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5 Vikings with the Most to Prove in 2026
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- 5 Vikings with the Most to Prove in 2026
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was fired from his post as the Minnesota Vikings general manager a couple of months back. The main criticism of his time in Minnesota was poor drafting, but some of his picks still have time to pan out. Today, we look at five Vikings who need to make their mark in 2026, all of whom were drafted by the team.
These 5 Vikings Face Critical Prove-It Seasons in 2026
Adofo-Mensah drafted the players in question between the 2023 and 2025 drafts. No players from his infamous 2022 draft remain on the Vikings roster four years on. We have three players from last year's draft who have time on their side, and one player each from the 2024 and 2023 drafts whose time is running out.
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The first job for each of these players is to get a spot on the Vikings' 53-man roster at the start of the season. Once they do that, they have to make a lasting impression that can keep them in Minnesota in the long term.
Tai Felton
The Vikings selected Tai Felton with the 102nd overall pick in the third round of last year's draft. He gave the team WR depth and a return specialist option. Unfortunately, the offense in Minnesota last season was dysfunctional at best and often struggled to get the ball to their primary receivers.
Vikings wide receiver Tai Felton secures a catch while Giants cornerback Deonte Banks closes in during game action at MetLife Stadium, Dec 21, 2025, in East Rutherford. The contested reception highlighted Felton's route timing and hands as Minnesota evaluated young receivers in live reps against starting-caliber defensive backs. Mandatory Credit: Yannick Peterhans / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.
It left little chance for Felton to show what he could do with just three targets across the whole season. He did catch all three of those targets for 25 yards and a couple of first downs, showing he could be relied upon when his number was called.
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Just three targets for your third-round rookie WR, who was healthy and suited up for every game, is indicative of the Vikings' troubles last season. With Jalen Nailor and Adam Thielen no longer around, Felton is penciled in as WR3 as it stands. It remains to be seen if another WR is added to the roster, but in what will hopefully be an improved offense with Kyler Murray under center.
Felton should get more opportunities so we can make a proper judgment of his abilities. You can't read too much from just three targets.
Gavin Bartholomew
The last draft pick Adofo-Mensah made as Vikings GM, 2025 was a lost season for TE Gavin Bartholomew. He was selected in the sixth round with the 202nd overall pick of the 2025 NFL draft .
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A back injury during the pre-season landed him on Injured Reserve, and he did not make a regular-season appearance for Minnesota during his rookie year. Bartholomew will hope for a second chance and will be like an extra rookie this year. With TJ Hockenson staying for the 2026 season, and TE being a position I think should be looked at in the draft.
It could be about to get crowded in the TE room, and Bartholomew is going to have to work hard to land a place on the final roster.
Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
Another rookie from last year, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, was the 139th overall pick in the fifth round of the draft. He got some playing time in the defensive line rotation and appeared in 15 games in Year 1. Ingram-Dawkins tallied 12 tackles, including 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and 1 pass defended.
Feb 27, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Georgia defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (DL19) after running drills during the 2025 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
He will look to build on that in his second season in Minnesota. With Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave departed, there could be a chance for more playing time this year. It's up to him to show he deserves those opportunities.
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Levi Drake-Rodriguez
After a quiet rookie season, Levi Drake-Rodriguez had somewhat of a breakthrough in Year 2 as a depth player. The 2024 seventh-round pick played 461 (45%) defensive snaps last season, amassing 44 tackles, including 8 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks.
He is also a valuable special teams contributor, and in Week 9 against the Detroit Lions , Drake-Rodriguez blocked a field goal in the fourth quarter, a game-defining play as the Vikings went on to win by three points – Rodriguez won NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. Again, with the departure of Allen and Hargrave and no one incoming on the defensive line to date, Drake-Rodriguez is currently set to be a starter in 2026.
Whether that continues to be the case, he should be looking to build on a good 2025 season and further enhance his reputation.
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Jay Ward
The longest-tenured player on this list, Jay Ward was the 134th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2023 draft. In the last year of his rookie contract, it is now or never for Ward in Minnesota. He has had a slow ascension to playing time in Brian Flores' defense, but the 248 (23%) defensive snaps last season were a big step forward.
Sep 8, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Minnesota Vikings safety Jay Ward (24) knocks the ball from Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore (2) during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
As things stand, there looks to be plenty of opportunity for playing time for Ward as the Vikings look to think on the ground at safety. Does Flores see him as a guy who can take on an even bigger role in 2026? Ward needs that to happen, or this will likely be his last year in Minnesota.
