Vikings Pre-Draft Tracker: The Latest News and Rumors on April 22

We are just over 24 hours from the first round of the NFL Draft, and the buzz around the Minnesota Vikings remains all over the map. Will they draft defense? Take the best available player? Give quarterback Kyler Murray another weapon? Will it be one of the Oregon stars, safety DIllon Thieneman or tight end Kenyon Sadiq?

The rumors will be circulating until the very last seconds as the Vikings use the No. 18 pick to improve a roster that is desperate for an infusion of young, talented players who are on rookie contracts. That's why we're tracking the latest news and rumors in today's live blog.

Follow along for the latest, and check back throughout the day for new information.

Thieneman "confident" he gets picked in the top 20

The most mocked pick to the Vikings, Oregon's Dillon Thieneman, is reportedly "confident" he'll be taken in the first 20 picks on Thursday night, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. The Vikings have often been linked with taking Thieneman throughout the draft process. However, he has been linked with a number of safety-needy teams in the top half of the draft, including Dallas, who own picks No. 12 and 20, as well as Carolina at No. 19. If the Vikings trade down or pass on Thieneman at 18, it's highly unlikely they'll get a chance to take him later based on the latest intel.

Top DT prospect gets good news about injury status

According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, NFL teams received a letter stating Florida defensive tackl Caleb Banks' recovery from foot surgery is "on pace to be fully cleared for full football activities in early June."

For Banks, the timing couldn't be better with his draft status taking a hit over the past weeks due to concern over the injury. Todd McShay projected a defensive tackle pick for the Vikings at No. 18. Could this recent new potentially add another name for Vikings fans to watch on Thursday night?

First round run on offensive line expected

According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, league executives expect there to be a run on offensive lineman on Thursday night. Schultz said that the run is expected, according to simulations run by teams, around the 10-14 range.

Offensive line isn't as big of a need for Minnesota in the draft but there has been some speculation whether the Vikings could take an interior lineman in an attempt to fill their hole at center. Currently, it's expected that Blake Brandel will slot in there. If a run happens in the first, that could potentially move lineman further down the draft higher up, potentially chaning Minnesota's mid-round plan.

Todd McShay releases positional and overall prospect rankings

Draft expert Todd McShay has dropped his overall and positional prospect rankings for the upcoming draft. Here is how players commonly linked with the Vikings rank, according to McShay.

Jeremiyah Love, No.1 RB (No. 1 overall)
Carnell Tate, No. 1 WR (No. 7 overall)
Mansoor Delane, No.1 CB (No. 8 overall)
Jordyn Tyson, No. 2 WR (No. 10 overall)
Makai Lemon, No. 3 WR (No. 14 overall)
Dillon Thieneman, No. 2 S (No. 15 overall)
Kenyon Sadiq, No. 1 TE (No. 18 overall)
Denzel Boston, No. 4 WR (No. 20 overall)
Kayden McDonald, No. 6 DT (No. 24 overall)
Colton Hood, No. 3 CB (No. 29 overall)
Peter Woods, No. 2 DT (No. 32 overall)
Jermod McCoy, No. 4 CB (No. 33 overall)
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, No. 3 S (No. 34 overall)
Omar Cooper, No. 5 WR (No. 35 overall)
Avieon Terrell, No. 6 CB (No. 47 overall)
Caleb Banks, No. 4 DT (No. 53 overall)

Where do the Vikings see Jonathan Greenard's trade value?

In a recent episode of his self-title podcast, The Athletic's Alec Lewis said that while he is "under the impression" that star pass rusher Jonathan Greenard will still be in a Vikings uniform in 2026, he expects if there is a trade, it would come "around that 49 range."

"Like, around that would be a range where it would start to make sense to me," said Lewis. "Anything worse than that, I'd say worse than 60, you start to have a lot of questions about whether the Vikings would even listen to that as an idea."

Thieneman if the Vikings trade back?

Alec Lewis, who covers the Vikings for The Athletic, had an interesting note about Thieneman on Tuesday. While discussing his pros and cons, including his alleged "stiffness" in coverage, Lewis wrote: "Still, he’s a safe pick worth monitoring, especially if the Vikings were to trade back."

If they trade back? Mocks as recent as a handful of days ago were saying Thieneman could get drafted before Ohio State's Caleb Downs. Now there's a chance that he fits Minnesota if they trade back and can get him later than 18? Something is fishy here...

Todd McShay's mock draft

Peter Woods? The Clemson defensive tackle was considered a top-10 pick before he had a less productive 2025 season, and with multiple draft insiders saying the first round might not have any defensive tackles drafted, McShay has shifted gears, giving the Vikings Woods at No. 18.

"Woods has been catching a lot of buzz in conversations I’ve been having recently—full circle from earlier in the process—and the league seems to be coming back around on his traits despite a quieter 2025 season," McShay said. "The Vikings run a one-gap scheme under Brian Flores, and Woods fits well there. Plus, they released Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave."

Peter Schrager sticks with Thieneman

"The whole industry has been putting Thieneman with Minnesota at No. 18 for weeks. It makes sense. The Vikings need an impact safety, and Thieneman has the speed and instincts to thrive in coordinator Brian Flores' defense," Schrager wrote in his April 22 mock.

Schrager, like so many others in recent days, added that he thinks "Minnesota could consider Sadiq here if he's still available."

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