In three and a half months, the Minnesota Vikings will step up to the podium and announce the 18th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the same spot they found Garrett Bradbury seven years ago. And with draft season starting to heat up, early frontrunners to land in Minnesota are apparent.
Cornerback and front-seven juice lead the list as Minnesota starts stacking realistic draft targets.
The Vikings have eight picks in their bucket, with a ninth all but certain to occur in Round 3 when general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is awarded a compensatory selection for Sam Darnold 's free-agent departure in 2025.
Let's glance at the dudes most likely to end up in purple and gold. Players are listed in ascending order (No. 1 = most likely to be a Vikings from a January 2026 standpoint).
Clemson Tigers defensive tackle Peter Woods (11) celebrates a sack at Memorial Stadium on Nov 1, 2025, after dropping Duke quarterback Darian Mensah during a pivotal second-half sequence in Clemson, South Carolina. Woods' burst off the snap and closing power punctuated a disruptive performance as Clemson controlled the game. Mandatory Credit: Alex Martin/Greenville News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
5. Peter Woods (DT) | Clemson
Woods may not be around at Pick No. 18 for Minnesota, but sometimes, defensive tackles tumble on draft night for no good reason. He's known for his explosiveness and athletic fluidity, and alongside Jalen Redmond in the near future, he could cook in Minnesota.
The Vikings will probably release Javon Hargrave in the next eight weeks. If so, a young DT in the pipeline would do a body good.
In all likelihood, a DT-needy team will snatch Woods before pick No. 18.
4. Sonny Styles (ILB) | Ohio State
Ivan Pace Jr. opened the season as Minnesota's starter next to Blake Cashman . Once Cashman landed on injured reserve for four games, Eric Wilson stepped in and immediately changed the depth chart and defense. The performance forced Brian Flores' hand. When Cashman returned, Pace Jr. moved to the bench, and Wilson stayed.
Now Pace Jr. is staring at restricted free agency, and the grip he once seemed to have on a long-term role in Minnesota has dissipated. A player who felt like a foundational piece not long ago could be gone by March.
If that path holds, the Vikings will need a replacement plan that aligns with Flores' preferences. Styles checks those boxes cleanly and would offer a straightforward transition if Pace Jr.'s run ends earlier than expected.
The problem? Most teams with oodles of roster needs — like the Vikings — don't draft off-ball linebackers in Round 1. They're more of a luxury item.
3. Mansoor Delane (CB) | LSU
Delane brings the speed, quickness, and size needed to project as an NFL starter. The versatility stands out just as much. His skill set fits multiple coverages, which matters with Minnesota's defensive coordinator situation unsettled beyond 2025, as Brian Flores is not under contract for 2026.
The LSU product also plays with an edge and offers safety flexibility if required, giving him a profile that travels well regardless of scheme or coaching staff turnover.
What's stopping Vikings fans from going full tilt into the Delane endorsement? He's the best cornerback in the draft and may not be around for Minnesota to pick.
2. Jermond McCoy (CB) | Tennessee
Minnesota has two cornerbacks penciled in as starters through 2026 — Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers — and the certainty with those two. Murphy hasn't matched the contract he signed nine months ago, while Rodgers brings athleticism without the kind of tackling dependability a secondary is built on. The roster is still missing a true CB1. Especially a young one.
Tennessee defensive back Jermod McCoy (3) reacts after securing a loose ball at FirstBank Stadium on Nov 30, 2024, gaining control of a second-quarter fumble in Nashville. McCoy's quick reaction and awareness flipped possession as Tennessee's defense capitalized on a chaotic sequence near midfield. Mandatory Credit: Stephanie Amador / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
That gap has lingered for years. The Vikings haven't landed a long-term answer at corner in any round in roughly a decade. Trae Waynes in 2015 was the closest thing to a hit, and even he plateaued faster than most hoped. Mike Hughes didn't work. Jeff Gladney didn't work. Andrew Booth didn't work.
Which leaves the same conclusion again. Adofo-Mensah has to swing early. Cornerback sits at the top of Minnesota's 2026 needs list. It's time to hit on a rookie cornerback.
McCoy can be considered a consolation prize if a team like the Detroit Lions picks Delane before Minnesota.
1. Avieon Terrell (CB) | Clemson
Terrell checks the 1st-Round boxes. He's 21 years old and already plays with grown-man confidence. At 5'11, 180, he brings functional size, pairing physical coverage with real ball skills. He tracks the football cleanly, finishes plays, and doesn't shy from contact. The college traits translate to the pros.
Clemson Tigers cornerback Avieon Terrell (8) celebrates a first-quarter play at Williams-Brice Stadium on Nov 29, 2025, reacting with energy after a defensive stop against South Carolina in Columbia. Terrell's confidence and physical edge were evident early as Clemson set an aggressive tone in the rivalry matchup. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
In early January, Terrell is being mock-drafted to the Vikings all over the place, mainly because draft heads expect the aforementioned Delane to be the first CB off the board.
There's still a long way to go — the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine — but for now, Terrell is probably the frontrunner to end up in Minnesota, especially if Flores returns for Year No. 4.
