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Tony Schultz’s Last-Minute Draft Predictions for the Vikings
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- Tony Schultz’s Last-Minute Draft Predictions for the Vikings
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Here we go. Draft Day is upon us, and the months of guessing and banging out mock drafts are coming to an end. Today, there will be a myriad of rumors flying around, and experts will have “steam” about what teams are thinking and possibly planning.
Smoke screens will begin to clear as the day goes on, and there will be shocking trades and picks. I’m more excited for this draft than last year, with more picks available to the Vikings and a new man in charge, GM Rob Brzezinski, working with Kevin O’Connell and Brian Flores to find the next stars to launch the team into another winning season.
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Late-Round Trends and Trade Signals Will Affect the Vikings’ Draft
Here are my quick predictions for the Vikings over the next few days, and a few about the overall three days of controlled chaos.
Overall Draft Predictions
There will be a bunch of trades, maybe record-breaking numbers. The buzz the last few weeks has been a run on offensive linemen in the middle of round 1, and teams will need to trade up to get the one they covet. Luckily for them, this draft seems very top-heavy, and higher drafting teams are going to be willing to move back.
Dec 21, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell during the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
Look at the Cowboys to be the one that makes a huge jump up with two first-rounders in their pocket. That may be where the draft really starts, as the top 3-4 picks seem pretty locked in. They want to get ahead of conference rivals; the Giants are my guess.
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Injury-related players aren’t just going to fall; they are going to plummet. If players have injuries, they are going to fall further than expected, and teams are going to have some tough decisions, with players seen as premier staring them in the face.
Former Viking and sideline reporter Ben Leber mentioned on KFAN’s The Power Trip this morning that teams are lowering players on their boards with question marks. Caleb Banks might fall all the way to the 6th round with questions around his perceived fragility.
There will be a star player traded away from one team for draft picks that will have the ESPN/NFL Network dais in awe. I don’t personally have a player in mind, but this feels like a year to add some spicy sauce to the draft burrito.
Vikings Draft Predictions
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Johnathan Greenard and Jordan Addison will not be traded tonight. I know it’s about money for Greenard, but unless they are blown away by a trade they can’t pass up, they need to keep arguably their best player on defense. Addison’s off-field mistakes don’t seem to be enough to let him go, even after activating his 5th-year option. Both players should net nothing less than a 2nd Round pick this year.
The Vikings’ drafting of Oregon Safety Dillon Thieneman has felt like a foregone conclusion since the 2025 season ended. Some are tired of hearing about it, so they’re making mock drafts that put someone else in there simply for a different flavor.
With all the speculated trades that will happen, he will be there for the taking, along with some players that may make the pick tougher than expected. His tight end teammate, Kenyon Sadiq, will also be there, and social media will explode as fans take sides on who they draft. In this scenario, don’t be surprised if they trade down a bit and still get Thieneman.
He has been getting bumped up a bit by experts as we get closer, and I think that’s based on steam they’re picking up from sources. I think the aforementioned trades will push him and the available cornerbacks back, and teams that need corners more will see this as an opportunity to get ahead of competitors. I’m sticking with the Thieneman pick no matter what.
Feb 27, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oregon defensive back Dillion Thieneman (DB52) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
In the 2nd Round, the Vikings will go after a cornerback and strengthen the backfield further. Since they kept Jordan Addison around, they can wait on drafting a wide receiver, and there are still centers and tight ends available later.
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They may need to trade up to get San Diego cornerback Chris Johnson, but that’s who they will grab. If they did pull off a trade in the 1st, they may have an earlier pick in the round or the ammunition to move up to secure it. These two defensive picks will allow the team to focus on the offense in the rest of the draft and maybe free agency.
I feel the team has Emmett Johnson high on their list of potential picks, and he will be a target in the 3rd round, along with a center like Sam Hecht or Jordan Slaughter. They could even trade back from either one of their 3rd rounders and get them. In the 6th and beyond, I feel like they go after safety Cole Wisniewski to add even more to the safety room and special teams’ roster.
Names To Watch For
As the weekend goes on, the picks will become more interesting and begin to show the team’s vision to some extent. Looking for diamonds in the rough and depth is even more important this year because of the misses of the last few years. These are a few names I’ll be listening for, and I won’t be too upset if the Vikings select them. I’ve listed them by the round they might pop up in.
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Peter Woods/DT, Clemson – 1st – He has been gaining traction on his tape from the 2023 and 2024 seasons, with some saying the team had more problems than he did in 2025.
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Bryce Lance/WR North Dakota – 3rd – From Minnesota and may be overlooked by many teams. His catch rate is very good, and he brings speed to the wide receiver corps.
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Emmett Johnson/RB, Nebraska – 3rd/4th – Another homegrown possibility that won’t run over tacklers but will make them miss. With two picks in that round, the team might bring them both home.
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Ted Hurst/WR, Ole Miss – 3rd – He is a big receiver with a great catch radius and speed to boot.
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Dominique Orange/DT, Iowa State – 4th/5th – His nickname is “Big Citrus” and will plug the middle.
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Mason Reiger/EDGE, Wisconsin – 6th – Some have compared his makeup and abilities to former Badger and current Vikings Andrew Van Ginkel .
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Jordan Hudson/WR, SMU – 7th or UDFA – He produced in college, and he quietly did very well at the Senior Bowl and is considered by some a “sleeper pick”.
Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Georgia State wideout Ted Hurst (WO24) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The draft is always a great time for fans, and I’m looking forward to another three days of speculation and surprises.
