The Minnesota Vikings recently finished a relatively busy offseason, adding bargain-bin free agents and welcoming a deep draft class after back-to-back years of skimpiness at the event. And with training camp coming to Eagan in less than four weeks, it's time to browse the main newcomers in 2026.
Minnesota obviously has oodles of new faces, including many undrafted practice-squad-style players, but these are the main new guys .
Minnesota Vikings rookie Caleb Banks arrives at MSP Airport for his first day with the franchise, wearing team colors as cameras follow the new defender in May 2026. The Voyage feature captured Banks stepping into the Twin Cities after Minnesota selected him in the NFL Draft, marking the start of his NFL chapter. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
1. Caleb Banks | DT
The Vikings ' 1st-Rounder offers a boom-or-bust NFL profile, and the "bust" mostly pertains to his injury history. Most believed that he would be drafted in the 2nd Round because of two foot injuries in six months leading up to the draft.
Still, Minnesota's coaching staff has stated Banks will be ready for training camp.
2. Max Bredeson | FB
This is the new C.J. Ham , and although fullbacks don't make splashy headlines, he gets the nod on this list, as Ham is a tough act to follow. Minnesota drafted Bredeson in Round 5 two months ago.
3. Jake Golday | LB
Golday could be an off-ball linebacker as the Vikings prepare for life after Blake Cashman and Eric Wilson . Or — he could be "the next Andrew Van Ginkel ," a hybrid ILB-OLB. You'll find out more about his trajectory at training camp.
4. Jauan Jennings | WR
New Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jauan Jennings sits down with Vikings Entertainment Network's Tatum Everett to discuss his decision to join the team on May 27, 2026. Jennings reviewed his early weeks in Minnesota, the Kevin O'Connell offense, and the physical edge he hopes to bring to a loaded receiver room during the offseason program. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
Jennings's free agency lasted over two months, and in the end, he landed in Minnesota to form the Vikings' best wide receiver trio since Randy Moss, Cris Carter, and Jake Reed .
5. Kyler Murray | QB
Murray will turn 29 this summer and can extend his prime in Minnesota with a quarterback-whispering head coach, Justin Jefferson , Jordan Addison , the aforementioned Jennings, and Brian Flores's defense. It would be tricky to author a better script for Murray in a fiction novel. It's all waiting for him in Minnesota.
6. Domonique Orange | DT
The Vikings finally have a nose tackle, spending a 3rd-Rounder to nab Orange from Iowa State. He must beat out Levi Drake Rodriguez for immediate playing time, but, generally speaking, Vikings fans are high on "Big Citrus."
Our Kyle Joudry on Orange in May : "Domonique Orange can be a nice part of the team's overall pass rush effort if he can consistently get the center on his heels. Doing so will lead to uncomfortable surroundings for the passer since there will be less room to step up. As a result, the edge rushers will have an easier time of getting home."
"Think of Orange as being a player who gets an assist on the huge goal rather than someone who is going to pop the water bottle by sniping the top of the net. Or, perhaps, he's the crucial net-front presence on the power play while the more skilled guys work the puck around the zone. Still important, right?"
7. James Pierre | CB
Pierre played about 400 defensive snaps for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025 and notched an 86.8 Pro Football Focus grade . The Vikings hired defensive passing game coordinator Gerald Alexander from Pittsburgh, and he just brought Pierre with him to perform CB3 duties in Minnesota.
Pierre is quite the upgrade over Jeff Okudah .
8. Jakobe Thomas | S
Remember the Jonathan Greenard trade? Yes, that one. The first prize from that swap is Thomas from the University of Miami. If Harrison Smith doesn't return, Thomas could see snaps right away in the Vikings' defense.
Minnesota Vikings rookie safety Jakobe Thomas runs through minicamp work on the practice field in Eagan while trying to carve out a role in June 2026. The young defensive back continued learning Brian Flores' system, with special teams offering a possible route to the roster before training camp later that summer in Minnesota. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
Zone Coverage 's Nelson Thielen recently noted on Thomas's rookie outlook, "Jakobe Thomas also finds himself in a complete free-for-all scrum for snaps at safety following Harrison Smith 's departure and Theo Jackson 's disappointing performance in 2025."
"If the Vikings are going to continue to utilize three-safety packages, finding a replacement for Harrison Smith is a glaring hole to fill, and that still includes the void they've yet to adequately fill from Cam Bynum's departure last offseason."
9. Brett Thorson | P
Thorson was named the best punter in college football last year. His first NFL assignment? A training camp battle with Johnny Hekker , who was the best punter in the world 10 years ago.
Thorson's Norwegian last name fits like a glove in Minnesota culture.
10. Caleb Tiernan | OT
The Vikings didn't need an offensive tackle in the draft — they have Christian Darrisaw , Brian O'Neill, Ryan Van Demark , and Walter Rouse . Yet, embracing the best-player-available philosophy, interim boss Rob Brzezinski selected Tiernan from Northwestern.
He's the pick from Sam Darnold 's free-agent departure, the compensatory selection.
Get to know his name because 3rd-Rounders usually play; Darrisaw isn't a posterboy for optimal health, and O'Neill is now in his 30s.
