So-Called “Experts” Grade Latest Minnesota Vikings Draft Class

The Minnesota Vikings entered the NFL Draft with nine total draft picks, four of which were in the top 100. On day two, they added to both those numbers when they traded Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles for two 3rd round picks, including one more top 100 selection for 2026.

Coincidentally, after some moving and grooving later in the weekend, the Vikings finished with nine draftees (and 19 UDFAs) — the exact number of picks they came in with. Ultimately, it will take months/years before we can judge the MN Vikings’ 2026 draft class.

But until they can actually take the field, all we can go on is speculation. Which brings us to Minnesota’s 2026 draft grades — the only thing casual fans really have to go on, when trying to form an opinion about any new draft class.

NFL Draft experts grade 2026 MN Vikings draft class

Going into the first round, the Minnesota Vikings had major needs at interior defensive line, safety, cornerback, center and running back, among other positions that could use help. They addressed some of those areas more staunchly than others.

The overwhelming consensus among evaluators this year is that the latest Minnesota Vikings crop of college kids is ‘meh’, at best. And many were not that generous, despite what might seem like passing grades.

For example, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. gave them a “C” grade. That’s not bad, right? Wrong, it was the worst grade he handed out to any team. Jacksonville and San Francisco were the only two other teams to receive a “C” grade from Kiper.

Mel Kiper bewildered by Vikings first round pick

Mel’s biggest gripe with Minnesota’s draft was their first round pick Caleb Banks, who he had ranked as the No. 62 overall prospect on his big board. Banks has the talent, the size and wowed the Vikings in meetings.

However, Caleb’s injury issues over the past year, combined with the amount of talent still available at No. 18, have the veteran draft prognosticator wondering what in the world KOC, Flores and Rob B. were thinking.

Caleb Banks is a good player. He can wreak havoc on opposing linemen and has legit burst to affect the quarterback in the pocket as an interior pass rusher…But his left foot has been a major problem.

He broke it early last season and was limited to three games. Then he broke it again at the combine, requiring surgery and putting him on the sideline until at least June. That was enough to push him down the Big Board a little bit. I had him ranked 62nd, so taking him at No. 18 was too rich.

I was mostly surprised Minnesota passed on safety Dillon Thieneman, but even among the defensive tackles, I had four guys ranked higher, starting with Peter Woods and Kayden McDonald.

Mel Kiper Jr. – ESPN

Could the Minnesota Vikings have traded back, or drafted Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman — who was the near unanimous pick among mock drafts this year — and still landed Banks later on?

It’s possible, but we’ll never know for sure. Thieneman ended up with NFC North rival, Chicago, seven picks later (No. 25).

Experts like what Minnesota Vikings did late in draft

But while the MN Vikings left themselves open to scrutiny at the top of their draft, experts are much higher on what they did in later rounds, especially NFL.com’s Chad Reuter.

Armed with multiple picks on or after the fourth round, Brzezinski and O’Connell made a couple of shrewd acquisitions that could pay future dividends sooner than many would expect.

Reuter points specifically to late-round selections FB Max Bredeson (Rd 4, Pick 159), CB Charles Demmings (Rd. 5, Pick 163) and RB Demond Claiborne (Rd. 5, Pick 198) as guys they got major value for their draft slot.

I love Bredeson going to the Vikings as a potential replacement for valued fullback C.J. Ham, who retired this year, though Bredeson was picked a bit earlier than I thought he’d be, given his injury history and the position’s value.

The fifth-rounder received from Philadelphia for quarterback Sam Howell turned into an excellent value in [Charles] Demmings, who has the size and athleticism to be an NFL starter despite the lower level of competition he faced in college.

Claiborne’s the speed back Minnesota needed to boost its running back production; he deserved to be picked at least one round earlier.

Chad Reuter – NFL.com

It’s a bit confusing that Minnesota didn’t lock up a potential replacement for Ryan Kelly at center sooner than the seventh round. However, they apparently love Gavin Gerhardt.

Not only were they targeting the Cincinnati center, they ran him through an EXTENSIVE install of their offense when he came in for his Top 30 visit, earlier this month. Thus, don’t be shocked if he is a surprise standout early and often this summer.

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