Vikings draft picks 2026: Full list of round-by-round selections

Jacob Camenker, USA TODAYThu, April 23, 2026 at 10:16 PM UTC

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The Minnesota Vikings handed the reins to J.J. McCarthy for the 2025 NFL season after letting Sam Darnold walk in free agency. The decision did not pan out.

McCarthy, a 2024 first-round pick, posted a 6-4 record across 10 starts but struggled both to perform consistently and stay healthy. He completed just 57.6% of his passes for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while posting the lowest passer rating (72.6) among 33 quarterbacks who qualified for the stat.

Meanwhile, Darnold built upon his career-best season with the Vikings and helped lead the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl 60 victory over the New England Patriots.

During the offseason, the Vikings made some significant changes to their organization. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was fired after four seasons while quarterback Kyler Murray was signed to a one-year deal to compete with McCarthy for the starting job.

Minnesota also weeded out some veterans to become cap compliant, leaving it with a particular need for trench depth.

As such, the Vikings will have to use the 2026 NFL Draft to help replenish some of their biggest positions of need. Interim general manager Rob Brzezinski will lead the charge and hope he can execute a draft strategy that proves he is the right man to take over for Adofo-Mensah.

Here's everything to know about the Vikings' picks, needs and outlook for the 2026 NFL Draft:

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1 / 0Ranking top 25 prospects for 2026 NFL Draft -

Arvell Reese, LB/DE, Ohio StateOn a defense already dotted with stars, Reese rose from an occasional contributor to a bona fide star in his first full season as a starter. The 6-4, 241-pound linebacker exhibited uncommon fluidity for a player of his size, finding equal comfort dropping back in coverage as bullying his way into the backfield. His pass-rush plan is still rather rudimentary at the moment, but he has the toolkit of a double-digit sack artist. In a league where defenses are constantly taxed against the pass and run, Reese displays a unique aptitude for detonating whatever play an offense might throw at him.

Vikings 2026 NFL Draft picks

The Vikings have nine picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Here's the complete list:

Round 1, Pick 18

Round 2, Pick 49

Round 3, Pick 82

Round 3, Pick 97

Round 5, Pick 163 (from Eagles)

Round 6, Pick 196 (from Colts)

Round 7, Pick 234

Round 7, Pick 235 (from Panthers)

Round 7, Pick 244 (from Texans)

Vikings NFL draft grades

This section will be after the Vikings make their first selection.

Vikings 2026 NFL Draft needsSafety

The Vikings released 14-year veteran Harrison Smith during the offseason, a move that was widely believed to be a precursor to the 37-year-old's retirement. Minnesota will need to add a playmaker at safety if Smith does, in fact, retire, and either Dillon Thieneman or Emmanuel McNeil-Warren could emerge as options with the team's opening-round selection.

Center

Ryan Kelly also retired during the 2026 NFL offseason after suffering three reported concussions during his 10th and final NFL season. The Vikings will need to find a replacement for him, and could consider adding someone like Jake Slaughter or Logan Jones with one of their Day 2 selections.

Defensive tackle

Minnesota parted with veterans Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave during the offseason as it navigated salary cap issues. The Vikings will need to replenish their depth along the interior defensive line and could consider adding a player like Caleb Banks or Peter Woods with its first-round pick.

Vikings 2026 NFL mock draft

Here's what the Vikings could do come draft night, per Ayrton Ostly's seven-round mock draft:

Round 1, Pick 18: S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon

Minnesota needs a young defensive back to add to the room for Brian Flores and his defense. Thieneman seems like the versatile piece he’d like to have. The Oregon product lined up in multiple spots for the Ducks in 2025 and can be a contributor all over the formation. His motor and overall football IQ should make him a good fit to unlock the rest of the secondary.

Round 2, Pick 49: DT Domonique Orange, Iowa State

Minnesota continues to address defense and this time brings in a strong presence on the interior of the defensive line. The Cyclones’ interior defender has a great mix of burst and size at 6-foot-2 and 322 pounds with the length to take on blocks in the running game. He could help free up the Vikings’ linebackers to make more plays against the run and develop into a more consistent pass rushing force in the middle as well.

Round 3, Pick 82: DB Keionte Scott, Miami (FL)

Scott played a mix of outside corner at Auburn before transitioning to safety at Miami. That kind of versatility could go a long way in Brian Flores’ system. His ball skills and pass rush production (five sacks in 2025) could make for a fun fit.

Round 3, Pick 97: Edge Keyron Crawford, Auburn

Jonathan Greenard is on the trade block and Andrew Van Ginkel will be a free agent next offseason. Bringing in a pass rusher to develop makes sense. Crawford’s experienced as an pass rusher, run defender and coverage linebacker.

Round 5, Pick 163: RB Jaydn Ott, Oklahoma

Round 6, Pick 196: WR Caleb Douglas, Texas Tech

Round 7, Pick 234: OT Alan Herron, Maryland

Round 7, Pick 235: IOL Evan Beerntsen, Northwestern

Round 7, Pick 244: DT Brandon Cleveland, NC State

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Minnesota Vikings NFL draft picks 2026: Round-by-round selections

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