NFL Draft: MN Vikings Want Early EDGE + Tight Ends to Watch
How the Minnesota Vikings attack the NFL Draft in April may not change, although who is pulling the strings certainly will. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has been fired from his post as general manager, and Rob Brzezinski will be in charge through the very important April 24th event.
The Vikings need to generate significantly more hits in the draft than they did under Adofo-Mensah. An aging and expensive roster is now the result of the majority of their picks being misses. We know that Minnesota holds the 18th pick, and information continues to trickle out as to what they will be looking for.
Edge rusher on shopping list for Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings employ Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel on the defensive edges already. Their starter presence has forced Dallas Turner to really earn playing time. Despite that talented trio on the edge, draft analyst Tony Pauline (Essentially Sports) is reporting that they are looking to add another.
While most believe the Minnesota Vikings will take a cornerback with their pick in the first round, contrary to many mock drafts around the internet, people I’ve spoken with at the Senior Bowl tell me they believe that defensive coordinator Brian Flores will push for a pass rusher with the 18th pick if a top-rated prospect falls into their laps.
Even though the Vikings’ defense fielded one of the better pass rushes in the league last season, 30-year-old Andrew Van Ginkel is in the final year of his contract, and Flores wants quantity at the position, believing a good pass rush covers deficiencies in the secondary.
Tony Pauline – Essentially Sports
It seems odd that the Minnesota Vikings would add another pass rusher, but Pauline reasons through it. Van Ginkel played in just 12 games last year (7.0 sacks), after appearing in all 17 and generating 11.5 sacks in 2024. He’ll be 31 years old and dealt with a nagging neck injury that continues to be a concern.
Jonathan Greenard also played in just 12 games (3.0 sacks), and will be 29 years old next season. He could be a key piece in a trade if Minnesota wants to swing big for a quarterback.
We also saw evidence of Brian Flores’ belief that a good pass rush can protect a lacking secondary. Example: Minnesota rostered just three cornerbacks to open the year. That’s not a position of depth for the Vikings, and they’ll be looking at a depleted safety position should Harrison Smith decide to hang up his cleats. While they will obviously add in the secondary, if the game-changing ability is more abundant on the defensive line, maybe they opt to go there.
Tight end on MN Vikings radar too
Tight end is a position that the Minnesota Vikings must make decisions at as well. T.J. Hockenson needs to restructure his contract at a minimum, and he’s a potential cut candidate too. If they want the top option, Kenyon Sadiq may be there in round one. Pauline believes they could wait and add one later, though, as he saw “the Vikings, (Kwesi?) scouting tight ends heavily at the Senior Bowl.”
Keep this in the back of your mind when the third day of the 2026 NFL Draft starts; the Vikings have been scouting tight ends heavily here at the Senior Bowl. I get the sense they will consider drafting a blocking tight end in the later rounds. It’s still early, but remember the names Will Kacmarek of Ohio State and Nate Boerkircher of Texas A&M University.
Tony Pauline – Essentially Sports
A blocking tight end would be an interesting addition for the MN Vikings. That’s basically what Josh Oliver was before joining the team. He filled in during absences of Hockenson this year, but still isn’t exactly a vertical threat.
Despite his career-high four touchdowns this season, Oliver had just 15 receptions for 160 yards. He’s not exactly an offensive weapon. If Minnesota is drafting a blocking tight end, it stands to reason they would be bringing back Hockenson.
The Vikings took Pittsburgh product Gavin Bartholomew in the 2025 NFL Draft. He was hurt all season and never played a down. As a senior for the Panthers he had 38 receptions for 322 yards and four touchdowns.
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