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The Most Popular Names in Vikings Mock Drafts
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- The Most Popular Names in Vikings Mock Drafts
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We are well into NFL mock draft season, with the 2026 draft now under eight weeks away. It's still fairly early, but it's worth noting what the various media outlets think when it comes to Vikings mock drafts.
Mock drafts usually focus on the first round, but some go as far as the third round. When looking at the popular choices for the Vikings, I want to focus only on the 18th overall pick the Vikings own in the first round.
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The Prospects Most Often Slotted to Minnesota at Pick No. 18
The Vikings' choices at 18 have almost exclusively been on the offensive side of the ball. There have been a few exceptions: Oregon TE Kenyon Sidiq's name popping up in early drafts, and Notre Dame RB Jeremiah Love, but he is almost a consensus top-10 pick at this point and out of the Vikings' range.
Clemson Tigers cornerback Avieon Terrell (8) celebrates after stopping a fake punt attempt by Troy Trojans Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 during the NCAA football game at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.
For the most part, the analysts have looked to improve the Vikings' secondary, though some have looked to strengthen up front with an interior defensive lineman. Their story is the same here at Vikings Territory , where a CB has been selected three times and a DT twice in our mock drafts to date.
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Two names have been very popular to date, and they are Toledo S Emmanuel McNeill-Warren and Clemson CB Aveion Terrell. Around the 18th pick has the range for Terrell in mock drafts, and he was the early favourite for the latest first-round pick to land in Minnesota. Terrell to the Vikings has cooled off a bit in recent weeks, with many experts turning to safety as the Vikings' route. McNeill-Warren has been a big favorite in recent mocks, with his draft stock rising, but there is a contender to take his place.
Dillon Thieneman's draft stock is taking a huge boost from an impressive display at the combine. I suspect there will be a lot of sending him to Minnesota in mocks between now and the draft, as many see him as the perfect Harrison Smith replacement. Thienemen, McNeill-Warren, and Terrell are all for the bill of a Brian Flores-type player in the secondary, so it's not a great surprise that these are the names mostly linked with the Vikings.
Sep 27, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) reacts after defeating the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
Another name that has cropped up a lot is Tennessee CB Jerod McCoy. A fully healthy McCoy is being selected right near the top of the draft, such is the ability he has shown. However, after missing the 2025 season due to a torn ACL, he didn't perform on-field drills at the combine. The doubts over his health could lead him to slide to the Vikings at 18.
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My Personal Favorite
While many are looking to the secondary, I am a big advocate of strengthening the trenches first. My personal favorite pick is Florida DT Caleb Banks, and he has shown up on a few mock drafts to date. He is another who had an impressive combine, helping boost his mock draft.
If there were doubts about Banks being a good value pick at 18, those were somewhat alleviated as he proved the foot injury that disrupted his 2025 season is behind him. Banks has the potential to be a game-wrecker for the Vikings on the interior, helping make all levels of the defense better.
The Other Names Being Sent to the Vikings
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Some other names have popped up in mock drafts. Most notably, three cornerbacks, Colton Hood, Brandon Cisse, and Mansour Delane. All three have the potential to be a good fit in Minnesota, but most don't see it happening at 18th overall. Delane is generally off the board well before 18, and that would be the expectation come draft day.
Aug 31, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies wide receiver Donavon Greene (3) tries to make a one handed catch behind South Carolina Gamecocks defensive back Brandon Cisse (15) during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
On the other hand, Hood and Cisse are generally looked at as late first and early second round options. Of course, there is always the potential for the Vikings to trade either up or down in the draft. After an impressive combine, Hood is another whose draft stock is on the rise and could come into play for the Vikings at 18.
Will it be one of these names for the Vikings at 18? There's a good chance it will be, but the landscape of the Vikings' roster will change as we head into the start of free agency, which can drastically alter perceived draft plans.
