Makai Lemon, WR, USC
  4. Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon (DRAFTED NO. 16)
  5. Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
  6. Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
  7. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
  8. Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
  9. Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
  10. Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
  11. Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
  12. Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
  13. Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
  14. Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
  15. KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
  16. Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
  17. Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
  18. Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
  19. Caleb Banks, DT, Florida (DRAFTED BY MINNESOTA)
  20. D'Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
  21. Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
  22. Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
  23. Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
  24. C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia
  25. Christen Miller, DT, Georgia

Safeties

  1. Caleb Downs, Ohio State (DRAFTED NO. 11)
  2. Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
  3. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
  4. Treydan Stukes, Arizona

Defensive tackles

  1. Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
  2. Peter Woods, Clemson
  3. Caleb Banks, Florida (DRAFTED BY MINNESOTA)
  4. Christen Miller, Georgia
  5. Lee Hunter, Texas Tech

Cornerbacks

  1. Mansoor Delane, LSU (DRAFTED NO. 6)
  2. Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
  3. Chris Johnson, San Diego State
  4. Avieon Terrell, Clemson
  5. Colton Hood, Tennessee
  6. D'Angelo Ponds, Indiana

Wide receivers (and one tight end)

  1. Makai Lemon, USC
  2. Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon (DRAFTED NO. 16)
  3. KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
  4. Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
  5. Denzel Boston, Washington

Offensive tackles

  1. Monroe Freeling, Georgia
  2. Caleb Lomu, Utah
  3. Blake Miller, Clemson (DRAFTED NO. 17)
  4. Max Iheanachor, Arizona State

Edge rushers

  1. Keldric Faulk, Auburn
  2. Akheem Mesidor, Miami
  3. T.J. Parker, Clemson
  4. Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
  5. Zion Young, Missouri
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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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